2 NY HIEs To Merge As HealthlinkNY
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
The aim of the new collaborative is to unify the exchange of health data in New York State.
Southern Tier Healthlink (STHL) and Taconic Health Information Network and Community (THINC) have merged to create HealthlinkNY, according to a press release. The new collaborative will cover 11 counties across the Hudson Valley, Catskills, and Southern Tier, providing secure electronic access to statewide health information in the region as well as information and tools to aid in health transformation.
“This merger will harness our individual strengths and combine them to transform and improve healthcare from the Southern Tier through the Hudson Valley,” said Christina Galanis, executive director of Southern Tier HealthLink. “We are excited to consolidate our efforts and services with THINC to expand our technical and analytical expertise in both regions, support emerging population health reform, and operate more efficiently.”
According to the HealthlinkNY website, the new affiliation allows organizations to collectively work towards connecting with the Statewide Health Information Network of New York (the SHIN-NY). The SHIN-NY will be an innovative public utility that allows instant access by doctors and patients to their electronic health records, reducing redundant tests and improving patient care. HealthlinkNY will serve as the region's access point to the SHIN-NY.
By integrating HealthlinkNY with the SHIN-NY, providers and patients in the region can access statewide health data. Further, HealthlinkNY will promote and assist implementation of population health improvement activities that leverage health IT region-wide amongst healthcare providers.
“Access to these records through HealthlinkNY's single, central, secure platform will allow a healthcare provider to view a patient's complete medical record rather than relying on transfer requests, faxes, phone calls, or even the patient to obtain this information,” according to a statement. “In this way, this expanded network will enable more efficient care coordination, reduce duplication of medical testing, and substantially cut healthcare costs.”
The state is also embarking on several other innovative health care projects including the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program (DSRIP) and Population Health Improvement Program. The work of HealthlinkNY will be key to helping providers meet the goals of these ambitious programs.
As a Southern Tier release further explains, HealthlinkNY is a Qualified Health IT Entity (QE), and as such it will maintain patients' electronic health records from participating healthcare organizations and provider practices across the expansive geographical region, consolidating them into more centralized and consolidated records. The expanded network will enable more efficient care coordination, reduce duplication of medical testing, and substantially cut healthcare costs.
“New Yorkers will see their healthcare improve as a direct result of this important union between THINC and STHL,” said Susan Stuard, Executive Director of Taconic Health Information Network and Community. “By joining forces, we will be able broaden our current services for patients and doctors, and expand our policy work.”
Governance for HealthlinkNY will consist of a combined 20-person Board and the merger is subject to review and approval by the office of the New York State Attorney General and the Supreme Court of New York County prior to becoming effective.