Health Advancement Collaborative of CNY Initiatives

In 2007, the Collaborative partnered with Southern Tier Health Link (STHL) www.sthlny.com , an existing regional health information network (RHIO) to develop the capacity to share patient clinical information across Central New York providers.  The two organizations co-applied and were award $7.8 million in state funds in March 2008 for their ‘Southern Tier and Central New York HealthLink' initiative, with STHL as the awardee. 

Grant funds will build the capacity for physicians, patients, hospitals, pharmacies, and labs to exchange patient information electronically across seven counties in the Southern Tier and Central New York regions.  Ultimately, the goal is for our region to connect with others across the state as part of the planned State Health Information Network of New York (SHIN-NY).   A description of the Southern Tier and Central New York HealthLink initiative is available here.  A press release on the award is available here.

In Onondaga County, funds would allow patient information to be shared among the four local hospitals, four large physician practices, the local community health center, and a large lab. The focus of the Collaborative's work initially is on the electronic exchange of lab, radiology and medication information.

One of the Collaborative's core principles is that the clinical information exchange must be self-sustaining over time.  To date, $500,000 in matching funds has been pledged in start-up costs by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Anheuser-Busch, MVP Heath Care, and National Grid.  The Collaborative is the final stages of developing a business plan that will allow the exchange to be self-supporting.