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UHS Medical Group Launches STHL Web Portal
Southern Tier HealthLink (STHL) is rolling out its Health Information Exchange (HIE) web portal access to all UHS Medical Group paper-based practices. STHL and UHS Medical Group NextGen practices have bi-directional exchange of patient information For those paper-based practices that will not begin using NextGen until 2011 or later, STHL is providing access via its web portal. Training at 16 locations commenced the week of September 27 and will be completed by mid-October. Many thanks to Mitzi Sherba, Robert Phillips, and Gina D'Amigo and all other UHS staff for help in launching the STHL HIE web portal.
Accessing the STHL health information exchange via the web portal is simple. Each user is given a discrete user name and password, and a link to the STHL database is placed on the computer's desktop. After a short training session, providers can log in and access personal health information such as medical history, radiology images, tests and procedures, medications, allergies, and more for those patients who have signed a consent form. Practitioners can access only those with whom they have a medical relationship. Access to information in the HIE is subject to HIPAA and HITECH security and privacy regulations, and organizations are audited by STHL for compliance.
For more information on how your practice can access STHL's HIE Web Portal, call us at , or email Emily Pape at .
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Southern Tier HealthLink Adds UHS Lab Results
United Health Services test results are now available in the Southern Tier HealthLink's (STHL) Health Information Exchange (HIE). The results include lab tests and radiology reports. Results have been available to connected hospitals and physicians since data upload began on September 17.
The sources of these results include UHS Wilson Medical Center, UHS Binghamton General Hospital, UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital and UHS Outpatient laboratories. Specific lab results include general lab, microbiology, blood bank, pathology and others. Specific radiology reports include general radiology, ultrasound, CT, nuclear medicine, vascular medicine, mamography and others.
The HIE technology being implemented allows practitioners to quickly access critical health information such as medical history, medications currently being taken by patients and drug allergies. Other important information on a patient's medical record can be obtained even when a patient may not be able to communicate.
"Adding the UHS lab results is a significant step forward in the building of our HIE," said Christina Galanis, STHL Executive Director. "Now this information is available at the click of a mouse to physicians throughout our community, helping them improve the quality and timeliness of their care."
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Regional EHR Summit a Success
Over 80 individuals attended the Southern Tier HealthLink co-sponsored Electronic Healthcare Records (EHR) Summit on September 22 at Traditions at the Glen. Reaction from hospitals, providers and academics, among others was universally positive.
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Panel discussion featuring Helen Pfister, Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips; Dr. Afzal Rehman, Cardiology Associates and STHL Board member; Jim Figge, NYS Department of Health; and Andrew Finnegan, US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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The event was structured to be informative to both those just interested in EHRs as well as practices that have employed EHRs and seek additional information. The event was cosponsored by STHL and New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC).
The Summit covered a wide range of topics related to EMRs:
- Meaningful use Final Ruling Update
- EHRs 101 for providers considering moving from paper to electronic records
- Patient Communications and Medication Management
- RHIO and REC Meaningful Use Services
- Meaningful Use Incentives, Objectives and Measures
- Privacy, Security and Consent Issues in HIT.
Led by Christina Galanis, Executive Director of Southern Tier HealthLink, and Paul Wilder, Director of Healthcare IT Adoption, NYeC, the very latest information in the rapidly evolving world of electronic healthcare was shared with an enthusiastic audience and further clarified through a panel discussion with several question and answer sessions.
Copies of presentations can be found on the STHL website sthlny.com through a link in the home page story. For more information, contact STHL at or .
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Practice-Specific Consent Forms Introduced
The number of patients who choose to allow their physicians to access their health information through Southern Tier HealthLink's health information exchange (HIE) continues to grow. Currently, over 35,000 patients have said "YES" to allowing their health care providers to "connect the dots" by accessing their medical records through the HIE.
This month, STHL will be providing all participating hospitals and practices with newly revised consent forms. Consent forms will now be provider-specific: Patients will be asked to sign a consent form at each medical practice that they visit, if that practice is a participating member of STHL's health information exchange. The new form will only authorize providers at that practice to access the patient's records, and will give patients greater control over which of their providers can access their health information electronically. Other than no longer offering Global Consent, consent choices remain essentially the same.
If you choose "I GIVE CONSENT," you are saying "Yes, my providers at this practice may see and get access to all of my medical records through Southern Tier HealthLink.
If you choose "I DENY CONSENT," you are saying "No, providers at this practice may not be given access to my medical records through Southern Tier HealthLink for any purpose, even in an emergency."
If your choice is "I CHOOSE NOT TO CONSENT or CANNOT DECIDE AT THIS TIME," you are saying, "No, my providers at this practice may not be given access to my medical records through Southern Tier HealthLink EXCEPT in a medical emergency."
If you would like more information about how you can connect the dots of your healthcare, or find out if your physician is participating, go to our website at sthlny.com/consent to learn more.
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Jack Salo Joins Southern Tier HealthLink Board of Directors
Southern Tier HealthLink (STHL) announced that John C. (Jack) Salo, Executive Director, Rural Health Network of South Central New York, is joining the STHL Board of Directors. Salo is a rural advocate and non-profit executive who has worked in the Southern Tier of New York State for the past 25 years. His experience includes leading health, human service and youth development organizations.
Mr. Salo received his BA degree in 1979 and his MS degree in 1984 from SUNY Oneonta. Current community service roles include serving as a board member for the Southern Tier Independence Center and Treasurer for Central NY Resource Conservation & Development. Mr. Salo is a resident of Greene, NY.
Salo commented, "I am looking forward to serving on the Board of Directors of Southern Tier HealthLink. The unique needs of rural communities and rural health care providers need to be considered as we design and build our health information technology systems. The Southern Tier is predominantly rural and the informed development of health information technology can help close a number of gaps, inefficiencies and disparities in the delivery of rural health services."
Christina Galanis, STHL Executive Director, said, "Southern Tier HealthLink is excited to have Jack Salo join our Board of Directors. His experience in the rural communities of New York State brings an important dimension to our health information exchange as we seek to support all citizens of the Southern Tier."
For a complete list of STHL's Board of Directors, go to sthlny.com.
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'New Staff Members Welcomed!
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Kirsten Griffin,
Database Coordinator
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Two new staff members were welcomed this month. Kirsten Griffin joins the team as Database Coordinator. Kirsten will be focusing on maintaining the patient and provider databases and managing STHL accounts for proper and secure access. Kirsten earned her AAS in Health Information Technology from Broome Community College and she is preparing for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification exam. Her strong background in customer service and provider enrollment for Medicare Part B complements her education and goals. "Quality care and the efficient utilization of health care resources is a community-wide objective. I am thrilled to be part of the STHL team and to share in the comprehensive goal of patient-centered care. " Kirsten lives in Binghamton with her husband Mike and plans to continue her education in the field of Health IT.
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Dennis Sherba
Project Coordinator
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Dennis Sherba joins STHL as a Project Coordinator focusing on hospital and clinical intergration and implementation. Dennis is a recent graduate from Saint Bonaventure University with a B.S. in Computer Science, and Masters of Business Administration. While achieving his academic goals, Dennis was a stand-out player for St. Bonaventures Bonnies baseball team. Dennis has lived in Binghamton his entire life, and is excited to join Southern Tier HealthLink to help improve patient healthcare in his hometown.
A warm welcome to both Kirsten and Dennis!
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Senior Legal Clinic
STHL will be attending the upcoming Fourth Annual Senior Legal Clinic on Saturday, October 23th from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. The event is sponsored by Broome County and will be held at the Binghamton University Downtown Center, 67 Washington Street, Binghamton.
Broome County residents, age 60+ will receive a 30-minute private legal consultation from an attorney in any of the following areas: Wills/Trusts, Powers of Attorney/Health Care Proxies, Medicaid Planning, Landlord-Tenant, Real Estate, Oil and Gas Leases, Grandparent's Rights, Debt Collection, Bankruptcy and more.
STHL will have a booth at the clinic and personnel will be available to discuss the health information exchange (HIE) with attendees. Emphasis will be placed on the many values of electronic healthcare records and the HIE Consent process.
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Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
STHL staffers Judy Selby, Emily Pape, Kirsten Griffin, and board member Christina Boyd
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American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on October 3 was a huge success with crowd estimates at 6,000 - 8,000! Southern Tier HealthLink's team was there to meet and greet participants, volunteers, healthcare professionals, supporters, and most importantly, survivors. Visitors to the STHL tent were given an opportunity to answer a trivia question about breast cancer or electronic health records, and enter a drawing to win two tickets to a Binghamton Senators game for the upcoming season. STHL's
A busy morning at the STHL tent!
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team raised over to $1,000 for the event from family, friends, and business partners. A special thank you to all who supported our team! It is not too late to donate to the cause by going to STHL's website at https://sthlny.com/Events.asp and clicking on the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer icon. STHL employees were proud to be a part of this amazing event, and congratulate the staff of the American Cancer Organization on the tremendous turn-out!
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STHL Staff
Executive Director
Christina Galanias
Project Coordinators
Paul Almy
John Hayek
Emily Pape
Dennis Sherba
Database Coordinator
Kirsten Griffin
Administrative Coordinator
Carolyn Stanford
Help Desk Support Specialist
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STHL is a non-profit organization designed as a partnership which brings together healthcare providers and consumers in Central New York with technology that will improve health care quality, access, and safety while reducing costs.
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