Category: Press Releases

Velatura Names Shelley Mannino Interim Chief Operating Officer

Press Releases

EAST LANSING, Mich., — Velatura today announced the appointment of Shelley Mannino as interim Chief Operating Officer, expanding her leadership role as the organization continues to grow its portfolio of AI, interoperability and healthcare technology solutions nationwide.

As interim COO, Mannino will oversee enterprise operations and work across the organization to advance Velatura’s strategic priorities. Her expanded responsibilities build on the leadership she has provided since joining the company in 2022, including her work across customer affairs, health information exchange operations and multi-state interoperability initiatives.

“Shelley is a highly respected leader whose judgement, integrity and commitment to Velatura have made a meaningful impact on our organization,” said Dr. Tim Pletcher, DHA, President and Chief Executive Officer of Velatura. “Throughout her tenure, she has helped strengthen our operations, guide teams through periods of significant change and keep our work focused on the needs of our customers and partners. I have great confidence in her continued leadership as we move Velatura forward.”

Mannino brings nearly 30 years of leadership experience in healthcare technology and operations. Throughout her career, she has led operational transformation across healthcare technology organizations, translating complex strategies into scalable execution while building high-performing, cross-functional teams. Her expertise spans healthcare interoperability, enterprise technology, government service operations and AI-enabled innovation, with a focus on building technology that improves how people access, share and use critical information.

Since joining Velatura, Mannino has served as Vice President of Customer Affairs while also leading Velatura HIE Corporation as Executive Vice President and serving as Executive Director of Florida’s Trusted Data Sharing Organization. In these roles, she has helped advance strategic interoperability initiatives, strengthen organizational operations and guide technology programs that improve healthcare connectivity across multiple states.

“Operational excellence begins with empowering people to execute with clarity, purpose and accountability,” said Mannino. “I look forward to working alongside our teams to continue strengthening how we operate, delivering innovative technology solutions and advancing our mission of improving healthcare through secure, trusted data exchange.”

Mannino’s appointment reflects Velatura’s continued focus on building the operational structure needed to support the organization’s next stage of growth and an expanding portfolio of AI and interoperability solutions.

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About Velatura
Velatura is an AI and interoperability platform provider helping organizations securely connect, exchange and make greater use of data. As operator of the nation’s largest multi-jurisdictional health information exchange network, Velatura brings deep experience in trusted data exchange to a broader portfolio of enterprise AI and interoperability solutions. Learn more at velatura.org.

Media Contact
Emily Mata

Premier Health Network Selects Velatura to Power Enterprise AI Across Physician Network

Press Releases

AUGUSTA, GA, UNITED STATES, September 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ —  Velatura Public Benefit Corporation today announced that Premier Health Network (PHN), a physician-owned clinically integrated health network representing 645 providers, has selected Velatura to power its enterprise AI deployment using Intellibot.

As Velatura’s first commercial Intellibot customer and a strategic development partner, PHN will deploy Intellibot under its own brand, Premier IQ, initially supporting up to 32 users across 18 physician practices. Ahead of launch, the organization identified more than 40 potential use cases for the platform, creating an initial roadmap for applying AI across its operations. The platform can be configured around the network’s people, knowledge, systems and use cases while remaining flexible as AI models and capabilities evolve.

“The opportunity with AI extends well beyond access to any one tool or model,” said Dr. Tim Pletcher, DHA, CEO of Velatura. “We built Intellibot to give organizations the infrastructure to connect AI to their own knowledge, systems and work, with the flexibility and controls needed to use it across an enterprise. We’ve proven that approach within Velatura and Premier IQ represents an important step to bringing it to other organizations.”

PHN has supported independent physician practices and outpatient facilities for more than three decades. Founded in 1993 as University Physician Associates, the organization became Premier Health Network in 2021 to reflect its mission as a clinically integrated network focused on helping physician practices and outpatient facilities succeed in a changing value-based care environment.

As healthcare organizations move beyond experimentation with generative AI, access to increasingly powerful models is only part of the challenge. Organizations must also determine how AI connects with their knowledge, systems and workflows; what users and AI agents are authorized to access and do; and how performance, cost and value are measured.

Intellibot provides that enterprise layer, connecting supported AI models with an organization’s authorized knowledge, systems and workflows within a configurable environment. Models can be matched to different types of work based on factors such as complexity, performance, cost and organizational requirements, while governance and measurement capabilities provide visibility and control into how AI is used.

Capability Packages are how Intellibot is configured to perform specific areas of work for an organization. Built on the common Intellibot platform, each package brings together specialized AI agents, workflows, organizational knowledge, and system connections to support a defined business function. PHN’s initial capability package will focus on quality and gaps in care, tailoring Premier IQ to specific priorities and workflows PHN has identified.

“Premier IQ gives PHN the opportunity to establish an AI capability around the needs of our organization and our practices,” said Geoff Mitton, MHA, Executive Director of PHN. “We wanted an approach that gives us room to pursue the opportunities we see today while continuing to adapt as the technology and the needs of our network evolve.”

Velatura developed Intellibot for its own workforce before bringing the technology into the commercial market. Since deployment, the platform has supported more than 120,000 interactions, with employees reporting significant productivity gains across a range of tasks. That experience has informed the development of specialized AI agents and enterprise connections that allow organizations to extend AI beyond general-purpose assistance into purpose-built work.

“Independent practices are entire companies in one. They care for patients while navigating payer contracts, quality programs, EMRs, portals, technology, reporting and the day-to-day work of running a business. That complexity is exactly what we want Premier IQ to help simplify,” said Nicole Hansen, MAG, BS-SLP, BSN, RN, Director of Quality at PHN. “We’re bringing together the knowledge, systems and resources our practices need and building agents that understand that work. Quality is where we’re starting, but the vision is much bigger: remove barriers, make information easier to access and use, and give independent practices better tools to operate, grow and remain independent.”

Velatura has aligned the development and management of Intellibot with ISO/IEC 42001:2023, the international standard for artificial intelligence management systems.

To learn more about Intellibot, please visit www.velatura.org/intellibot.

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About Premier Health Network
Premier Health Network (PHN) is a physician-owned, clinically integrated health network serving the Central Savannah River Area and surrounding counties. Established in 1993 and operating independently since its rebrand in 2021, PHN supports 645 providers and nine ancillary facilities with services designed to help practices succeed in the evolving value-based care landscape—allowing providers to focus on delivering high-quality, coordinated care to their communities.

 

About Velatura Public Benefit Corporation
Velatura is an AI and interoperability platform provider helping organizations securely connect, exchange and make greater use of data. As operator of the nation’s largest multi-jurisdictional health information exchange network, Velatura brings deep experience in trusted data exchange to a broader portfolio of enterprise AI and interoperability solutions. Learn more at velatura.org.

Media Contact
Emily Mata

emily.mata@velatura.org

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Florida Nonprofit Announces Digital Backpack to Help Families Prepare for Hurricane Season

Announcements, News, Press Releases

FORT MYERS, FL, UNITED STATES, June 1, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — As hurricane season begins, Florida families will soon have an innovative new way to prepare for storms and protect against disaster-related fraud. The Digital Backpack from the Florida Trusted Data Sharing Organization (FLTDSO) will provide 24/7 identity monitoring, fraud protection and AI-powered access to critical documents.

Built with industry-leading partners in identity protection and secure document management, the Digital Backpack addresses a gap that emergency preparedness guides have long overlooked: the digital layer.

The timing is deliberate. After recent major hurricanes, between 30 and 40 percent of claims were denied or closed without payment, often because families could not produce the documentation needed to prove their losses. Florida families lose an estimated $7.7 billion annually to online scams, according to the Consumer Federation of America, with seniors disproportionately targeted during and after disasters.

“Organizing and protecting your digital life shouldn’t be complicated, expensive, or reserved for people who can afford a team of advisors,” said Shelley Mannino, Executive Director of FLTDSO. “We built the Digital Backpack to make it simple and accessible for every Florida resident — and there is no better time to evaluate your emergency plan than the beginning of hurricane season.”

The platform will combine secure document storage with AI-powered intelligence. Members will be able to upload and access documents from any device, then use an Ask feature to query documents in plain language—asking, for example, what their homeowner’s policy covers after a storm—and receive immediate answers without reading fine print. Members will also be able to share their full document vault with trusted family members or send individual documents as needed.

Purchased separately, the capabilities included in the Digital Backpack would cost Florida families more than $1,000 annually. As a Florida nonprofit, FLTDSO has bundled document management, identity monitoring, scam protection, fraud recovery coverage, device security and family planning tools into one integrated, affordable platform.

“The tools that Florida families need to achieve a safe, secure, organized digital life have always been out of reach – whether they are too expensive, too fragmented or too complicated,” said Dr. Tim Pletcher, DHA, Chief Executive Officer of Velatura, the technology company behind FLTDSO. “The Digital Backpack changes that — and we built it on the same infrastructure that we’ve used for over a decade to protect health information for millions of Americans across the country.”

FLTDSO has spent the past several months meeting Florida families at community expos across the state, including Daytona Beach, Oldsmar, The Villages and St. Petersburg ahead of today’s announcement.

Following the launch, community outreach will continue through partnerships with local organizations. FLTDSO offers flexible partnership models for credit unions, senior centers, homeowners associations, faith communities and other organizations that serve Florida families.

Organizations interested in partnership opportunities to bring these capabilities to their members at an even more affordable price are encouraged to contact Shelley Mannino at shelley.mannino@velatura.org.

The Digital Backpack is launching this summer. Florida residents can join the waitlist now at fltdso.org.

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About the Florida Trusted Data Sharing Organization
The Florida Trusted Data Sharing Organization (FLTDSO) is a nonprofit that helps families navigate the digital world safely and confidently. Built on Velatura’s proven experience in healthcare information exchange, the FLTDSO Digital Backpack gives residents one secure place to organize, access and act on their most important information, regardless of digital literacy, language or background. Learn more at https://fltdso.org/.

About Velatura
Velatura is a healthcare technology company and operator of the country’s largest multi-jurisdictional health information exchange network. By unifying secure data exchange with responsible AI, Velatura helps healthcare organizations streamline workflows and deliver smarter, more connected patient care. For additional information, visit https://velatura.org/.

Emily Mata
emily.mata@velatura.org
+1 517-745-8835

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Velatura Names Former Missouri Health Official as Deputy Director

Press Releases

Public health data expert will lead strategic operations and stakeholder engagement

COLUMBIA, Mo. – October 6, 2025  – Velatura Public Benefit Corporation today announced that Zach Kempf, MPH, has been appointed as Deputy Director for the Missouri market, where he will oversee strategic operations and stakeholder engagement for the health information exchange company.

Kempf joins Velatura after serving seven years with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, most recently as Chief for the Bureau of Data Modernization and Interoperability. He led the state’s public health data modernization efforts and managed COVID-19 response initiatives, including training programs for local health agencies and public vaccination dashboards.

At the state health department, Kempf oversaw Missouri’s Immunization Information System and Reportable Disease Surveillance System in addition to managing a team of informaticists responsible for enhancing and updating systems related to Maternal/Child Health, Cancer and Chronic Disease, and Environmental Surveillance. He coordinated with federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and the Department of Health and Human Services on data modernization initiatives.

“Zach brings exactly the combination of technical depth and operational leadership we need to advance health data interoperability in Missouri,” said Shelley Mannino, Executive Vice President of Velatura HIE Corporation. “His hands-on experience modernizing the state’s public health infrastructure,

combined with his established relationships across Missouri’s healthcare ecosystem, will be instrumental as we expand secure data sharing capabilities for providers and patients throughout the state.”

In his new role, Kempf will manage daily operations, develop governance frameworks and maintain relationships with healthcare organizations, providers and technology partners across Missouri. He will also oversee compliance with federal and state regulations, including HIPAA and emerging interoperability standards under the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement.

Kempf said joining Velatura allows him to build on his public health data modernization work at a larger scale. “Throughout my work with Missouri’s public health data systems, I’ve seen firsthand how fragmented information creates barriers to effective care delivery and population health management,” Kempf said. “What excites me about joining Velatura is the opportunity to break down these silos at scale: connecting rural hospitals with urban health systems, ensuring behavioral health providers can coordinate seamlessly with primary care, and giving our state’s healthcare leaders the real-time data insights they need to improve outcomes for Missouri families. This role represents the next evolution of the data modernization work we started at the state level, but now with the tools and network reach to truly transform how health information flows across our entire care ecosystem.”

Kempf’s expertise includes healthcare interoperability standards, data governance, and regulatory compliance frameworks. His experience managing complex public health programs and established relationships within Missouri’s healthcare community position him to advance Velatura’s interoperability initiatives statewide.

Kempf holds a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion, Policy from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the same institution.

About Velatura

Velatura is the country’s premier interoperability platform provider and operator of the largest network of multijurisdictional health information exchanges (HIE) and Trusted Data Sharing Organizations (TDSO). By enabling secure and efficient exchange of critical electronic health information, Velatura helps healthcare organizations streamline workflows, improve care coordination, and enhance patient care. For additional information, visit www.velatura.org.

AI Initiative Tackles Language Barriers for Arabic-Speaking Patients in Michigan

Announcements, News, Press Releases

Velatura and J&B Medical to co-host Sept. 18 event deploying UAE’s open-source Falcon Large Language Model for health care communication

DEARBORN, Mich.,—Sept. 3, 2025— Language barriers in health care put patients at risk of misdiagnoses, medication errors and inadequate treatment, with patients who have limited English proficiency facing significantly higher risks of medical complications. A new artificial intelligence initiative launching Sept. 18 in Dearborn aims to solve that problem for the largest Arabic-speaking population in the Western Hemisphere.

Velatura Public Benefit Corporation (Velatura), in partnership with J&B Medical, will unveil the initiative at the Caroline Kennedy Library in Dearborn on Sept. 18. The technology uses the UAE-developed open-source Falcon Large Language Model (LLM) to provide Arabic-English health care interactions for the nearly 200,000 Arabic speakers in the Dearborn-Detroit corridor.

A 2024 survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that nearly half (48 percent) of adults with limited English proficiency experienced at least one language barrier in health care settings in the past three years. The study showed that 34 percent had trouble filling out forms for health care providers, 33 percent had difficulty communicating with medical office staff, and 30 percent struggled to understand health care provider instructions due to language barriers.

The initiative introduces custom-trained AI models built from the open-source Falcon LLM, specifically designed to provide Arabic-English health care interactions. Plans include expansion to other Arabic-speaking populations in the Western Hemisphere and Middle Eastern markets.

The company’s products, including the Arabic edition of Consent Manager+™ and the Velatura Intellibot™ operating system, represent a new category of multilingual Arabic-English AI products designed for health care applications. These solutions go beyond traditional translation, incorporating Reinforcement Learning with Human Feedback to deliver culturally authentic interactions for Arabic-speaking communities.

“This technology creates authentic Arabic-speaking user experiences that preserve cultural context and medical accuracy,” said Dr. Tim Pletcher, DHA, Chief Executive Officer of Velatura. “By fine-tuning Falcon’s capabilities through our custom-trained models, we’re changing how Arabic-speaking communities interact with their health care providers while establishing Michigan as a hub for health AI innovation.”

J&B Medical, a Wixom-based market leader in health care focused on enhancing quality of life and improving clinical outcomes, brings extensive expertise in health care delivery and community engagement as co-host of the Sept. 18 launch event.

“This initiative demonstrates how innovation can transcend borders and cultures to create solutions that truly serve people,” said Stephen Shaya, M.D., Executive Servant Leader of J&B Medical. “By helping bring Falcon’s bilingual healthcare AI to life here in Michigan, we are not only advancing technology, we are advancing equity and compassion in care for communities across the world.”

While Falcon excels in multiple languages, particularly Arabic, it has seen limited real-world application in the United States. Velatura’s approach bridges this gap, with plans to deliver benefits to citizens and residents in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait through VelaturaAI apps.

Prashant Natarajan, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer of Velatura, explained the technology’s broader significance: “Our custom-trained models, fine-tuned from the open-source Falcon LLM, create a new standard for bilingual health care AI. This isn’t just about better translation, it’s about building AI-first solutions that truly serve people, establishing a sustainable innovation ecosystem right here in Michigan.”

The Sept. 18 event will include demonstrations of:

  • Real-time demonstrations of the bilingual Arabic-English AI products fine-tuned from the open-source Falcon LLM
  • An interactive showcase of the Velatura Intellibot technology
  • Open-source AI solutions for health sciences

Speakers at the event will include Dr. Tim Pletcher, Chief Executive Officer of Velatura; Prashant Natarajan, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer of Velatura; Stephen Shaya, M.D., Executive Servant Leader of J&B Medical; and community leaders from Dearborn’s Arab-American community.

For more information about Velatura’s Arabic-English AI initiative, visit velatura.org/falcon.

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About Velatura Public Benefit Corporation
Velatura Public Benefit Corporation is the country’s premier interoperability platform provider and operator of the largest network of multijurisdictional health information exchanges and Trusted Data Sharing Organizations. By enabling secure and efficient exchange of critical electronic health information, Velatura helps health care organizations streamline workflows, improve care coordination and enhance patient care. For additional information, visit www.veltura.org.

About J&B Medical
J&B Medical is a market leader in health care focused on enhancing quality of life, improving clinical outcomes and reducing health care costs for consumers and businesses. Services include insurance-covered and emergency medical supplies, retail at home, veterinary products and medical technology solutions. J&B Medical is a nationally certified Women’s Business Enterprise. For more information, visit JandBMedical.com.

References
Gonzalez-Barrera A, Hamel L, Artiga S, Presiado M. Language Barriers in Health Care: Findings from the KFF Survey on Racism, Discrimination, and Health. Kaiser Family Foundation. May 16, 2024.

 

Velatura Media Contact
Emily Mata
emily.mata@velatura.org
517-745-8835

J&B Media Contact
Elizabeth Randolph
Elizabeth@ozlinellc.net

Velatura Receives IAM Pioneer Partner Award

Announcements, News, Press Releases

Velatura took center stage in New York City last month, showcasing our groundbreaking work with Docusign at its Partner Day and Momentum events.

These gatherings highlighted how our partnership is reshaping healthcare by moving beyond traditional paperwork. Together, we’ve developed innovative tools designed to improve trust, simplify administration, and support better decision-making, all while laying the foundation for a more connected and human-centered healthcare experience.

Velatura’s collaboration with Docusign is rooted in a shared commitment to transforming how agreements are created, managed, and understood—especially within complex, high-stakes environments like healthcare. As a Docusign partner, Velatura has worked to bring Intelligent Agreement Management (IAM) to the forefront of healthcare interoperability. Together, we’re driving change by combining trusted, compliant technology with real-world, patient-first solutions.

Velatura Receives IAM Pioneer Partner Award

During Partner Day, Velatura was honored with the IAM Pioneer Partner Award, which recognizes organizations that are leveraging Docusign’s IAM platform to deliver next-generation solutions in their industries.

This award underscores Velatura’s leadership in applying IAM to some of healthcare’s most critical challenges. By integrating Docusign’s IAM platform with Velatura’s Integrated Technology Platform (ITP), we are enabling a new level of interoperability, automation, and user-centricity across health information exchanges (HIEs), provider networks, payers, and beyond.

The recognition also reflects the value of collaboration with customers, partners, and stakeholders who continue to drive innovation alongside us. Together, we are not just improving how agreements are signed; we are rethinking how trust is built, shared, and sustained across healthcare.

Launch of Consent Manager+: A New Approach to Consent and Interoperability

Velatura also used the occasion to formally launch Consent Manager+. Built on Docusign’s IAM and ID Verification platform capabilities. Consent Manager+ offers a powerful combination of automation, intelligence and interoperability to simplify and modernize how consent is captured, understood, and managed across the healthcare ecosystem.

J&B Medical, our first early adopter of Consent Manager+, is using the platform to streamline insurance billing consent and manage authorizations for diabetes care, wound care, and other medical supplies. This implementation highlights how Consent Manager+ enhances the experience for both patients and providers, while also improving operational efficiency and ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations

Key features include:

  • Patient-first workflows that guide users through education, identity verification, and consent processes in a clear and intuitive way.
  • Automated consent management, enabling organizations to create, distribute, and track consents across jurisdictions and use cases.
  • AI-powered patient support via Ask Telli™, Velatura’s proprietary context-sensitive AI assistant that helps individuals understand what they’re consenting to and why it matters.
  • Cross-sector interoperability, supporting data sharing between traditional healthcare entities and adjacent sectors like education and financial services.
  • Integration with Velatura’s ITP and Active Care Relationship Service (ACRS), ensuring seamless exchange of consent data and alignment with provider rosters, ADT alerts, and care episodes.

Momentum Event Highlights

As part of the Momentum agenda, Velatura’s Tara Cramer spoke about the importance of intelligent agreements in supporting effective data sharing and care coordination. She emphasized how solutions like Consent Manager+ help organizations maintain compliance while also ensuring that patients remain informed and empowered participants in their care.

Her presentation further reinforced a core theme of the event: intelligent agreements are not just digital forms, they are foundational tools for building scalable, trustworthy systems.

Looking Ahead

Velatura’s recognition as a Docusign IAM Pioneer Partner and the successful launch of Consent Manager+ are important milestones, but they are just the beginning. Our focus remains on continuing to develop tools that simplify complex healthcare interactions and enable more equitable, efficient care delivery.

We are grateful to Docusign for their continued partnership and proud to work alongside organizations like J&B Medical that are embracing innovation to drive meaningful change. As we look ahead, Velatura remains committed to advancing intelligent, human-centered technology that works—because healthcare agreements should do more than check boxes. They should create clarity, accountability, and trust.

Velatura Launches Cloud-Based Technology Platform to Enhance Real-Time Healthcare Data Sharing

Announcements, News, Press Releases

ST. LOUIS, Mo.—August 15, 2025—Marking a significant advancement in healthcare interoperability, Velatura Public Benefit Corporation (Velatura) today announced the launch of its Integrated Technology Platform (VITP) in Missouri, a new cloud-based system designed to improve how healthcare organizations share patient data and coordinate care.

 The platform addresses growing demands for real-time healthcare information exchange and positions organizations to better meet evolving federal interoperability mandates while aligning with industry best practices. 

 “Healthcare organizations today face unprecedented demands for seamless data sharing and real-time interoperability,” said Rich Fish, Chief Operating Officer. “Developed with input from the organizations we serve, VITP addresses these challenges head on. By facilitating seamless integration of comprehensive patient insights when and where clinicians need them most, we’re ensuring that technology truly enhances clinical decision-making and improves patient outcomes across our network.” 

 Built on modern cloud infrastructure, the VITP represents both an industry-wide shift toward more flexible, scalable solutions and Velatura’s commitment to advancing interoperability by delivering clean, actionable data and real-time quality measures directly at the point of care, including: 

  • A centralized FHIR® Clinical Data Repository standardizes and consolidates patient information, making data more accessible across different healthcare systems and applications. 
  • Advanced patient matching and identity resolution uses sophisticated algorithms to improve data accuracy and reduce errors. 
  • Cloud-native infrastructure reduces operational costs, minimizes system outages, and provides flexibility to scale as organizational needs change. 

VITP includes comprehensive regulatory compliance features designed to support state and federal standards, critical as healthcare organizations navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. The platform helps organizations prepare for and adapt to changing requirements, including HTI rule compliance and alignment with the new CMS Interoperability Framework.  

“The regulatory landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, with each HTI rule iteration introducing new complexities that healthcare organizations must navigate while continuing to deliver quality patient care,” said Shelley Mannino, Executive Vice President. “VITP provides the technological foundation that allows our partners to stay ahead of these changes rather than constantly playing catch-up. Our platform doesn’t just support current compliance requirements; it’s built with the flexibility and scalability to adapt as federal mandates continue to evolve. This strategic approach to infrastructure ensures that our network partners can focus on what they do best–caring for patients–while we handle the technical complexity of data sharing, regulatory alignment and industry best practices.” 

The platform’s real-time data access capabilities address common challenges in healthcare data sharing, where delays in data retrieval and processing can impact patient care. VITP allows healthcare providers immediate access to comprehensive patient information during critical clinical decision-making moments. 

This “right information, right time” approach aims to reduce medical errors, eliminate duplicative testing, and improve overall care coordination across Missouri’s healthcare networks. The system consolidates data from multiple sources, including electronic health records, laboratory systems, imaging centers, and more, providing clinicians with a more complete view of patient health status. 

The platform is now operational, with Velatura’s partner organizations continuing their migration from the legacy system.  

To learn more about the VITP, please visit https://velatura.org/vitp/.  

About Velatura Public Benefit Corporation
Velatura is the country’s premier interoperability platform provider and operator of the largest network of multijurisdictional health information exchanges (HIE) and Trusted Data Sharing Organizations (TDSO). By enabling secure and efficient exchange of critical electronic health information, Velatura helps healthcare organizations streamline workflows, improve care coordination, and enhance patient care. For additional information, visit www.velatura.org.  

Media Contact: 
Emily Mata
emily.mata@velatura.org
517-745-8835 

 

Velatura Public Benefit Corporation Applauds Trump Administration’s AI Action Plan

Announcements, News, Press Releases

Washington, D.C. — July 29, 2025 — Velatura Public Benefit Corporation applauds President Trump’s newly released artificial intelligence strategy, “Winning the Race: America’s AI Action Plan.” This comprehensive framework represents a bold, forward-thinking approach to ensuring American leadership in the rapidly evolving AI landscape while prioritizing innovation, accountability, and economic prosperity.

“President Trump’s AI Action Plan represents a watershed moment for American healthcare innovation—boldly prioritizing outcomes over bureaucracy while maintaining essential safeguards. By accelerating FDA pathways, establishing national standards, and investing in critical infrastructure, the Administration has created precisely the environment needed to unleash the next generation of AI-powered medical breakthroughs,” said Tim Pletcher, CEO of Velatura Public Benefit Corporation. “This approach mirrors our AI Censu framework that judges AI by its measurable impact rather than imposing burdensome input regulations. The Plan’s emphasis on public-private collaboration and bias-free systems will transform how we develop, deploy, and evaluate healthcare AI while ensuring America maintains global leadership in this critical technology frontier.

Velatura is especially encouraged by the Plan’s emphasis on several key principles that our organization has championed, many of which reflect recommendations we provided in our response to the Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) prior request for information.

  • Output-Focused Governance: The Plan’s approach mirrors our AI Censu framework, which emphasizes judging AI by its impact rather than creating bureaucratic hurdles around data sourcing or model development processes.
  • Individual Empowerment: By supporting individuals’ rights to create and own AI solutions, the Administration has embraced our Digital Prosperity Initiative’s vision of economically empowering Americans through technology, including robust support for open-source AI development that democratizes access to cutting-edge tools.
  • Balanced Accountability: The Plan successfully balances innovation with appropriate safeguards, aligning with our recommendation for transparency without unnecessary bureaucracy, particularly important as we advance open weight AI models that provide visibility into model architecture while maintaining competitive advantages.
  • Education and Workforce Development: The Administration’s recognition that AI advancement requires comprehensive education, training, and upskilling initiatives aligns perfectly with Velatura’s commitment to an “AI First for People” culture, preparing healthcare professionals and the broader workforce for an AI-enabled future.

The alignment between the Administration’s AI Action Plan and Velatura’s vision extends to testimony provided by Prashant Natarajan, our Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs earlier this year. In that testimony, Mr. Natarajan outlined several prescriptions for AI success that are reflected in the new Plan:

“The Administration’s AI Action Plan represents a significant validation of the principles I outlined before Congress—particularly the concept of ‘AI Fidelity’ where innovation thrives when healthcare AI is judged by patients and providers in real-world settings, not by regulatory checkboxes,” noted Prashant Natarajan, Velatura’s Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. “President Trump’s approach brilliantly differentiates between organizational systems requiring structured oversight and personal health AI innovations that demand flexibility. By incorporating these distinctions into national policy, the Plan creates unprecedented opportunities for Americans across the healthcare spectrum—from individual consumers and caregivers to medical professionals and health systems—to develop customized AI solutions while maintaining essential safeguards for enterprise applications. This balanced framework will accelerate precision medicine development while fostering a new wave of patient-led innovation.

As America’s leading healthcare interoperability platform provider and Trusted Data Sharing Organization network spanning fourteen states, Velatura stands uniquely positioned to help the Trump Administration rapidly implement this visionary plan across the healthcare ecosystem through strategic public-private partnerships. Our established infrastructure for secure health information exchange provides an immediate foundation for deploying AI innovations in clinical settings nationwide while maintaining essential privacy protections.

Velatura is prepared to mobilize our technical resources, healthcare partnerships, and AI governance expertise to accelerate the Administration’s objectives—particularly in developing standardized evaluation frameworks and establishing testing sandboxes for healthcare-specific applications. Our Digital Prosperity Initiative offers a ready platform for demonstrating how the Plan’s emphasis on deregulation can foster patient-centered innovation without compromising safety standards, while our commitment to education, training, and upskilling ensures healthcare professionals are prepared to leverage both proprietary and open-source AI solutions effectively.

President Trump’s AI Action Plan represents a transformative American approach to healthcare technology—one that boldly prioritizes innovation while maintaining appropriate accountability measures. Velatura is committed to working directly with the Administration through robust public-private partnerships to ensure America leads the world in AI-powered healthcare advancements that improve outcomes, reduce costs, and restore our nation’s competitive edge in this critical technology frontier.

For more information about Velatura, please visit www.velatura.org.

About Velatura
Velatura is the country’s premier interoperability platform provider and operator of the largest network of multijurisdictional health information exchanges (HIE) and Trusted Data Sharing Organizations (TDSO). By enabling secure and efficient exchange of critical electronic health information, Velatura helps healthcare organizations streamline workflows, improve care coordination, and enhance patient care. For additional information, visit www.velatura.org.

Media Contact
Emily Mata
emily.mata@velatura.org
517-745-8835

Velatura HIE Corporation Announces Hire of Noelle Parker

Announcements, Press Releases, Velatura HIE

Velatura HIE Corporation Announces Hire of Noelle Parker
Parker is focused in enhancing customer experience, meeting industry demands

Jefferson City, MO – Velatura HIE Corporation (Velatura), a not-for-profit organization offering affiliation, collaboration, and integration opportunities to health information exchanges (HIEs) across the country, today announced the appointment of Noelle Parker, MBA, CMPE, PCMH-CCE as Vice President of Client Affairs for its Midwest division.

Parker brings over 20 years of experience in healthcare consulting, quality improvement, operational excellence, and value-based care to her new role.

“I am honored to join Velatura HIE Corporation at such a pivotal time in the evolution of health information exchange and interoperability,” said Parker. “Throughout my career, my focus has been on demonstrating the value of solutions and products that reduce fragmentation across the healthcare ecosystem in order to improve whole-person care. I look forward to working alongside our stakeholders to enhance the customer experience and meet the multifaceted demands of technological change and regulatory requirements as the industry evolves.”

In her previous role as Senior Consultant at Community Asset Builders, LLC, Parker worked with rural health clinics in Missouri on achieving Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition, data analytics, quality improvement strategies, and population health management. Prior to that, she was the Missouri Quality Improvement Network (MOQuIN) Manager at the Missouri Primary Care Association, where she led a team that provided support and technical assistance to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) on a variety of quality improvement initiatives.

“We are thrilled to welcome Noelle to Velatura as Vice President of Client Affairs,” said Marty Woodruff, Chief Commercial Officer at Velatura HIE Corporation. “She has a wealth of experience in interoperability and data governance, but her true skill lies in her solutions-focused approach and expertise in building and managing relationships. She is poised to help Velatura usher in the next generation of health information exchange and will play a critical role in helping our clients thrive in today’s fast-paced, competitive and ever-changing HIE landscape.”

At Velatura, Parker will be responsible for sales and relationship management across the Midwest region, as well as the development and execution of strategic direction and coordination of business development. She will also work to ensure that Velatura’s HIE services meet the highest quality standards and support the company’s mission of advancing the health of the communities it serves.

Parker holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Webster University and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems from Westfield State University. She is also certified as a Medical Practice Executive (CMPE) by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and as a NCQA Patient Centered Medical Home Certified Content Expert (PCMH-CCE).

 

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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 wwww.velatura.org.

Velatura HIE Corporation and Premier Health Network Announce Launch of CareConvene in Georgia

Announcements, Press Releases

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 todd@careconvene.com. 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