The Georgia Health Information Network (GaHIN) recently participated in the HomeTown Rural Physician Outreach Bus Tour—a mobile effort to demonstrate GaHIN’s suite of health IT resources for rural physicians and practice managers, providing much-needed technical assistance and education.

GaHIN experts traveled throughout the state of Georgia—visiting seven hospitals in two days—educating physicians on the GaHIN products, GeorgiaDirect and Georgia ConnectedCare. GaHIN demonstrated the features of the products, which included securely exchanging patient health information statewide and nationwide, and meeting Meaningful Use requirements. As a result, hospitals and physicians gained a better understanding of how GaHIN’s products help to improve care, save time and facilitate Meaningful Use.

In addition to GaHIN, experts from a variety of other health organizations—Georgia Health Information Technology Extension Center (GA-HITEC), Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), Hewlett Packard, Medical Association of Georgia and HomeTown Health—made visits in Baxley, Eastman, Fitzgerald, Hawkinsville, Springfield, Swainsboro and Thomaston. At each location, experts discussed the importance of statewide health information exchange and assessed providers’ Meaningful Use attestation progress. Experts also offered hands-on assistance to help providers move forward in the process.

The tour, supported by GaHIN, GA-HITEC, Georgia Department of Community Health, Hewlett Packard, Medical Association of Georgia and HomeTown Health, was reported in Georgia Health News on June 30, 2014.