Milwaukee Co. Exec. Abele: Announces collaboration with the Wisconsin Statewide Health Information Network

CONTACT: Nate Holton, Director of Communications

414.278.5281 Office

Nate.Holton@MilwaukeeCountyWI.gov

Twitter: @MkeCoExecPress

Milwaukee County Announces Collaboration With The Wisconsin Statewide Health Information Network

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County is pleased to announce a new collaboration aimed at improving care coordination and discharge planning for Family Care members admitted to hospitals and emergency rooms in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee County Department of Family Care (MCDFC) has joined the Wisconsin Statewide Health Information Network (WISHIN), an information exchange connecting physicians, clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, and clinical laboratories across Wisconsin.

“Our partnership with WISHIN is another example of the priority we place on increasing efficiency in all of our operations,” said County Executive Chris Abele. “We will always seek out opportunities to engage in information sharing that improves outcomes, reduces costs, and protects client confidentiality. We’re very excited about this opportunity.”

As the first Family Care Managed Care Organization (MCO) to join WISHIN, MCDFC will benefit from enhanced communication between medical providers and MCDFC case managers, ensuring Family Care members receive coordinated care as they transition from a hospital setting back into the community.

“Rapid, seamless communication is the key to keeping our members healthy and reducing redundant medical costs” said Dr. Seth Foldy, MCDFC Medical Director.

Prior to this collaboration, countless hours were spent with medical providers and MCDFC case managers working to connect with each other and coordinate discharge planning on behalf of the people they serve. Through collaboration with WISHIN, medical providers and MCDFC case managers will receive real-time information about MCDFC members to facilitate improved care coordination that will reduce the length of hospital stays, improve discharge planning, and reduce the number of preventable readmissions.

The Milwaukee County Department of Family Care is already engaged in paper-based collaborations of piloting enhanced discharge planning with some Milwaukee area hospitals. “With WISHIN, our goal is to make such care management automatic and seamless,” said Eva Williams, MCDFC Chief Clinical Officer.

About WISHIN

WISHIN aims to promote and improve the health of individuals and communities in Wisconsin through the development of information-sharing services that facilitate electronic delivery of the right health information at the right place and right time, to the right individuals. To learn more about WISHIN visit www.wishin.org.

About MCDFC

The Milwaukee County Department of Family Care provides community-based services and supports to over 8,500 older adults and people with disabilities across eight Wisconsin counties including Kenosha, Milwaukee; Ozaukee, Racine; Sheboygan; Walworth, Washington and Waukesha. Services include home and community-based services and supports such as home health care, durable medical equipment, physical therapy and other services designed help people stay as independent as possible. For more information about the Milwaukee County Department of Family Care visit www.mcdfcsewi.com.