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HEALTHeLINK Media Kit
For media inquiries, please contact Laura Jacobs at ljacobs@e3communications.com or (716) 854-8182.
In the News
HEALTHeLINK named Phase 3 winner in Health Resources & Services Administration Challenge
September 21, 2023 - September 21, 2023 – HEALTHeLINK, the health information exchange for Western New York, announced today it is the Phase 3 third place winner out of more than 130 initial applicants of the Building Bridges to Better Health: A Primary Health Care Challenge sponsored by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). The goal of this multi-phase challenge…
HEALTHeLINK president & CEO re-elected to Civitas Networks for Health board
September 19, 2023 - September 19, 2023 – Dan Porreca, president and CEO of HEALTHeLINK, the health information exchange (HIE) for Western New York, was recently re-elected to the Civitas Networks for Health board of directors for a three-year term. He was part of the first seated board in 2022 and previously served a one-year term. Civitas Networks for Health…
HEALTHeLINK awarded $1 million in federal funding to enable availability of advance directives at point of care
September 5, 2023 - Funding provided through Office of National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC)’s Leading Edge Acceleration Projects (LEAP) in Health Information Technology program September 5, 2023 – HEALTHeLINK, the health information exchange (HIE) for Western New York, has been awarded $1 million cooperative agreement over the next two years from the Office of the National Coordinator for…
HEALTHeLINK named Phase 2 winner in Health Resources & Services Administration Challenge
April 5, 2023 - The Chautauqua Center reports significant increases in cancer screening rates as a result of implementing HEALTHeLINK solution BUFFALO, NY, April 5, 2023 – HEALTHeLINK, the health information exchange for Western New York, announced today it is a Phase 2 winner of the Building Bridges to Better Health: A Primary Health Care Challenge sponsored by the Health…
HEALTHeLINK releases 2022 Report to the Community
February 1, 2023 - BUFFALO, NY, February 1, 2023 – HEALTHeLINK, the health information exchange (HIE) for Western New York, is advancing its collaboration with the health care community to further expand the utilization of data to support strategies to improve health, increase access to care, and reduce health disparities. As highlighted in the HEALTHeLINK 2022 Report to the Community,…
HEALTHeLINK named Phase 1 winner in Health Resources & Services Administration Challenge
October 19, 2022 - BUFFALO, NY, October 19, 2022 – HEALTHeLINK, the health information exchange for Western New York, announced today it is a Phase 1 winner of the Building Bridges to Better Health: A Primary Health Care Challenge sponsored by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). The goal of this multi-phase challenge is to enhance access and care…
Study shows better patient outcomes in CPC+ practices utilizing population health management tools
October 6, 2022 - HEALTHeLINK and the Milbank Memorial Fund collaborate to illustrate improved care and efficiency when both programs are in place at the same time BUFFALO, NY, October 6, 2022 – HEALTHeLINK, the health information exchange (HIE) for Western New York, with support from the Milbank Memorial Fund, conducted a study to examine if population health analytics…
HEALTHeLINK announces new additions to board of directors
September 19, 2022 - BUFFALO, NY – September 19, 2022 – HEALTHeLINK, the health information exchange (HIE) for Western New York, today announced the addition of three new directors to its board. Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, vice president of health sciences and dean, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo; Michael Mineo, MD, FACEP, MMM, executive vice…
HEALTHeLINK promotes Jennifer Lane to director, project management
July 21, 2022 - BUFFALO, NY, July 21, 2022 – HEALTHeLINK, the health information exchange (HIE) for Western New York, announced the promotion of Jennifer Lane, PMP/CSM to director, project management. With the organization since 2015, Lane was most recently senior manager, project management office. Lane has more than 20 years of project management experience within IT, health care…
HEALTHeLINK and Population Health Collaborative announce affiliation
June 9, 2022 - Will build on current HIE infrastructure to support strategies to increase access to care and reduce health disparities BUFFALO, NY – June 9, 2022 – HEALTHeLINK, the health information exchange (HIE) for Western New York, announced an affiliation agreement with Population Health Collaborative (PHC) to drive higher quality care, control costs, and improve the health…
HEALTHeLINK releases 2021 Report to the Community
January 25, 2022 - Buffalo, NY – January 25, 2022 – HEALTHeLINK, the health information exchange (HIE) for Western New York, was formed in collaboration with the local health care community to support hospitals, physicians, health plans, public health organizations and others in improving the efficiency and quality of care. As highlighted in the HEALTHeLINK 2021 Report to the Community,…
HEALTHeLINK awarded federal funding from Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to expand immunization information sharing
March 17, 2021 - BUFFALO, NY – March 17, 2021 – HEALTHeLINK announced today it is the recipient of federal funding from the Strengthening the Technical Advancement and Readiness of Public Health via Health Information Exchange (The STAR HIE Program): Improving COVID-19 Vaccination Data: Connecting Immunization Information Systems (IIS) to Health Information Exchanges from the Office of the National Coordinator for…
HEALTHeLINK releases 2020 Report to the Community
February 8, 2021 - Available at wnyhealthelink.com/2020 BUFFALO, NY, February 8, 2021 – HEALTHeLINK, the health information exchange (HIE) for Western New York, continues to play a vital role in the delivery and quality of patient care. As highlighted in the HEALTHeLINK 2020 Report to the Community, the value of HIE has never been more evident. “We understand the unique…
HEALTHeLINK achieves NCQA Data Aggregator Validation status
November 4, 2020 - Raises bar on quality of data exchanged; Helps streamline HEDIS® reporting data for health plans BUFFALO, NY – November 5, 2020 – HEALTHeLINK announced today it is among the first health information exchanges (HIEs) in the country to participate in the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Data Aggregator Validation program. Having recently completed a pilot…
HEALTHeLINK named CPC+ Data Aggregator by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
October 26, 2020 - National primary care medical home model intended to improve delivery of care and reduce unnecessary and costly tests and procedures BUFFALO, NY – October 26, 2020 – HEALTHeLINK has been named the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) data aggregator for the Greater Buffalo Region by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CPC+ is a…
Geoff Allen Joins HEALTHeLINK As Data Quality Manager
May 28, 2020 - BUFFALO, NY – May 28, 2020 – HEALTHeLINK today announced the hire of Geoff Allen as data quality manager. In this new role, Allen is responsible for the data quality and standardization efforts of Western New York’s health information exchange and serves as the subject matter expert in this area for HEALTHeLINK participants, including spearheading the…
HEALTHeLINK announces 2020-2021 Board of Directors
May 13, 2020 - Dr. Anthony Billittier appointed chair; New representatives join board from Kaleida Health, UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Delaware North BUFFALO, NY – May 13, 2020 – HEALTHeLINK recently appointed its 2020-2021 board of directors including naming Anthony Billittier, MD, FACEP, executive vice president & chief medical officer at Independent Health, as chair. Dr. Billittier has…
Statement from HEALTHeLINK Executive Director Daniel Porreca Regarding Updated COVID-19 Capabilities
March 26, 2020 - Alert notifications for COVID-19 testing now available to participating providers BUFFALO, NY – March 26, 2020 – “With the continued spread of COVID-19, HEALTHeLINK is supporting epidemiology and surveillance efforts and a number of other related efforts including enabling tracking and alert notifications to providers specific to coronavirus. “In partnership with New York State Department of…
HEALTHeLINK COVID-19 Notice
March 16, 2020 - March 16, 2020 With the continued spread of coronavirus, COVID-19, HEALTHeLINK services will continue to be available to the Western New York health care community. Health information plays a critical role in the delivery of care. No matter what symptoms a patient may present at the doctor’s office, enabling access to one’s medical history at…
HEALTHeLINK releases 2019 Report to the Community
March 6, 2020 - Available at wnyhealthelink.com/2019 BUFFALO, NY – February 2019 – As the health information exchange (HIE) for Western New York, HEALTHeLINK continues to connect health care organizations, allowing for the seamless exchange of clinical information to improve quality of care, enhance patient outcomes and mitigate health care costs. As highlighted in its 2019 Report to the Community,…
Results from HEALTHeLINK study show decreases in patient readmissions and emergency visits through physician practice integration of health information exchange
February 19, 2020 - BUFFALO, NY, February 17, 2020 – A recent study conducted by HEALTHeLINK in cooperation with a researcher at University of Connecticut and Brookings Institution’s Center for Technology Innovation, demonstrates that provider offices effectively utilizing health information exchange (HIE) technology can help save their patients and the greater health care community both time and money. The…
Viewpoints: HEALTHeLINK deserves community support
November 13, 2017 - By Daniel Porreca and Anthony J. Billittier I As has been well reported, one Sunday morning in April, the entire computer network at Erie County Medical Center was suddenly shut down due to a cybersecurity attack. While the hospital’s IT team immediately worked to bring its system back online, hospital staff quickly switched back to…
MedTech conference highlights the power of partnership and the future of healthcare
October 31, 2017 - The City of Buffalo welcomed experts from the bioscience, pharmaceutical, and medical technology communities this week for the annual MedTech Conference. It’s an opportunity for them to harness the power of partnership and turn an eye towards the future. Winthrop Thurlow still feels relatively new to the job of the MedTech Association’s executive director. He…
Ransomware attack calls unlikely hero to action: Your neighborhood HIE
October 30, 2017 - Erie County Medical Center saga shows why working with your local health information exchange on disaster recovery and business continuity plans can keep you operational, even when your data is encrypted by hackers. On Sunday morning, April 9, at about 11 a.m., Daniel Porreca received the kind of text message no one wants: Erie County…
HIE Use Cuts Costs, Increases Productivity in STI Treatment
October 26, 2017 - New evidence suggests HIE use can contribute to cost savings and increased productivity in STI treatment and management led by public health staff. October 26, 2017 – Health information exchange (HIE) use can lead to cost savings and increased productivity in sexually transmitted infection (STI) treatment and management, according to a new study published in Health Information Management Journal. Haque et…
Study: HIE Proves Beneficial for STI Treatment, Reporting
October 25, 2017 - To calculate average savings of using health information exchange for demographic and treatment requests for chlamydia and gonorrhea in Western New York, specifically the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) and its catchment area, the DOH and HEALTHeLINK, a regional HIE in Western New York, partnered with research organization RTI International.The 2012 results, which were recently…
How an HIE Aided in Recovery from a Ransomware Attack
October 22, 2017 - Erie County Medical Center was the victim of a ransonware attack, but was able to utilize its HIE connection to continue providing patient care. When a ransomware attack hits a healthcare provider, it can obviously be financially devastating, but it could also interfere with patient care. Physicians might be unable to access health records, for example, which…
Western New York HIE reaches 1 million patient consents
October 10, 2017 - HEALTHeLINK, the clinical information exchange connecting hospitals, physicians, and payers in Western New York, has secured more than 1 million uniquely consented patients. According to Dan Porreca, executive director of HEALTHeLINK, this achievement represents a significant community milestone for the eight counties the HIE serves, as it continues to improve quality of care, patient safety,…
HealtheLink adds one millionth patient to electronic system; here is what it means
September 28, 2017 - The agency now has a million individuals who have allowed electronic access to patient information for health care providers.
HealtheLink reaches milestone of 1 million patients
September 25, 2017 - HealtheLink, the regional system for sharing health information electronically among hospitals and doctors, has reached 1 million patients who have consented to have their medical data shared. “Getting to one million patients is a significant milestone as patients hold the key to enabling their treating providers to have a more complete picture of their medical…
Letter: HEALTHeLINK helped ECMC deal with crisis
June 9, 2017 - Letter: HEALTHeLINK helped ECMC deal with crisis The recent ransomware attack against Erie County Medical Center is a stark reminder of the paramount importance of not only electronic security, but also just how valuable health information is. This type of attack is not about stealing information, but rather keeping that information from the clinical professionals…
New state policy allows doctors access to younger patients’ electronic health data
January 30, 2017 - A change in state policy now allows participating providers to securely access data through Western New York’s clinical information exchange for patients ages 10 to 17. Access requires a parent or legal guardian signing an affirmative HEALTHeLINK consent form on behalf of the minor patient. “This change in state policy gives parents and legal guardians…
NY Clarifies Minor Patient Data Access, Maintains Security
January 18, 2017 - Qualified providers can now have secure patient data access through a clinical information exchange for minor patients. January 18, 2017 – Health data security is often a top concern with patient data access, especially as the push for interoperability continues and covered entities continue to utilize electronic devices. Ambiguity can make this process more difficult,…
Minors’ health data OK’d for link
January 10, 2017 - Getting minors’ medical records in HEALTHeLINK, the regional system for sharing health information electronically among hospitals and doctors, has been a problem for the health data exchange. Click here to view the article.
New York Rule Change Allows Clinicians to Access Minors’ PHI via State HIE
January 6, 2017 - HIPAA Journal January 6, 2017 Healthcare providers that participate in the Western New York health information exchange – HEALTHeLINK – are now able to access the health information of minors aged between 10 and 17 after the passing of a new rule covering patient data access through qualified information exchanges. The new rule allows the…
HEALTHeLINK Providers Can Now Access Patient Data for Minors
January 5, 2017 - by Rajiv Leventhal Healthcare Informatics January 5, 2017 Providers participating on Western New York’s health information exchange (HIE) — HEALTHeLINK—can now access data for minor patients 10 to 17 years of age. This new level of access is a result of a change in New York State policy regarding access to patient data through a…
Health info share now includes minors
January 4, 2017 - Union-Sun & Journal January 4, 2017 BUFFALO — Health-eLink, Western New York's clinical information exchange, is now allowing participating healthcare providers to access medical information about minors between the ages of 10 and 17. The access is the result of a change in state policy. “For a child who may see several different physicians, having…
New law enables New York clinicians to access patient data for minors via state HIE
January 4, 2017 - By Mike Miliard Healthcare IT News January 04, 2017 Care providers participating in HEALTHeLINK, a regional health information organization serving Western New York, can now access health data for patients who are between 10 and 17 years old, as long as those minors’ parents or legal guardians have signed consent forms. The access to clinical…
Access to Minor Data Now Available through HEALTHeLINK
January 3, 2017 - As a result of a change in New York State policy, participating providers can now securely access data through HEALTHeLINK for minor patients 10 – 17 years of age. Access to the data requires a parent or legal guardian signing an affirmative HEALTHeLINK consent form on behalf of the minor patient. Consent forms can now…
Is an electronic world a safer world?
October 31, 2016 - Buffalo Business First Supplement: The Future of Health Care October 28, 2016 By Jane Schmitt Contributing writer Security breaches of electronic health records are the exception, not the rule, insist the gatekeepers of patient data. They stand tall in the battle against the “bad guys” with greater awareness, detection and prevention strategies…
More patients across NYS opt-in to shared electronic records
July 28, 2016 - Health-care professionals across New York now have access to medical records on nearly 9 million patients, include more than 832,000 who have opted in from Western New York. Click here to read more.
HEALTHeLINK is Working
June 6, 2016 - It's Working. Are you a physician? Are you a patient?
HEALTHeLINK helps doctors get better patient information, make better decisions
May 2, 2016 - Fresh out of college in 1982, computer science major Daniel Porreca landed a degree in technology operations at Marine Midland Bank. He was working at Computer Task Group in 1997 when his 5-year-old daughter Elise ended up with a rare, stubborn infection that doctors in Western New York struggled to treat. “What I found out…
More Practices Join HEALTHeLINK, Western New York’s Clinical Information Exchange
April 18, 2016 - BUFFALO, NEW YORK – April 8, 2016 – HEALTHeLINK today announced several practices and health care organizations as the newest participants in Western New York’s clinical information exchange. New participants include: Axon Neurology in Niagara Falls Batavia Ophthalmology, PLLC Paul Biddle, MD PLLC in Orchard Park Buffalo Gastroenterology Associates LLP in Orchard Park Charles W. Burns, FNP…
Fredonia practice joins HEALTHeLINK
April 8, 2016 - Buffalo – April 8, 2016 – HEALTHeLINK has announced Fredonia-based J. and E. Medical Specialties PC is the newest participant in Western New York's clinical information exchange. Click here for more information.
More Niagara County practices join HEALTHeLINK, Western New York’s clinical information exchange
April 7, 2016 - April 7, 2016 – HEALTHeLINK today announced several Niagara County practices and health care organizations as the newest participants in Western New York's clinical information exchange. These providers include Axon Neurology in Niagara Falls; Daniel A. Burns, M.D, in Niagara Falls; Middleport Family Health Center; Mount St. Mary's Neurology & Stroke; Niagara County Department of…
Another Voice: HEALTHeLINK is working, but it needs more people using it
March 31, 2016 - Ten years since it was established through the collabration of the region’s major hospital systems and health plans, HEALTHeLINK is working to improve the quality of patient care, enhance patient safety and minimize health care costs. While more than 4,000 physicians and their clinicians are participating and about 810,000 Western New Yorkers have consented to…
With I-STOP now law, local company says electronic medical networking is safe, secure
March 29, 2016 - It’s the first week in New York State of a fully-implemented law known as I-STOP. It’s a law that supporters say prevents attempts at acquiring fradulent prescriptions by taking the process entirely online. Meanwhile, one local company that oversees an online network says their system is safe and secure. The first phase of I-STOP led…
Study: Too Many Docs Served by HIE Order Duplicate CT Scans
March 6, 2014 - An 18-month study at HEALTHeLINK, the health information exchange serving western New York, finds more than 2,700 CT scans–10 percent of the total such scans of three parts of the body ordered during the period–were potentially unnecessary duplicate scans. Click here to read more.