Award recognizes MiHIN’s leadership in building inclusive, transparent
governance models for health data sharing across sectors
Detroit, MI – October 15, 2024 – The Michigan Health Information Network (MiHIN) has been awarded the prestigious Governance Gold Medalist Community Excellence Award at the Civitas Networks for Health 2024 Annual Conference, held in Detroit, Michigan. This award recognizes organizations that have pioneered efforts to develop and refine governance models that support data sharing and health improvement across sectors, including partnerships between healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and public and private entities.
MiHIN has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to fostering an inclusive and transparent governance structure that promotes collaboration, accountability, and innovation within Michigan’s healthcare ecosystem. This recognition underscores MiHIN’s role as a national leader in health information exchange (HIE), setting a standard for how governance can drive impactful health data sharing and care coordination.
“We are honored to receive the Governance Gold Medalist Community Excellence Award,” said Dr. Isabell Pacheco, DSc, FACHE, Chief Administrative Officer of MiHIN. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, as well as the trust and collaboration we’ve built with our partners across the state. At MiHIN, we believe that robust governance is the key to unlocking the full potential of health data sharing, and we are committed to ensuring that all stakeholders have a seat at the table.”
Enabling the exchange of electronic health information requires consensus among multiple stakeholders, often necessitating complex technical and policy decisions. MiHIN has established a comprehensive governance framework that fosters consensus, accountability, and innovation. The organization’s shared governance model includes partnerships with State Agency Partners, the State of Michigan Health Information Technology Commission (HITC), the MiHIN Board of Directors, the Executive Leadership Team, and the MiHIN Operational Advisory Committee (MOAC), along with its specialized task forces.
This multi-layered governance structure ensures that MiHIN’s data-sharing initiatives reflect the diverse perspectives of Michigan’s healthcare ecosystem. The HITC, for example, plays a critical role in providing policy recommendations that influence the strategic direction of the organization. These recommendations are considered by the MiHIN Board of Directors, which consists of representatives from the network’s Trusted Data Sharing Organizations (TDSOs). The Board is responsible for setting the policies that guide MiHIN’s corporate management and strategic oversight.
The inclusivity of MiHIN’s governance model is further exemplified by the involvement of the MOAC, which provides a formal mechanism for stakeholder engagement. This advisory committee, along with its task forces, ensures that all key players in Michigan’s healthcare landscape—ranging from healthcare providers and community-based organizations to state agencies and non-profit entities—have a voice in shaping the future of health data exchange.
MiHIN’s governance framework has been instrumental in advancing health data sharing across sectors, which in turn has driven significant improvements in care coordination, health equity, and population health management. With more than 17 million pieces of health data exchanged each week, MiHIN serves as a cornerstone of Michigan’s healthcare infrastructure, enabling seamless data flow between hospitals, clinics, public health agencies, and community-based organizations.
To see the full list of Community Excellence Award winners, visit www.civitasforhealth.org.
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About MiHIN
The Michigan Health Information Network (MiHIN) is a non-profit public benefit corporation created by the state of Michigan to improve health care quality, efficiency, and patient safety through the secure exchange of health information. MiHIN connects health care providers across Michigan, enabling them to share a patient’s electronic medical record securely and confidentially. For more information, visit www.mihin.org.
About Civitas Networks for Health
Civitas Networks for Health is a national nonprofit collaborative comprised of 170+ member organizations working to use health information exchange, health data, and multi-stakeholder, cross-sector approaches to improve health. We educate, promote, and influence both the private sector and policy makers on matters of interoperability, quality, coordination, health equity and cost-effectiveness of health care, and as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, lead multi-site grant-funded programs and projects. We are proud to support local health innovators by amplifying their voices at the national level and increasing the exchange of valuable resources, tools, and ideas. To learn more, please visit www.civitasforhealth.org.