ATLANTA, GA - Georgia Health Information Network (GaHIN), Georgia’s statewide health information exchange (HIE), recently received two awards from Truven:  the prestigious Truven Health Advantage Award for Overall Achievement as well as a Truven Health Advantage Award for Strategy and Growth.

"We were thrilled to receive the Advantage Awards, it's such an honor," said Denise Hines, Executive Director of GaHIN, who was on hand to accept the award. "I was so surprised and excited when they called me back to the stage for the top award of the evening for Overall Achievement. This is a tribute to our talented team and dedicated partners who are making a difference in the health of Georgians."

The Truven Health Advantage Award program recognizes organizations in two categories – Provider and Payer – that have achieved outstanding results in building greater value in the healthcare system. GaHIN was recognized for creating a “network of networks” wherein patient information remains with the treating provider and flows only when there is authorization. Caregivers can now instantly access information from a multitude of sources through their EHR, enabling more informed decisions about treatments and avoiding unnecessary, expensive tests, according to Truven.

Results can include improved health and clinical outcomes, more effective consumer outreach and communications, performance and efficiency improvement, and strategy and growth. All winners used data and analytics to drive a substantial part of their results, and the achievements of Advantage Award winners are documented and quantified.

Advantage Award winners are selected by provider and payer panels that include prior winners and Truven Health subject matter experts. Each panel reviews all nominations in its class. This discussion leads to consensus on the winners – a maximum of four per panel.

Each of the two panels then identifies one nominee for the Truven Health Advantage Award for Overall Achievement. Truven Health assembles a panel of internal experts representing providers, payers and government to evaluate the two nominees. For 2016, their unanimous choice was GaHIN.

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. www.gahin.org

About Truven Health Analytics

Truven Health Analytics(link is external), an IBM Company, delivers the answers that clients need to improve healthcare quality and access while reducing costs. We provide market leading performance improvement built on data integrity and empirical truth. For more than 30 years, our insights and solutions have been providing hospitals and clinicians, employers and health plans, state and federal government agencies, life sciences firms and policymakers the facts they need to make confident decisions that directly affect the health and well-being of people and organizations in the US and around the world.

Truven Health Analytics owns some of the most trusted brands in healthcare, such as MarketScan, 100 Top Hospitals, Advantage Suite, Micromedex, Simpler and ActionOI. Truven Health has its principal offices in Ann Arbor, Mich.; Chicago; and Denver. For more information, please visit truvenhealth.com.

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GaHIN media contact:  Lynn Hood, lhood@gahin.org, 678-427-5040