ATLANTA, GA--(Marketwired - Dec 8, 2016) - Denise Hines, DHA, PMP, FHIMSS, CEO of eHealth Services Group and Executive Director of Georgia Health Information Network (GaHIN), received the Phoenix Community Leader of the Year Award at the 2016 Health IT Leadership Summit. Dr. Hines was recognized for her instrumental role in advancing healthcare connectivity in Georgia to ensure physicians have the information they need to deliver quality care.
The Phoenix award represents the iconic "rising from the ashes" of the Phoenix -- a symbol of strength, tenacity and leadership. Each year, four awards are presented by the Metro Atlanta Chamber in the following categories: Start-up Company of the Year, Emerging Company of the Year, Hospital of the Year and Community Leader of the Year. In 2016, the Community Leader Award was renamed for Pat Williams, long-time advocate and supporter of the HIT community in Georgia.
"The Metro Atlanta Chamber Bioscience-Health IT Leadership Council is pleased to recognize Dr. Denise W. Hines and her accomplishments in the health information technology sector," said Robert Hendricks, SVP and CIO/CTO of McKesson Technology Solutions and chair of MAC's Bioscience-Health IT Leadership Council. "As a national leader in health information exchanges, Dr. Hines is the model recipient for the inaugural Pat Williams' Community Leader of the Year Award. She has demonstrated an ongoing dedication to advocate for technology innovation in health and healthcare delivery. We're proud to have her representing Georgia as part of the National HIMSS Board of Directors and National HIMSS Public Policy Committee."
"I am honored to receive this recognition from the Metro Atlanta Chamber," said Dr. Hines. "I am both thrilled and humbled to be the inaugural recipient of an award named for Pat Williams, who shows selfless dedication to advancing health IT in Georgia. I credit my terrific team, my friends and mentors, and my family with the support and insights to continue the push to bring better healthcare to Georgia and our country."
Dr. Hines heads eHealth Services Group and also serves as the Executive Director of Georgia Health Information Network (GaHIN). GaHIN is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a healthier Georgia by facilitating the use and secure exchange of electronic health information so providers have the information they need at the point of care. The result is improved quality of care, better health outcomes and reductions in cost.
As Executive Director of GaHIN, Dr. Hines has led the initiative to connect the state health information exchange (HIE) to two national networks for information exchange, made Georgia one of the first state HIEs to connect directly to other states, created connections with five state agencies and spurred participation in the HIE by Grady, CHOA, Emory and numerous other state hospitals and healthcare providers.
Dr. Hines is Chair Elect of the North America Board of the Health Information & Management Systems Society (HIMSS). She is the past president of the Georgia Chapter of HIMSS and was recognized as the 2012 HIMSS Chapter Leader of the Year, with GA HIMSS recognized as the 2012 Chapter of the Year. She was also an honoree as the 2012 Woman of the Year in Technology.
Dr. Hines has more than two decades of healthcare experience in a variety of settings, including health systems, physician offices, home health, technology vendors, consulting, state government and revenue management. She is renowned for building service and results-oriented organizations and she possesses a passion for the widespread integration of technology and healthcare.
Nationally recognized as an expert in state government in health information exchanges (HIE), Dr. Hines has participated in hundreds of public speaking events locally and nationally, educating providers on the benefits of electronic health record (EHR) systems, health information technology adoption, and the overall national vision for an interconnected health system.
Dr. Hines was responsible for overseeing and managing the marketing and outreach recruitment of more than 5,200 healthcare providers and 56 critical access and rural hospitals, assisting these providers in meeting meaningful use requirements and qualifying for the CMS EHR incentive program. She participated on Georgia's HIE Strategic and Operational Plan writing team and served as the co-chair of the HIE Governance Committee. She successfully launched Georgia's first comprehensive health information transparency and HIE website. She served as the first Executive Director for the GA Health Information Technology Advisory Board and created Georgia's two-, five-, and 10-year strategic plans for health information technology. She also created and implemented the Georgia HIE Grants Awards Program that awarded $1,800,000 in grants in the first and second years.
Dr. Hines holds her doctorate in healthcare administration where she focused her studies on the use of electronic personal health records and the impact on patient health. She also maintains certifications in project management, software development, and healthcare law.
About Georgia Health Information Network
Georgia Health Information Network (GaHIN) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a healthier Georgia by facilitating the use and secure exchange of electronic health information so providers have the information they need at the point of care. The result is improved quality of care, better health outcomes and reductions in cost. GaHIN's two products, GeorgiaDirect (powered by Medicity) and Georgia ConnectedCare (powered by Truven Health Analytics) connect providers statewide and nationally and are free for credentialed, authorized Georgia users. www.gahin.org
About the Health IT Leadership Summit
Now in its 7th year, the Health IT Leadership Summit brings together leaders from across the healthcare continuum to discuss how the industry can drive innovation to enable better healthcare delivery at lower costs to more people. Supported by a founding partnership that includes the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, and the Technology Association of Georgia's Health Society, the event offers attendees a full day of informational sessions, innovative exhibits, and networking opportunities. Key presentation topics focus on interoperability, IT security, clinical applications, and funding. www.HealthITLeadershipSummit.com
Contact Information:
GaHIN media contact:
Lynn Hood
lhood@gahin.org
678-427-5040