Healthix, Inc., ™ Joins the Statewide Health Information Network of New York Service Platform and Shares Shining Moment with their Long-Time Partner North Shore-LIJ Health System

NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- It's National Health IT Week and one shining example of New York's 2012 achievements occurred this past June, when Healthix, Inc., and its long-time partner North Shore-LIJ Health System, worked together to improve the coordination of care for mothers with high-risk pregnancies. Now, clinical data about both mother and baby is automatically transmitted electronically between physician offices, fetal imaging centers, and hospitals—allowing seamless care to be delivered to both mother and baby prior to, during, and after delivery.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120816/NE58665LOGO )

This electronic interoperability in support of clinical care is a great demonstration of both the capabilities of Healthix, Inc., one of the largest Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIO) in the United States, and the patient-centered focus of North Shore-LIJ.

Also in time for Health IT week, Healthix, Inc. announces its new partnership with the New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC) and its Statewide Health Information Network of New York (SHINY) Service Platform, which aims to create one solid infrastructure underpinning health information exchange for New York State. 

Healthix, Inc. brings its membership of over 165 facilities, seven million individual patients, and 5,000 clinicians in the downstate New York area to the SHINY project, which currently has four other RHIO partnerships: BHIX (Brooklyn Health Information Exchange), eHealth Network of Long Island, Interboro RHIO, and THINC (Taconic Health Information Network and Community), which serves the Hudson Valley Region.

"The case study between Healthix, Inc. and North Shore-LIJ is the very thing that inspires us at the New York eHealth Collaborative," said David Whitlinger, Executive Director of NYeC. "When we get to see first-hand the amazing and transparent work that our colleagues in the industry are doing to improve healthcare through technology, we are thrilled and encouraged to keep moving forward until no patient, wherever they may need treatment within the State of New York, is ever without fast, secure, accurate, and accessible information. Healthix, Inc. is a terrific new partner."

The collaboration between Healthix, Inc. and SHINY is a monumental step forward in making electronic health records secure and accessible to healthcare providers statewide while improving patient care and lowering costs.

"Healthix is committed to working with all of its members to develop innovative and effective ways to improve clinical outcomes and reduce cost, by providing actionable data within the clinician's regular workflow," said Tom Check, Interim President and CEO of Healthix, Inc. "The recent joint initiative with North Shore-LIJ is an excellent example. Healthix's new relationship with NYeC will provide still more opportunities to leverage the SHINY to benefit patients and clinicians."

"North Shore-LIJ is proud of the joint success we've shared, and looks forward to continued collaborations with Healthix and the SHINY to promote coordinated care delivery," said Michael Oppenheim, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer of North Shore-LIJ.

About The New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC): NYeC is a not-for-profit organization, working to improve healthcare for all New Yorkers through health information technology (health IT).
Founded in 2006 by healthcare leaders, NYeC receives funding from state and federal grants to serve as the focal point for health IT in the State of New York. NYeC works to develop policies and standards, to assist healthcare providers in making the shift to electronic health records, and to coordinate the creation of a network to connect healthcare providers statewide. The goal of NYeC is that no patient, wherever they may need treatment within the State of New York, is ever without fast, secure, accurate, and accessible information. For more information about NYeC, visit www.nyehealth.org

About the Statewide Health Information Network of New York (SHINY): The SHINY (pronounced "shiny") is coordinated by the New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC) and functions similarly to a public utility, making electronic health records secure and accessible to healthcare providers statewide while improving patient care and lowering costs. SHINY is a network of information transmitted between users. Like the internet, as more users connect, it grows, evolves, and becomes more secure, efficient, and easy to use. As an increasing number of private practices, nursing homes, clinics and hospitals begin to digitize their records, they have the option to connect to information hubs in their region of the state. These Regional Health Information Organizations collect health record data from the healthcare providers in their area and, with patient consent, allow this information to be shared securely with other providers in the region. The SHINY will connect these regional hubs to create a private and secure network spanning the entire State of New York. To see a video about how the SHINY is transforming health information exchange in New York State visit http://nyehealth.org/what-we-do/statewide-network/.

About Healthix: Healthix, Inc.™ is the premier Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) for downstate New York, formed by the recent merger of LIPIX, Inc. and NYCLIX, Inc., which brought together a wealth of thought leadership, members, partners, and technology to form one of the largest independent RHIOs in the United States. Healthix, Inc. ™ maintains clinical records of over 7.2 million individual patients, and connects nearly 5,000 clinicians at 165 facilities in the downstate New York area and is growing every day. Healthix, Inc.'s™ current membership includes 49 hospitals, 24 long-term care facilities, 5 home care agencies, and 87 physician practices and ambulatory sites.  Healthix, Inc. ™ is a leader in the transformation of healthcare in New York.

About North-Shore LIJ: The nation's third-largest, non-profit, secular healthcare system, North Shore-LIJ delivers world-class clinical care throughout the New York metropolitan area, pioneering research at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and a visionary approach to medical education, highlighted by the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. North Shore-LIJ cares for people at every stage of life at 16 hospitals, long-term care facilities, and more than 270 ambulatory care centers throughout the region. North Shore-LIJ's owned hospitals and long-term care facilities house more than 6,000 beds, employ more than 10,000 nurses, and have affiliations with more than 9,400 physicians. With a workforce of more than 44,000, North Shore-LIJ is the largest employer on Long Island and the third-largest private employer in New York City.  For more information, go to www.northshorelij.com.

SOURCE The New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC)