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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 20, 2006

CONTACT:
Alan Hill
Innovation Valley Health
Information Network
(865) 522-0360

Jennifer Wiggins
AkinsCrisp Public Strategies
(865) 680-1457

Innovation Valley Health Information Network Announces Board of Directors and Hosts Community Briefings
Meetings Aimed to Inform the Public of Healthcare Network Benefits


KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Innovation Valley Health Information Network (IVhin) announced its broad community-based Board of Directors and hosted a series of briefings in Knoxville and Oak Ridge to inform various stakeholder groups about its innovative purposes. Formerly named the East Tennessee Health Information Network, IVhin is a revolutionary initiative that will allow healthcare facilities in the 16-county East Tennessee region to share patient information through a secure, de-centralized network.

This initiative, is a demonstration of a national model for a consumer-driven, financially self-sustainable, community healthcare collaboration and is being undertaken in collaboration with the Patient Safety Institute (PSI), a national organization based in Plano, TX. “Knoxville competed for this opportunity against Chicago, Denver and Seattle,” said Johnny Walker. President and CEO of PSI. “Ultimately, the choice seemed logical: the Tennessee Valley Corridor, and specifically the Innovation Valley, has the technologies, research capabilities and collaborative spirit needed for the success of this venture. It also has a proven track record in demonstrating the value of programs intended for nationwide roll-out.”

“IVhin will enable patients to have their current and historic medical information immediately available to health providers at the point of care.,” said Alan Hill, Executive Director of IVhin. He added: “In order for this national model to be successful, the community must be involved—everyone from patients and doctors to major hospitals, pharmacies, large employers and insurance carriers. Our first round of community meetings are to introduce the board of directors and begin local outreach and education efforts.”

The newly formed IVhin board of directors represents consumers, physicians, health facilities, employers, and the community at-large. Joining IVhin as 2006 Board Members are Sondra Bridgford, chief executive officer for the Knoxville Academy of Medicine; Roger Brooksbank, M.D., regional medical director for Team Health; Douglas “Buddy” Fain, chief information officer for University Health System; Mark Field, vice president of membership for the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership; Tennessee State Guard Brigadier General David Gerkin, M.D., medical director for Tennessee Valley Eye Center and editor of Tennessee Medicine; Henrietta Grant, community volunteer and retired educator; Chester Maze, senior vice president information services for Baptist Health System; James McTyre, pastor for Lake Hills Presbyterian Church; Kenneth Reese, M.D. Internal Medicine, Summit Medical Group; John Schlenker, senior vice president and chief information officer for St. Mary’s Health System; Merritt Smith, retired business executive and executive committee member for the Knoxville/Knox County Council on Aging; and Mike Ward, chief information officer for Covenant Health.

IVhin board member and Executive Committee Member for the Knoxville/Knox County Council on Aging, Merritt Smith, said,“ I wanted to join the board to be able to represent the needs of seniors in our region and I look forward to meeting with all consumers to discuss the IVhin program.” IVhin is a three-phase program that was launched in January, 2006 after PSI was awarded a 12-month grant totaling $985,000 from the Physician’s Foundation for Health Systems Excellence, a Boston-based non-profit group, to develop the first phase of a self-sustaining Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO). Phase two is expected to begin in the Fourth Quarter of 2006 and run for about two years expanding the system to patients and providers throughout the 16-county Knoxville/Oak Ridge Innovation Valley. The third phase is the continuation and expansion of the network as an active, on-going, financially sustained network.

IVhin implements state-of-the-art technology to improve patient safety, care and quality at the point of service while reducing costs. The network began as a coalition of four founding, local hospital systems – Baptist Health System, Covenant Health, St. Mary’s and University Health System. Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville has already agreed to join as well as several large physician groups and health centers in the area. “Having the participation of all the acute care hospitals in the 16 county region will be critical to our success and we have the five largest systems already signed on, said John Schlenker, CIO of St. Mary’s Health System. When patients receive care in different health care settings, this information will be readily available to physicians and caregivers inside and outside of the hospital.”

The IVhin network will ultimately resemble today’s financial banking cards in which patients will present an IVhin Healthcare Card to allow access to their private health records during a visit to the doctor. Through a secure, password protected Internet-based network, doctors will have instant access to patient histories, including recent diagnostic tests.

“IVhin participants can provide their physicians with their IVhin card at the point of service and the doctor will in turn use it to access that patient’s medical history,” said David Gerkin, M.D. an IVhin board member. “From there, physicians will be able to review information such as allergies, recent diagnostic test results, previous problems and diagnoses, and even a current list of prescribed medications. And the patients will really like the ability to access their personal health record and provide comments and additional information to their providers from their personal computers.”

In addition to the immediate benefits from IVhin where better access to information increases quality of care and patient safety, the costs to both the insurance carriers, employers and ultimately the patient are expected to decrease.

"With accurate and up-to-date health information, better decisions can be made at the point of service," said Kenneth Reese, M.D., an IVhin Board Member. "Your physician's ability to immediately see most, if not all, of your test results, should improve the quality of your care."

“We would like for the healthcare community to let us know of their interest in participation and we value their feedback as to how we develop and roll this out to the community,” said Hill. “These series of meetings are the first of many sessions where we will be engaging our community for input and feedback. Think of it as a follow on to the Nine Counties, One Vision project where we are now moving from planning to action.”

For more information about the Innovation Valley Health Information Network, call (865) 522-0360.

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