The MHA hosted a webinar Sept. 29 with Access Health on how Community Information Exchanges (CIEs) can improve health outcomes, as part of the MHA Health Access & Community Impact Office Hours’ educational programming, and in coordination with ongoing Community Benefit Collaborative efforts.
CIEs can provide an established infrastructure for connecting hospitals with community-based organizations, allowing hospitals to make referrals, facilitate connections to needed services, and track whether patients successfully received support. Recognizing this potential, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) continues to invest in statewide CIE efforts. Through its participation on the MDHHS CIE Advisory Committee, the MHA continues to evaluate the role of hospitals and health systems in advancing CIEs and encourages members to stay informed as this work evolves.
Access Health presenters included Samantha Cornell, COO, and Miranda Smith, systems alignment manager. They provided an overview of CIEs and how shared infrastructure can help strengthen connections between healthcare and community-based organizations.
CIEs create a coordinated approach to sharing information, making it easier for organizations to identify community resources, make referrals and follow up with individuals to address social needs. Access Health highlighted real-world examples of CIEs addressing food insecurity and strengthening connections to community-based organizations. They also discussed how CIEs can support community health workers by using tools, such as directories like 211, that identify resources available in the community. The discussion emphasized that investing in shared infrastructure and cross-sector partnerships can help organizations move beyond individual referral efforts toward a more coordinated system that supports long-term sustainability and improved community connections.
Access Health is a West Michigan nonprofit that serves as a coordinating entity for Community Information Exchange work within West Michigan and works locally, regionally and statewide to strengthen the community infrastructure needed to better connect healthcare and social care.
Members with questions may contact Nadia Syed at the MHA.
Phone: (517) 703-8601
Fax: (517) 703-0628
