Additions make organization one of the nation’s largest, self-sustaining HIOs
Jersey Health Connect Expands Reach of Health Information Exchange with Three New Member Organizations
RelayHealthLynne Durham, 770-237-7506
Jersey Health Connect, one of four state-recognized health information organizations (HIOs) in New Jersey, today announced that three additional organizations have joined the HIO: Palisades Medical Center, a 202-bed organization serving approximately 350,000 people in southern Bergen and Hudson counties; Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, a 547-bed organization serving Bergen County; and Deborah Heart and Lung Center, an 89-bed specialty hospital providing heart, lung and vascular care to patients in the greater Burlington, Mercer and Ocean County area. This expands to 21 the number of organizations which have committed to the secure exchange of health information as part of Jersey Health Connect, which now forms one of the country’s largest self-sustaining health information organizations, covering more than six million people in northern and central New Jersey.
Jersey Health Connect is powered by a set of health information exchange and patient engagement services provided by RelayHealth to enable the secure exchange of health information between patients and providers or between providers and other providers. Jersey Health Connect has benefited from Federal and New Jersey State funding to accelerate its mission. However, unlike many publically funded HIOs, Jersey Health Connect’s business model is self-sustaining, meaning that exchange participants fund the Jersey Health Connect mission on an ongoing basis.
“As Hurricane Sandy demonstrated, secure access to health information when and where it is needed is an urgent part of our member organization’s mission to provide secure access to information for the delivery of high-quality care for the people of New Jersey,” said Jacque Brodt-Suggs, chair, Jersey Health Connect communications committee. “By choosing to participate in Jersey Health Connect, these organizations are demonstrating national and regional leadership, and are enhancing the excellent care they provide to their patients.”
“Jersey Health Connect has made a profound commitment to the health of the communities the organization serves,” said Jeff Felton, President, RelayHealth. “By enabling the secure exchange of health information, participating organizations will help improve care efficiency and positively impact outcomes. RelayHealth is proud to be associated with this forward-thinking organization.”
The Northern and Central New Jersey Health Information Exchange (HIE) Collaborative was officially incorporated February 1, 2010, under the name “Jersey Health Connect.” It is one of four s in the state awarded economic stimulus grant funds from the $11.4 million that New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority received from the Department of Health and Human Services. The funds will help the collaboration of competing providers — hospital systems and physician organizations serving 6 million people in 10 counties (2008 statistics) — to support rapid stakeholder expansion and adoption of current data exchange efforts regionally and state-wide. New Jersey's Office of e-HIT administers the grants disbursed through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Jersey Health Connect Mission
RelayHealth, McKesson’s connectivity business, enables the secure exchange of clinical, financial and administrative information between patients, providers, payers, pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers and government agencies. RelayHealth processes nearly 16 billion healthcare transactions annually by integrating the delivery of high-quality care and improving the financial outcomes for its customers. For more information, call 888.743.8735, or visit our Web site at . Follow us on Twitter (@RelayHealth) or visit the RelayHealth Facebook page