The Southwest Michigan Health
Information Exchange is in the planning
stages that will soon result in a secure
online resource developed by and for
doctors, hospital systems, health
insurers and privacy officers throughout
Berrien, Branch, Cass, Calhoun,
Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren
counties.
Its purpose is to share essential
patient information quickly and
accurately with authorized health care
providers.
The Southwest Michigan Health
Information Exchange planning initiative
is being coordinated by ChangeScape – a
Birmingham-based health care management
advisory firm -- during 2008 and 2009 as
part of a nationwide effort to improve
our health care system.
In collaboration with the Michigan
Department of Community Health, the
Michigan State University/Kalamazoo
Center for Medical Studies, and all five
of the region’s major healthcare
providers -- Battle Creek Health System,
Borgess Healthcare, Bronson Health Care
Group, Lakeland Health Care, Oaklawn
Hospital -- all parties are working to
improve how health care is delivered.
“This highly cooperative effort among
otherwise competing providers speaks
volumes about the level of commitment by
these providers to making the health
information exchange a patient-centric
system,” said ChangeScape CEO Mindy
Richards. “Above all else, all
providers expressed their desire to
first serve the needs of the patient
community. We are also looking for other
participants in the healthcare community
that can provide resources and expertise
to help in planning and designing this
online health information exchange.”
Those interested in participating in
the planning phase of this project are
encouraged to contact
info@changescapeinc.com.
Additional information on the
Southwest Michigan Health Information
Exchange is available at
www.mihealthelink.org.
ChangeScape, founded in 1995,
provides business services and
strategic, policy making and capital
acquisition consulting for health care
systems. For more information on
ChangeScape, visit
www.changescapeinc.com.
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