News

The New Jersey Department of Health has awarded a grant of $1 million to NJSHINE, a new Health Information Organization covering southern New Jersey to improve healthcare delivery through real-time exchange of critical patient information.

"The creation of this new Health Information Organization for South Jersey marks another step forward in expanding the use of Health Information Technology to better coordinate patient care in our state," said Health Commissioner Mary E. O'Dowd. "NJSHINE will connect seven hospitals, 400 health providers and 22 practices in Southern New Jersey-enabling providers to have accurate and complete patient information such as medical histories, medication allergies and test results."

A Health Information Organization is a group of health stakeholders that come together to facilitate the transfer of healthcare information electronically across providers for the purpose of improving health and delivery of care in a community.

New Jersey currently has four health information organizations:
· Health-e-Citi connects greater Newark area providers
· Jersey Health Connect which covers northern and central New Jersey
· Trenton HIE which connects Trenton area providers
· Camden HIE which connects Camden area providers

With today's announcement, NJSHINE will serve a seven county area including, Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.

Hospitals that will be connected through NJSHINE include Shore Medical Center, Underwood Memorial Hospital, South Jersey Healthcare facilities including the South Jersey Regional Medical Center, Bridgeton Health Center, Elmer Hospital, and Vineland Health Center, and Cape Regional Medical Center. NJSHINE will also connect other area health providers like long-term care facilities.

NJSHINE was chosen through a competitive Request for Application process because of their ability to provide a fully connected, secure network in which health care providers can exchange data. Funding to create NJSHINE is provided through a US Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT grant to New Jersey.

NJSHINE is a collaborative nonprofit healthcare organization whose primary partners are South Jersey Healthcare, Shore Medical Center and Cape Regional Medical Center.