Health Information Alliance, Inc. (HIA) — the operating entity charged with running Connecticut’s Health Information Exchange (HIE), Connie — today announced that Michelle Puhlick will become interim executive director and chief operating officer effective immediately, succeeding Jenn Searls, who is stepping down as part of an established succession plan. Puhlick has served as the organization’s chief operating officer since Connie’s inception in 2021.
The leadership change comes at a natural turning point for HIA. Since its inception, HIA has built the technical infrastructure that powers data exchange across the state and has established a reputation as a trusted partner to providers, state agencies and the communities they serve. HIA’s new strategic plan builds on that foundation, focusing on amplifying the data so it is meaningful and actionable to shape patient outcomes, public health response and health equity across the state, with a specific focus on rural health through the Rural Health Transformation Program and reaching underserved populations.
“Leading HIA and building Connie has been a privilege, and I am deeply proud of what our team has built for Connecticut,” said Searls, outgoing executive director of Health Information Alliance, Inc. “Michelle has been at the center of this work since day one, and there is no one I trust more to carry it forward. This transition has been planned with great care, and our exceptional team is more than ready to take our work to the next level.”
As COO, Puhlick has been closely involved in the strategy and operations behind Connie’s success, and helped lead HIA’s infrastructure build-out, its relationships with the state and its new strategic plan. Before joining HIA, she served as chief strategy and partnerships officer for statewide health information exchange and held several leadership roles in philanthropy and education. She holds a doctor of law and policy degree from Northeastern University. Her appointment ensures continuity of mission, relationships and momentum through the next phase of work.
“Connie’s first chapter was about building the infrastructure and earning the trust of the providers, agencies and communities we serve,” said Puhlick, interim executive director of Health Information Alliance, Inc. “The next is about putting that foundation to work by making data more actionable to improve health outcomes and advance health equity across Connecticut. We will play a key role in the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program. A big focus will be expanding healthcare access for rural patients and supporting the providers who care for them. I am honored to lead this team and so grateful to Jenn for everything she has built.”
“Connie is an essential part of Connecticut’s health information infrastructure, connecting providers and supporting better care for our residents,” said Sumit Sajnani, health information technology officer for the state of Connecticut. “We have confidence in Michelle and the HIA team to continue this important work, and the state’s commitment to Connie remains unwavering. I thank Jenn for her leadership and dedication in building Connie into the trusted statewide resource it is today.”
Among Connie’s milestones since 2021:
- Today Connie connects over 4,000 provider locations across the state.
- Connie’s work has drawn national recognition from the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP)/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). Its statewide medication management tool, built with Connecticut stakeholders, has since been replicated in other states.
- Connie has helped drive the statewide conversation on consent management and has become a leading HIE in this work. Connie was one of nine recipients nationwide of an ASTP/ONC pilot grant to build an electronic consent management tool to reduce barriers to care coordination for patients in behavioral health treatment.
- Connie has been at the forefront of data quality work. With support from the Connecticut Health Foundation, Connie has been working with providers across the state to improve race, ethnicity and language data quality to advance state health equity goals.
- In partnership with the Connecticut Department of Social Services, Connie created a tool that gives Home and Community-Based Services providers real-time health data for coordinated, whole-person care.
To learn more, visit www.conniect.org.
About Connie:
Connie is Connecticut’s state-designated Health Information Exchange. Connie securely connects healthcare providers, payers, and public health entities across the state to improve patient care, reduce costs, and support better health outcomes. By enabling timely, secure, and efficient sharing of health information, Connie strengthens care coordination and empowers providers with the information they need to deliver high-quality care. www.conniect.org
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261023914789/en/
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