Partnering with HIEs to Support Pennsylvanians in Need

We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a contract with the Consortium of Health Information Exchanges (HIEs), funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services, to build a statewide online tool called PA Navigate that will connect Pennsylvanians in need of social care services with providers.

Findhelp has partnered with the HIE Consortium members (Central PA Connect, ClinicalConnect HIE, HealthShare Exchange, and Keystone Health Information Exchange) to build and support a system that addresses the social drivers of health (SDoH). Consortium members will use PA Navigate, powered by Findhelp’s closed-loop referral system and nationwide social care network, to assess the SDoH needs of Pennsylvanians and refer them to providers, with dignity and ease. 

A key benefit of the PA Navigate platform (powered by Findhelp) will be its ability to allow healthcare providers to see the most complete view of an individual’s social care history and current status – to ensure Pennsylvanians are getting the help they need in the most efficient manner possible – while guarding their privacy and ensuring unrivaled protection of their personal information.

Successful HIE Support: Idaho Health Data Exchange (IHDE)

Health information exchanges (HIEs) exist to “support health care professionals and patients to appropriately access and securely share a patient’s medical information electronically” (HealthIT.gov). At Findhelp, we have established best practices for supporting HIEs, from Idaho to Washington, D.C. and in-between. Below is just one example of how we partner to bridge the gap between medical and social drivers of health (SDoH) data. 

About IHDE

IHDE is a non-profit 501(c)(3) company and Idaho’s statewide HIE; they are dedicated to meeting the needs of healthcare providers and ensuring that Idaho’s citizens receive the most effective health services possible. IHDE works with a wide array of stakeholders to actively deliver best in breed technology infrastructure. They provide access to reliable data and information, combining traditional healthcare data with other data sources to help address the medical, behavioral, and social needs that influence the well-being of Idahoans.

Partnering with Findhelp

IHDE has partnered with Findhelp since 2020 to better support clinical operations across the state through access to validated social care assessments, which both help providers who serve Idaho Medicaid beneficiaries and better enable them to refer patients to appropriate services in their community.

In this partnership, Findhelp facilitates service provider outreach and engagement on behalf of a collective of organizations, including local United Ways, hospital systems, health centers, YMCAs, regional governmental agencies, food banks, and many others. Through these collaborative endeavors, Findhelp supports IHDE and its membership in deepening partnerships, better understanding needs, and developing novel strategies to more effectively and efficiently deliver services.

Our Network in Pennsylvania

One of the reasons the Consortium chose Findhelp is because we have an engaged network that’s already in place. Our network spans the entire Keystone State and Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth are using our platform to find and connect to needed services and support. Additionally, our superior integration capabilities, financial incentives to community-based organizations, and #1 rating by KLAS, a healthcare research firm, further recommended us. 

• 1,406,976 users statewide 
• 4,758,681 searches statewide
• 12,362 listed programs serving Pennsylvania
• 2,525 claimed programs serving Pennsylvania

Findhelp’s data and analytic tools can identify gaps in services and provide actionable insights to inform public policy. For example, over the past two years, monthly users and searches on Findhelp’s network in Pennsylvania jumped 129% and 96% respectively, reflecting our important (and growing) role in connecting Pennsylvanians to local social assistance. 

Partnering for Success in Pennsylvania 

Over the past five years more than 750,000 Pennsylvanians have already used Findhelp to connect with social care services. As of January 2024, we partner with ~40 customers through the Commonwealth to connect their patients, members, students, constituents, and clients to local resources. 

Here are some highlights of how these organizations successfully partner and innovate with us to lift up their communities.

Highmark Health

A national blended health organization, Highmark Health and their businesses support millions of customers with products, services, and solutions aligned to their mission of creating remarkable health experiences, freeing people to be their best. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, they are regionally-focused in Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and eastern and northwestern New York with customers in 50 states and the District of Columbia.

In partnership with Findhelp, Highmark launched their Findhelp platform in August 2020 and have created a Trusted Network of more than 100 social service programs in Pennsylvania to receive referrals from their staff, patients, and members.  

Washington County

Washington County Department of Human Services supports individual and family needs of Washington County residents in order to promote self-sufficiency and improve their quality of life. 

They launched the Help In Washington platform (powered by Findhelp) in June 2022; since then, more than 2,500 community members have sought assistance with food, housing, employment, and more. The County has raised awareness for this service through the use of creative postcards and QR codes which they distribute at their events.

The county’s help center, housing coordinators, veterans assistants, and youth services coordinators all leverage Help In Washington to streamline their workflows while making it easier for Washington County residents to get the support they need. County staff are also working closely with public school guidance counselors to provide additional support and training to enable them to leverage the platform to address their students’ social needs. 

Geisinger Health

Geisinger Health is a health and wellness organization focused on making better health easier for Pennsylvania communities through primary care, specialty medicine, pharmacies, health plan options, and more. Operating for more than 100 years with over 24,000 employees, innovation through transformative healthcare delivery is at the core of their model.

In 2020, Geisinger launched their Neighborly platform (powered by Findhelp) to assist patients and members in navigating for social care services. Since then, they have expanded into staff referrals via an integration with their Epic electronic health record (EHR) system and continue to innovate by establishing relationships with local nonprofits to improve patient experiences, quality, efficiency, and outcomes.

Next Steps for PA Navigate & Pennsylvania

On January 23, 2024, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh, Findhelp Founder & CEO Erine Gray, and Community Action Partnership (CAP) Lancaster CEO Vanessa Philbert introduced PA Navigate’s public-facing website, pa-navigate.org, the first step in a multi-year project.

Not only will individuals be able to find help for themselves via the platform, but local nonprofits, healthcare organizations, state and county agencies, and community-based organizations will be able to refer individuals for assistance related to their social care needs. These agencies will also be able to track the outcomes of these referrals to ensure individuals’ needs have been met. 

“We have built a strong relationship of trust with Pennsylvanians and are excited to work with our new partners to help more residents in need,” said Findhelp Founder and CEO Erine Gray. “Every member of the Consortium cares deeply about the people of the Commonwealth.”

We Can Help

To learn how we can help you support your constituents, connect with our team.