ATLANTA, GA - In October 2020, GaHIN was one of five HIEs awarded a $500,000 grant by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). The grant was intended to further support public health organizations, including the Georgia Departments of Public Health (DPH) and Community Health (DCH), in accessing, sharing and using electronic health information, especially data from populations underserved and/or disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two years later, GaHIN is wrapping up the project and measuring success. Most notably, GaHIN has submitted more than one million patient encounters and lab results that meet the DPH and DCH criteria for COVID-19 reporting.
HI-BRIDGE HIE has been a strong partner for the grant, connecting 14 correctional facilities and two large pediatric practices. HI-BRIDGE is in the process of adding 61 correctional facilities through a new connection with the Georgia Department of Corrections.
As a result of the grant, GaHIN now has the processes, technology and agreements in place to support public health reporting during a crisis. And GaHIN will continue to analyze data to identify trends around race/ethnicity, correctional facilities and veterans.
About Georgia Health Information Network
Georgia Health Information Network (GaHIN) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a healthier Georgia by facilitating the use and secure exchange of electronic health information so providers have the information they need at the point of care. The result is improved quality of care, better health outcomes and reductions in cost. GaHIN’s two products, GeorgiaDirect (powered by Medicity) and Georgia ConnectedCare (powered by Truven Health Analytics connect providers statewide and nationally and are free for credentialed, authorized Georgia users.
Media Contact:
Lynn Hood, GaHIN, lhood@gahin.com, 678-427-5040