The Michigan Health Information Alliance (MiHIA) started on April 7 2007. MiHIA was initially funded by the $304,900 planning phase grant. MiHIA was 1 of 6 to receive the grant. The fiduciary agent of MiHIA is the Central Michigan University-Research Corporation.  

With an Executive Council and 6 Advisory Groups MiHIA has increasingly established their engagement with the community by including such members as GM, Dow Chemical, Dow Corning, Bay Regional Medical Center, Covenant Medical Center, St. Mary’s of Michigan, and many others.

 In December 2007, MiHIA hosted the “HIE Basic Building Blocks Workshop” at Central Michigan University. The workshop was a success and provided each member in attendance with a better understanding and vision of how a functional Health Information Exchange should be formed and implemented. The members from Hewlett Packard were obliging with their desire to ensure that everyone could understand the HIE Blueprint and provided a tremendous amount of clarity on the actions that must be executed in order to strategically form a valuable HIE. Also in December 2007, MiHIA conducted its second mailing. The mailing was to inform physicians and stakeholders in the region about MiHIA’s progress in regards to Health Information Exchange, progress towards the Blueprint, and expanding membership.  

In the summer of 2008, MiHIA contracted with the Center for Applied Research and Rural Studies (CARRS) at Central Michigan University to conduct surveys of physicians and office managers of physician offices in the 11-county, mid-Michigan region served by MiHIA.  In the physician survey questions focused on physicians’ views about their current system for receiving the results of patients’ tests and consultations and on their views about new systems for exchanging such information. In the office manager survey questions focused on the ways in which computers are currently used in the physician office setting, on the ways in which reports on patient tests and consultations are received, and on interest in new ways of exchanging health information.  

In July 2008, MiHIA submitted the Chartered Value Exchange application. In September 2008, MiHIA received formal designation as a Chartered Value Exchange from the Health and Human Services. Chartered Value Exchanges are community-based multi-stakeholder collaborative on the forefront of implementing cutting-edge ways to transform health care at the local level. Providers, employers, insurers, and community leaders achieve this special Federal distinction for their strong commitment to improving quality and value in health care. Along with this designation came a tremendous amount of educational tools for MiHIA and members. MiHIA became part of the CVE Learning Network which provides a tremendous amount of valuable information.   

In July 2008, MiHIA conducted its third mailing. The mailing included two brochures; a progress report brochure and a general information brochure. The mailing was sent to physicians, hospitals, physician offices, community representatives throughout the Medical Trading Area (MTA). The mailing served as a tool to effectively improve MiHIA’s community engagement. 

In September 2008, MiHIA conducted Focus Groups meetings within the MTA region. The purpose was to learn how key community service providers view the current state of health information record keeping and how they evaluate the strengths and possible weakness of new initiatives are critical to efforts to make health information exchange successful in the future. The focus group participants included county collaborative body members, community service providers, and healthcare providers. Additionally, the participants provided MiHIA with information on how best to communicate Health Information Technology with community residents. 

In November 2008, MiHIA hosted a seminar at Saginaw Valley State University. The purpose of the seminar was to increase knowledge about the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and provide practical information about how physicians and their practices can successfully implement a PCMH. The PCMH attracted around 85 attendees which included healthcare providers, healthcare executives, insurance providers, etc. The PCMH assures comprehensive, accessible, and high quality health care that is based on an ongoing personal relationship with a physician. Care is provided or coordinated across the entire spectrum of health needs and through conditions that arise throughout the stages of life.  Together with its emphasis on continuity of care and its focus on preventive health services, the PCMH presents a definitive step forward in solving many of the chronic problems of the U.S. Health Care System.  

In December 2008, MiHIA hosted the Michigan State Medical Society at an expanded Clinical Workgroup meeting. At the meeting representatives from the Michigan State Medical Society and Covisint will presented a new collaborative solution called MSMS Connect.  

MSMS Connect is a new tool available to physicians across Michigan to connect electronically. Participation in MSMS Connect is a free benefit for the Michigan State Medical Society’s 15,000 physician members. MSMS Connect will enable secure messaging, including patient-specific information from physician-to-physician. The partnership is believed to be the nation’s first network sponsored by a statewide medical society that connects multiple physician organizations.  Healthcare providers and IT specialists came to learn about the exciting new project.