The Kentucky Health Information Exchange (HIE) has signed an agreement with the National eHealth Collaborative to assist providers in their efforts to expand patient engagement by using NeHC’s Consumer eHealth Readiness Tool (CeRT). This agreement was teased by NeHC CEO Kate Berry in an exclusive interview this past week with HCI Associate Editor Gabriel Perna.

Also joining this initiative is Northern Kentucky University and the Kentucky Regional Extension Centers.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS)’s Audrey Tayse Haynes called the agreement a win-win for providers and patients. The CeRT allows organizations to assess where they are on patient engagement initiatives, with real-time progress reports and a resource center. It focuses on four dimensions: informed consumer, empowered consumer, engaged consumer and partnered consumers.

“Patient engagement is a key factor for Kentucky providers seeking to qualify for Meaningful Use Stage 2 incentives and an important part of Kentucky’s plan for health care reform. National eHealth Collaborative’s Consumer eHealth Readiness Tool will help our connected providers lead the nation in using technology to improve patient care,” stated Polly Mullins-Bentley, assistant director of the Governor’s Office of Electronic Health Information.