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Rochester RHIO

New CEO and president named at Rochester Regional Health Information Organization

By Press Release

Submitted photo and press release:

Following a national search, Rochester Regional Health Information Organization has named John Sheehan, MBA, FACHE, as the organization’s next chief executive officer and president, effective Aug. 1. The healthcare management veteran takes the reins from Jill Eisenstein, who announced her intention to retire from the RHIO earlier this year.

Sheehan brings more than 20 years of experience leading health systems and community-based organizations through constantly evolving care models.

He was most recently the principal lead consultant for All Tier Health Care Consulting in St. Petersburg, Fla. Prior, he served as president and chief executive officer of Toledo, Ohio-based Harbor, one of the largest behavioral health providers in the Midwest, and as chief executive officer for its Lighthouse Tele-health subsidiary. 

“Amidst widespread national interest in the role, John quickly emerged as the right leader to guide the RHIO’s ongoing expansion, shaping and adapting to the complex, data-driven care environments across the Greater Finger Lakes region,” said Ann Marie Cook, chairperson of the Rochester RHIO Board of Directors.

“He has navigated nearly every aspect of the healthcare ecosystem, fostering collaboration between diverse entities and consistently delivering measurable results. We’re thrilled that John is joining us and enthusiastic about what’s ahead for the RHIO, our thousands of participants and the 1.5 million residents we serve.”

"I am very excited to join Rochester RHIO as its next CEO.  Working with an impressive staff and our community partners, my intent is to build on the organization’s successful and innovative history of connecting care to improve health outcomes—one patient at a time,” Sheehan said.

Sheehan, who was born in Rochester and spent part of his childhood in New York’s Southern Tier, is relocating to Rochester next month and will enter into a multi-week transition period with Eisenstein. Afterward, Eisenstein will selectively consult with healthcare and community organizations on an independent basis.

As the trusted community steward for secure electronic exchange of vital health information, Rochester RHIO has become a highly valued contributor to the region’s healthcare ecosystem.

The organization’s involvement has consistently been shown to improve near- and long-term outcomes. It has been at the forefront of health information exchange technology, policy, and implementation for more than a decade and its leadership and collaboration at the local, state and nationwide levels continues to grow.

COVID-19 vaccination data across Finger Lakes Region can track 'progress toward herd immunity'

By Press Release

Press release:

The healthcare community across the Finger Lakes Region has a new tool in its fight against the global pandemic: access to COVID-19 vaccination data for the growing number of people receiving injections.

This vital information is available through Rochester RHIO, the community health information exchange, which supports healthcare delivery for 1.5 million area residents in 14 counties.

Prior to this development, community public health officials and clinicians lacked the data needed to ensure that all the residents of our region have access to COVID-19 vaccination. With the change, RHIO authorized users such as doctors, nurses, long-term care providers and other clinical professionals can improve day-to-day care, being able to determine if their patients have been fully vaccinated or not.

The data will also allow a patient’s caregiver to view vaccine brand, timing and other dosing details to improve administration of second injections, which are required for certain approved protocols.

With the availability of this vaccination data, in addition to COVID-19 test results, county public health departments can now access COVID-19 vaccination records to analyze community progress toward herd immunity. Public health researchers can also analyze vaccine reach into specific populations (e.g., by county), equitable distribution and the impact of education efforts, among other initiatives.

“We began efforts last summer to prepare our systems for vaccination data, with the hope that breakthroughs were on the horizon,” said Jill Eisenstein, CEO and president, Rochester RHIO.

“By putting this information in the hands of the healthcare community, there’s even more reason to believe that we can collectively change the course of COVID-19’s effects across the Greater Finger Lakes Region.”

Rochester RHIO is also a data resource for the Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force.

Regional Health Information network video shows its positive impact in tough times

By Press Release

Press release:

A global coronavirus pandemic, racial injustice, economic hardship and political turmoil — although history may remember 2020 for the challenges faced, these difficulties have also proven an opportunity for long-lasting change that will have a positive impact on the lives of residents in the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region. 

In its new two-minute Annual Report to the Community video, Rochester RHIO (Regional Health Information Organization) showcases how the dedication of employees, stakeholders and participants have led to even stronger health data collaboration and infrastructure across 14 counties. It is available here.  

Through the secure electronic exchange of vital health information, Rochester RHIO helps improve care for more than 1.5 million residents. RHIO has been at the forefront of health information exchange (HIE) technology, policy and implementation for more than a decade and its leadership and collaboration have regional, state and nationwide impact. 

“Our community has come together in new ways and RHIO has been there in support,” said Jill Eisenstein, CEO and president, Rochester RHIO. “We’ve helped public health officials track and manage the spread of COVID-19; launched a new advanced clinical query portal and expanded our work with emergency medical services providers and community-based organizations to benefit patients in our region; and, we will collaborate with our community partners to improve the region’s health equity by working to ensure that health information is free from racial bias.”

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

Explore+ Advanced Clinical Query Portal
RHIO’s newly launched Explore+, is a redesigned advanced clinical query portal created specifically for the multiple and often complex demands of Health Information Exchange data environments, providing improved data characterization with options to view data by encounter, consolidated timeline and expression.

  • COVID-19 Reporting 
    From the beginning of the pandemic, RHIO developed COVID-19 reports for each of the county health departments it serves. These reports sort, organize and simplify the data from over 50 laboratory sources for COVID-19 testing. Reports provide health officials with secure and quick access to new coronavirus data on a regular basis.
     
  • Patients Benefit through CBO Connections
    More than 300 regional Community Based Organizations (CBOs), including social services, behavioral health organizations and long-term care facilities, are now connected to Rochester RHIO. By connecting, they can directly and securely access health information for Medicaid and uninsured patients, improving access to treatment.
     
  • Racism is a Public Health Crisis
    RHIO is committed to improving how race and ethnicity data are recorded, collaborating with other regional healthcare agencies and experts to evaluate and reform policies and processes that deliver the most precise information possible.
     
  • EMS Data Improves Patient Care
    A recently completed pilot program now makes it possible for emergency medical services to contribute patient data to the Rochester RHIO and the Statewide Health Information Network for New York (SHIN-NY), enhancing individualized care and improving social services support.

The video and additional story vignettes are now being shared across the region. For more information, visit https://rochesterrhio.org/

About Rochester RHIO

Rochester RHIO is a secure electronic health information exchange serving authorized medical providers and 1.5 million residents of Monroe, Allegany, Cayuga, Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties in Upstate New York.

The service allows a medical care team to share records across institutions and practices, making patient information available wherever and whenever needed to provide the best care. Patients benefit from fewer repeated tests, easier second opinions, a reduced risk of mistakes caused by poor handwriting or incomplete records, and more informed care during office visits and emergencies.

It is a Qualified Entity of the Statewide Health Information Network of New York (SHIN-NY). Health care professionals and patients can learn more by visiting RochesterRHIO.org or by calling (877) 865-RHIO (7446).

Value of electronic record sharing among caregivers underscored by COVID-19

By Press Release

Press release:

The COVID-19 pandemic is shining a spotlight on the value of more complete medical records in assessing and assisting people who need care to become and remain healthy. Now, 300 regional Community Based Organization (CBOs) sites have connected to Rochester RHIO. 

For the first time, social services and behavioral health organizations have a more complete picture of health records, including recent hospitalizations, laboratory tests and imaging, and medications administered. The same holds true for long-term care facilities, who can contribute details about residents that can speed and improve treatment should they fall ill.

Even select non-HIPAA organizations utilize RHIO DIRECT messaging service, which enables secure point to point electronic communication between caregivers. During no other time in history has a holistic collection of health information been as vital to quality care as it is today.

CBOs work to improve the lives of residents in their geographic location, delivering services that address social determinants of health, including education, transportation, socioeconomic factors, employment status and access to healthy food and activities. With this collaboration, secure data sharing is building a more complete medical record for communities and the 1.5 million residents across the RHIO’s 14-county region. 

“We work to assure that all our population can lead healthy lives,” said Jill Eisenstein, CEO and president of Rochester RHIO. “Community Based Organizations interact with people in their everyday lives, and work to address the economic, educational and social factors that have a direct bearing on their health and well-being.

"By working in coordination with clinical providers, CBOs will be better equipped to provide their services, especially during our current public health emergency.”

CBOs connect to the RHIO Contribute service to achieve bi-directional exchange, meaning they can transmit and receive data that helps caregivers make better decisions and provide better guidance. In turn, other health organizations such as hospitals and specialists who also have permission to access the data can use it to help their assessments and recommendations.

Learn more by contacting Rochester RHIO at 877-865-7446 or info@grrhio.org.

The following community participants are located in Genesee County.

  • ARC of Genesee, Orleans (NYSARC)
  • Genesee County Office of the Aging
  • Genesee County Mental Health
  • Genesee County Public Health
  • Mental Health Association of Genesee and Orleans Counties
  • Lake Plains Community Care Network (Batavia)
  • Le Roy Volunteer Ambulance Service
  • UMMC Healthy Living Programs (Batavia)
  • Western NY Independent Living (Batavia)

The full participant map is available here.

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