Category: Announcements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2023

 

Velatura HIE Corporation and Premier Health Network Announce Launch of CareConvene in Georgia
Transition of care workflow improves care coordination, reduces inefficiencies via real-time insights

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Velatura HIE Corporation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization of affiliated regional health information exchanges transforming patient care and public health through the interoperable exchange of critical information, and Premier Health Network, a physician owned clinically integrated health network of 523 providers, today announced the launch of CareConvene in the Georgia market, a critical milestone for the improvement of value-based care delivery in the region.

CareConvene is a revolutionary transition of care workflow platform offered by Velatura HIE Corporation designed to improve clinical capabilities, reduce unnecessary inpatient hospitalization and eliminate avoidable hospital readmission. The platform aids clinicians in the delivery of real-time delivery hospital notifications and provides novel digital tools to establish a 48-hour post discharge patient interaction.

“Healthcare providers are grappling with delayed information and data overload while simultaneously trying to keep up with increased patient demand and ensure the proper and seamless continuity of care,” said Tara Cramer, Senior Vice President of Regional Growth of Velatura HIE Corporation. “The comprehensive datasets we exchange enable CareConvene to equip providers with real-time actionable insights directly into their clinical workflows, addressing potential gaps in care and pinpointing who could benefit from follow up and transitions of care support.”

CareConvene’s clinician-centered design integrates real time admission, discharge and transfer (ADT) notifications. When an ADT event occurs, providers and care teams receive SMS notifications based on specific delivery criteria. They can then filter their patient population using customized attributes to exclude irrelevant ADTs, optimizing patient outreach workflow and efficiency. The platform supports the successful completion of the CMS TRC measure, specifically the 48-hour post-discharge interaction, by employing a secure and innovative digital engagement method for patients who are unresponsive to phone calls or voicemails.

“By aggregating and organizing patient data from various types of stakeholders connected to the HIE, CareConvene connects care teams and their patients anytime, anywhere,” said Todd Bailey, Chief Operating Officer of CareConvene. “CareConvene’s platform removes historic barriers to effective communication and empowers healthcare providers with the intelligence and analytics needed to properly coordinate care across the spectrum to make informed decisions quickly and efficiently, resulting in fewer avoidable readmissions and better post-acute care.”

Through enhanced care collaboration and real-time intelligence sharing, CareConvene’s Transition of Care process helps identify gaps in care, reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and avoidable readmissions, and supports medication reconciliation, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Transition of Care (TRC) measures, CMS Star Ratings and Healthcare Effective Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) technical specifications.

“Premier Health is constantly striving to improve health outcomes, enhance the overall care experience for patients and providers alike, and reduce the need for costly and unnecessary readmissions,” said Geoffrey Mitton, MHA, Executive Director of Premier Health Network. “CareConvene is built for efficiency and interoperability. It eliminates dangerous and costly blind spots by allowing providers to remain actively engaged in patient care following discharge. Thanks to CareConvene, we are able to enhance coordination of care across the entire ecosystem and support the safe movement of people from the hospital back into the home.”

For additional information on how you can implement CareConvene in your practice, please visit careconvene.com or reach out to [email protected]. Executive team members and subject matter experts are available for interviews upon request.

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About CareConvene
CareConvene is a comprehensive digital health platform that connects patients and providers on-demand anywhere through text and video. Our technology allows providers, payers, and patients access to one personal health record for in-the-moment care coordination, education, to-dos, and direct communication that better manages health, reduces waste, and saves time. https://careconvene.com/

About Premier Health Network
Premier Health Network (PHN) is a physician owned clinically integrated health network of 523 providers including 9 ancillary facilities serving the Central Savannah River Area and surrounding counties. PHN was licensed as a corporation in 1993 under the name University Physicians Associates. PHN changed its name in January 2021 to reflect its mission as a completely independent practice organization focused solely on helping its physician practices and outpatient facilities succeed in the changing value-based care environment. It offers a multitude of important services to its provider members as listed below which in turn helps better serve the CSRA community. https://premierhn.net/

About Velatura HIE Corporation

Velatura HIE Corporation is a not-for-profit organization offering affiliation, collaboration, and integration opportunities to health information exchanges (HIEs) across the country. VHIE Corp. is backed by more than a decade of experience and deep acumen in all aspects of clinical information interoperability. Additionally, VHIE Corp.’s service offerings draw on the proficiencies and innovation in research and development. For more information on how Velatura HIE can elevate your health information exchange efforts to the next level, visit our website at wwww.velatura.org

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

For additional information, contact:

Emily Mata | Director of Public Relations & Brand Strategy

517.745.8835 |[email protected]

 

Angie Bass Named Healthcare IT Trailblazer of the Year

Bass recognized for her exemplary leadership, contributions to the field of health IT

CHICAGO – Angie Bass, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Velatura HIE Corporation (Velatura), has been awarded the prestigious Healthcare IT Trailblazer of the Year Award at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) 2023 Conference in Chicago, Illinois.

This award, presented by Medigy and the Healthcare and IT Marketing Community (HITMC), recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, mentorship, and innovative contributions to the healthcare and health IT industry.

Bass has dedicated her career to improving the interoperable exchange of health information, from her leadership in the development of the Midwest Health Connection (MHC), one of the nation’s largest health information exchanges, to her relentless advocacy for the evolution from health information exchange to health data utility (HDU) — a critical next step for our nation’s healthcare infrastructure.

“I am honored and humbled to receive the Healthcare IT Trailblazer award,” said Bass. “I have spent nearly two decades working to improve the statewide exchange of electronic health information, allowing doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care providers to appropriately access and securely share a patient’s vital medical information electronically – improving the speed, quality, and safety of patient care. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to this important work, and I am inspired by the unparalleled potential for progress as we continue the evolution from HIE to HDU.”

Bass’ vision, dedication, and leadership have made a significant impact in the industry. She was appointed CEO of MHC in 2016, becoming one of the youngest in the U.S. in the field of Health Information Exchange Technology. In that role, her advocacy and partnerships secured $10M in funding for corporate infrastructure costs and drafted legislation to create the Health Information Exchange for Missouri, which passed the House of Representatives unanimously. Continuing to build upon that framework, Bass was instrumental in securing a historic $50M investment in Missouri’s health data infrastructure in 2022, which included the creation of an HDU in the state.

As the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Velatura, Bass has successfully consolidated HIEs, community-based organizations, and health information networks to achieve national economies of scale while maintaining localized stakeholder alignment, resulting in cost reductions and new growth opportunities members.

“This recognition is a testament to Angie’s hard work and unwavering commitment to improving interoperability across the care continuum,” said Dr. Tim Pletcher, President and CEO of Velatura. “Angie’s exceptional leadership, expertise in health policy and health administration, and strategic insights have not only positioned her as an expert in the field but have contributed to shaping the future of healthcare. We are grateful to have her on our team and congratulate her on this well-deserved honor.”

In addition to leading Velatura, Bass has also been an active mentor and leader in the health IT community. She established an intern program that allowed women and minorities at the University of Missouri – School of Public Health, to work alongside MHC staff to gain real-world experience. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the HIE Trade Association and CIVITAS Networks for Health. Additionally, she was selected for Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Emerging Leaders Award in recognition of her leadership in healthcare and health interoperability achievements.

“The HITMC Healthcare IT Trailblazer Award recognizes pioneers forging a path for the healthcare industry to follow,” said Colin Hung, HITMC Community Manager. “We are proud to honor Angie for her continued contributions to the field and look forward to what she will do next.”

For a full list of Winners and Honorees for the 2023 Medigy HITMC Awards, please visit the official awards page.

 

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About Velatura HIE Corporation

Velatura HIE Corporation is a not-for-profit organization offering affiliation, collaboration, and integration opportunities to health information exchanges (HIEs) across the country. VHIE Corp. is backed by more than a decade of experience and deep acumen in all aspects of clinical information interoperability. Additionally, VHIE Corp.’s service offerings draw on the proficiencies and innovation in research and development. For more information on how Velatura HIE can elevate your health information exchange efforts to the next level, visit our website at www.velatura.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For additional information, contact:
Emily Mata | Communications Manager
517.745.8835 | [email protected]

Angie Bass, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Velatura, Elected to Serve on Civitas Networks for Health 2023 Board of Directors

Twelve innovative healthcare leaders from both the public, private sector have been elected

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  This week during its monthly all-member meeting, Civitas Networks for Health (Civitas) announced its newly-elected slate of 2023 Board members, including Velatura’s Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Angie Bass, MHA.

“I am honored and humbled to serve alongside such an outstanding group of dedicated industry leaders on the 2023 Civitas Board of Directors,” said Bass. “I am even more grateful for the opportunity to represent the collective voice of the entire Civitas membership – which together represents more than 95% of the United States – and do so with an unwavering belief in the momentum we have generated by increasing the exchange of valuable resources, tools, and ideas. I look forward to working alongside my fellow Board members to shape the future of the national network by amplifying the voices of member organizations, leveraging actionable data to foster continued innovation, and facilitating the evolution of health information exchange.” … Learn more>

For additional information, contact:

Velatura Public Benefit Corporation
Emily Mata | 517.745.8835
[email protected]

Civitas Networks for Health
Jolie Ritzo | 207.491.9979
[email protected]

August 22, 2022

Civitas Networks for Health Selects Velatura Public Benefit Corporation as a Technology Solution Partner for the Patient Centered Data Home® Initiative

Newly formed partnership elevates the role of HIEs in interstate data exchange, creates new opportunities for national exchange

SAN ANTONIO, Texas— At its annual conference, Civitas Networks for Health (Civitas) and the Patient Centered Data Home® (PCDH) Governance Council today announced that they have identified Velatura Public Benefit Corporation (Velatura) as the national technology Solution Partner to support a consolidated national PCDH initiative, after a robust evaluation process in the first half of this year. PCDH is a major collaboration of 45+ health information exchanges delivering critical alerts to providers for millions of clinical encounters each month. The continued growth of PCDH will further advance important regional and nationwide interoperability progress. Building on the initiative’s success to date, the Civitas and PCDH Governance Council engagement with Velatura will further PCDH goals to ensure that the robust data exchange among Civitas members continues to close the loop on care when a patient is seen outside their normal care area.

“Civitas and the PCDH Governance Council are committed to collaboration and to positioning all Civitas members for future success,” said Lisa Bari, CEO of Civitas. “After careful consideration, we have identified Velatura to deploy a new centralized technology platform for the national PCDH network. Velatura brings longstanding commitment to PCDH and the HIE space alongside technology and boots-on-the-ground experience. We believe their cloud-native technology platform will enable us to transition current functionality swiftly while positioning ourselves for emerging market opportunities, all while honoring the critical role HIEs play in linking existing communities of trust and preserving local governance.”… Learn more>

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For additional information, contact:

Emily Mata| Communications Manager
517.745.8835| [email protected]

Dr. Khan J. Nedd Joins Velatura Board of Directors

Bringing a wealth of knowledge in healthcare diversity and innovation to improve health information technology nationally

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Dr. Khan J. Nedd has joined the Velatura Public Benefit Corporation’s (Velatura) Board of Directors. Dr. Nedd is an internal medicine physician, community leader, entrepreneur, and researcher. He currently serves as the CEO of Answer Health (AH) and the founder and CMO of Infusion Associates. Dr. Nedd received his M.D. degree from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and brings decades of experience leading innovative and diverse healthcare teams across the state of Michigan.

Dr. Nedd is renowned for his work addressing healthcare disparities and diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. A founder of the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI), he continues to advise the Michigan organization that works to address healthcare disparities utilizing a three-pronged approach of education, research and advocacy.

“We are delighted to have Dr. Nedd join the board of directors,” said Tim Pletcher, DHA, President and CEO of Velatura. “He has a wealth of knowledge and experience improving health care equity and I have no doubt that his appointment to the Velatura Board of Directors will be a perfect alignment to continue innovation and improving healthcare outcomes.” … Learn more>