Changescape Awarded $580,000 Grant for Health

Information Exchange Planning

Birmingham - ChangeScape, Inc., a healthcare strategy firm based in Birmingham, Mich., was awarded a $580,000 grant by The Michigan Department of Community Health and Information Technology to develop the technical specifications, business plan and community support to implement a Health Information Exchange (HIE) in Southwest Michigan in Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties.

This grant, effective Sept. 1, is one of two planning grants awarded this year to promote a statewide electronic infrastructure that will streamline the secure and confidential electronic exchange of patient data among healthcare providers in a faster, safer and more efficient manner to improve the quality of care. Grants for seven other regions in the state were awarded last year.

"We are so pleased with the grant and are looking forward to working closely with the healthcare leadership of Southwest Michigan on this important initiative," said Mindy Richards, president and CEO of ChangeScape. "We know the Southwest healthcare community well, and the healthcare leadership, employers and philanthropists in the region are so progressive and represent the standard of thought leadership on statewide and national levels.

“This is important work and has implications for other regions of the state, as well.  Ultimately, when the HIE is completed, it will dramatically improve the delivery of healthcare services and patient safety and reduce operational costs.” When completed, the Southwest Michigan HIE will have the capacity to connect hospitals, physicians and healthcare service providers within five healthcare systems (Bronson Healthcare Group,

Borgess Health, Lakeland HealthCare, Battle Creek Health System and Oaklawn Hospital) in the region.