This podcast is one in a series of Healthcare Informatics Innovator Award podcasts, which are highlighting this year’s Innovator Award winners. The HCI Innovator Awards Program recognizes leadership teams from patient care organizations -- hospitals, medical groups, health systems and others -- that have effectively deployed information technology in order to improve clinical, administrative, financial, or organizational performance. This year’s winners will be honored at the Innovator Reception at the upcoming HIMSS Conference in Las Vegas.

In this podcast  Jennifer Prestigiacomo, associate editor at Healthcare Informatics, speaks with Doug Dietzman, executive director of Michigan Health Connect, a Grand Rapids-based HIE founded by leading Michigan health systems, which won second place in our Innovator Awards program. Attempting to bridge the divide between primary and specialty care, Michigan Health Connect developed a free referrals app for community physicians. The value and ease of use spurred rapid adoption and made this project well qualified for the Healthcare Informatics Innovator Award. What really is impressive is how this app can not only be used to transform communication now just between primary and specialty care, but how it can be applied to other areas of healthcare.

For more information on Michigan Health Connect’s eReferral app check out the February issue online. Also stay tuned for next week’s podcast with the first place winner New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.