Opportunities Available Through BH PIP

BH PIP is a program open to eligible behavioral health facilities in New Jersey looking to implement/optimize healthcare technology to increase patient care support. Participation in this program involves completing specific milestones, with associated payment incentives upon successful achievement.

Why Should You Participate?

• Adoption of EHRs will allow for efficient capture, analysis, reporting and sharing of clinical and operational data 
• Connects “siloed” systems of care to enhance care coordination and quality 
• Ability to participate in the state’s Health Information Exchange, NJ Health Information Network (NJHIN) that facilitates the secure sharing of patient information across different healthcare settings 
• Ability to integrate the statewide database such as New Jersey Prescription Monitoring Program (NJPMP) into the clinical workflows 
• Increase bandwidth and capacity for treatment 
• Opportunity to establish an integrated behavioral health delivery system, improving care quality and coordination across providers 
• Financial incentives to help offset the costs to implement or upgrade the IT infrastructure

NJII plays a crucial role to support this program between behavioral health facilities and the State of New Jersey:

• Responsible for recruitment and verifying the eligibility of behavioral health (BH) facilities to participate in the program.
• Serving as a liaison between BH facilities and the State.
• Educating on all program milestones, deliverables, and deadlines related to the program.
• Assistance in meeting all requirements to complete milestones.
• Assistance in collecting the required support documents for attestations.
• Assistance in the submission of attestations to the New Jersey Medicaid Management Information System (NJMMIS) portal.
• Ensuring the disbursement of the incentive payments to the BH facilities.

The future of behavioral healthcare is digital. Don’t let your facility miss out on the opportunity to embrace cutting-edge technology and improve patient care. By participating in BH PIP, you can secure valuable financial incentives, streamline operations and enhance patient care outcomes.

Ready to take the next step? Contact NJII today to learn more and start your journey towards a more efficient and effective healthcare delivery system. Participation is limited and first come-first serve basis, so act now!

Contact Information:

Website: Behavioral Health Promoting Interoperability (BH-PIP) – NJII

https://www.njmmis.com

Email: BHPIP@njii.com

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By breaking down information barriers, interoperability allows healthcare providers to access a patient’s complete health data, no matter where they got their care. This full view helps doctors and other providers work together more effectively. Plus, it gives patients the power to take charge of their own health journey.

Good communication is key to effective healthcare. Interoperability helps improve conversations between patients and providers by ensuring that important health information is easy to access. When healthcare professionals can see a patient’s entire medical history, they can explain diagnoses and treatment plans more clearly. This reduces confusion and helps patients feel more confident about their care.

The rise of health apps and patient portals is changing the way people engage with their health data. Patients can now track their progress, set health goals, and learn about their conditions at their own pace. This use of technology not only boosts health literacy but also gives patients a sense of control over their own health.

Managing transitions in care can be tough, especially for patients who might not fully understand health information. Interoperable systems make these transitions smoother by ensuring that important health info is shared seamlessly among all healthcare providers. This helps avoid misunderstandings and ensures patients get the support they need during crucial times.

As the healthcare industry continues to embrace interoperability, the opportunity to improve health literacy grows. The aim is for everyone involved—healthcare providers, tech developers, policymakers, and educators—to unite and create a health system that focuses on what patients really need.

Investing in interoperability not only boosts communication and education but also helps patients feel more confident as they navigate their healthcare journeys. By working together, we can build a healthier society where people have the knowledge they need to make smart health choices. Interoperability isn’t just a technical fix; it can truly make a difference in improving health literacy.

When patients have access to the information they need at the right time, we can enhance their experiences and improve health outcomes. As we look to the future, let’s harness the power of interoperability to empower individuals and create a population that truly understands health.

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Interoperability is vital to ensure that all members of a patient’s care team—especially elderly patients who often face multiple health challenges—have access to comprehensive and accurate health information. Such access significantly enhances clinical decision-making and improves patient outcomes, particularly in managing chronic conditions that are prevalent among older adults. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 80% of older adults in low- and middle-income countries live with at least one chronic condition, and nearly 50% have two or more.

Utilizing standardized data formats and terminologies is essential for seamless data exchange. Additionally, establishing secure connections between EHR systems is critical. Implementing robust security measures to protect patient data during transmission is necessary to comply with regulations such as HIPAA. For older patients, who may be particularly vulnerable, ensuring that all systems are correctly configured for secure data exchange fosters trust between healthcare providers and patients.

Social drivers of health—such as socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood environment, and social support—play a significant role in determining health outcomes for older adults. Research by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation indicates that these social factors can account for up to 40% of health outcomes. By integrating data on these drivers into EHR systems, clinicians can develop a more comprehensive understanding of their patients’ health, enabling them to tailor interventions that address not only medical history but also the broader social context affecting their patients’ well-being.

By incorporating social drivers into EHRs, healthcare professionals can identify and address barriers to health, leading to more effective and personalized care for older adults. Collaboration with community organizations is essential in bridging the gap between healthcare and social services, addressing the social drivers that affect our patients. By fostering these partnerships, we can create a more holistic approach to healthcare that considers the full spectrum of factors impacting health and well-being.

For more information on EHR interoperability and strategies for effective management that support healthy aging and community well-being, please feel free to reach out to us at NJII.

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Beyond Traditional Tech Transfer

Most university research never makes it to market. Traditional tech transfer models, which rely on licensing intellectual property to outside firms, often leave promising technologies on the shelf. Industry interest is inconsistent, academic inventors are sidelined, and the licensing terms rarely align incentives in a meaningful way. The NJII Venture Studio addresses this disconnect directly. Instead of waiting for companies to license technologies, the Studio forms new ventures around high-potential innovations, then provides them with capital, executive talent, and operational support. Each startup is carefully structured, staffed, and aligned with a corporate sponsor to ensure market relevance and strategic value from day one. This integrated approach ensures that researchers, corporations, and founders work together to create companies that are both technically viable and commercially scalable.

A Modern Alternative for Corporate R&D

For corporations, the Studio offers more than deal flow. It is a mechanism for structured, capital-efficient innovation. Corporate partners work directly with NJII and its university network to shape new ventures aligned with their strategic needs. They gain early insight into emerging technologies, help define the product roadmap, and retain the option to deepen their investment or acquire the company later on. This model de-risks the innovation process. Rather than building internally or waiting for mature acquisitions, companies can influence early development while sharing the cost and risk with the Studio and the entrepreneurial team.

A Better Path for Academic Researchers

The Studio also provides a compelling opportunity for university inventors. Faculty with commercially promising research are invited to co-develop new ventures alongside experienced startup operators. Rather than simply licensing out their discoveries, researchers retain a role in the business-building process, and a stake in its success.

They benefit from access to startup capital, customer discovery support, and a full suite of operational services provided by NJII. With headquarters at NJIT’s Paul Profeta Center for

Innovation & Entrepreneurship, the Studio ensures that faculty innovations are launched from within a thriving entrepreneurial environment, not in isolation. This structure addresses a critical gap in university innovation: how to move ideas from the lab to the market without expecting researchers to become full-time entrepreneurs or navigate the startup world alone.

Timely, Targeted, Scalable

The Studio operates with a clear focus: launch high-impact startups that achieve a meaningful inflection point (such as revenue, customer adoption, or follow-on investment) within 18 months. It prioritizes sectors where New Jersey has unique strength, including artificial intelligence, human health, smart infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.

This timeline and sector focus provide discipline and urgency, which are often missing in traditional commercialization pathways. The result is a repeatable, scalable model for turning academic research into funded, high-growth companies.

Building a New Innovation Infrastructure

As federal research budgets face continued uncertainty, and as corporations seek new ways to source innovation, the NJII Venture Studio offers a pragmatic solution. It creates aligned incentives between public institutions, private enterprise, and entrepreneurial talent while producing tangible economic outcomes for New Jersey and beyond.

The Studio is actively seeking university technologies, corporate partners, and entrepreneurial leaders. For anyone looking to build the next wave of transformative companies, do not hesitate to reach out.

The post A New Blueprint for Innovation: How the NJII Venture Studio Is Redefining University-Corporate appeared first on NJII.

Interoperability is more than just a technical requirement; it is essential for equitable healthcare. By allowing healthcare providers to access and share patient data easily, interoperability helps identify and tackle health disparities, particularly among historically underserved populations. Effective data sharing is key to addressing inequities in healthcare. 

Data exchange ensures that healthcare providers have access to relevant patient information, leading to informed decision-making and better patient outcomes. Interoperability enhances the quality of care by providing a view of a patient’s health history. Interoperability facilitates access to anonymous patient data, supporting public health research and helping identify health trends and disparities. This capability is essential for developing targeted interventions to improve health outcomes across different populations. Additionally, by reducing administrative burdens and preventing unnecessary duplication of tests, interoperable systems can lead to significant cost savings in healthcare. This efficiency not only benefits healthcare providers but also makes healthcare more accessible and affordable for patients. 

Despite its potential, achieving health equity through interoperability is not without its challenges. Data silos and the lack of standardized data sharing hinder the ability to track health outcomes effectively, particularly for vulnerable populations. Practices that block information can worsen health disparities by preventing effective data exchange. 

To achieve the full potential of interoperability in advancing health equity, several strategies must be implemented. Integrating various data sources, including claims, clinical, and social determinants of health, can help identify care gaps and tailor interventions. Effective interoperability requires coordination among payers, providers, and community organizations to ensure comprehensive care. Collaborative efforts can lead to more patient-centered healthcare solutions. Utilizing standardized data formats can improve data sharing and the quality of health information. 

At NJII, we are committed to advancing health equity through innovative solutions and strategic partnerships. For more information visit NJII.com and discover how we can work together to make a difference in healthcare.

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Behavioral health interoperability refers to the seamless exchange of health information across different systems and organizations involved in a patient’s care. This capability is crucial in mental health settings, where patients often engage with multiple providers, including therapists, psychiatrists, and primary care physicians. Interoperability allows providers to access comprehensive patient histories, including previous treatments, medications, and therapy notes. This holistic view enables personalized care plans tailored to individual needs, ultimately enhancing the patient experience. With interoperable systems, patients no longer need to repeat their histories or concerns to multiple providers. This streamlined communication fosters a sense of trust and safety, making patients feel more comfortable sharing their experiences. Additionally, when healthcare providers can quickly share critical information regarding a patient’s mental health status, they can respond promptly to crises or changes in condition, ensuring timely interventions that can prevent deterioration. 

Interoperability promotes collaboration among various healthcare professionals. This coordinated approach ensures that all members of a patient’s care team are aligned, reducing the risk of conflicting treatments and enhancing the overall quality of care. Access to comprehensive data enables providers to make informed decisions based on evidence and best practices. This can lead to more effective treatment plans and improved patient outcomes, particularly for those with complex mental health needs. Furthermore, interoperable systems facilitate continuous monitoring of patient progress across different care settings. This ongoing assessment helps track improvements, adjust treatments as necessary, and celebrate achievements, reinforcing the therapeutic relationship. 

Behavioral health interoperability not only enhances patient experiences and outcomes but also contributes to a more supportive therapeutic environment. When patients see that their information is shared seamlessly among their providers, they feel more empowered in their care journey. This collaboration fosters a sense of agency and involvement in treatment decisions. Interoperability encourages open lines of communication not just among providers but also between patients and their care teams. This transparent communication cultivates a safe space for discussing sensitive issues and concerns. By prioritizing interoperability in behavioral health, we take a step toward normalizing mental health discussions. This reduction in stigma is critical for encouraging individuals to seek the help they need without fear of judgment. 

As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, let us recognize the vital role that behavioral health interoperability plays in enhancing patient experiences and outcomes. By fostering a connected healthcare ecosystem, we can create a more supportive and effective therapeutic environment for everyone. Together, we can break down barriers to mental health care and pave the way for a healthier future. 

If you would like to learn how NJII can support your agency in implementing behavioral health interoperability and improving mental health services, please reach out to us. We are here to help you enhance your patient care and outcomes. 

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Patient experience includes all the interactions that individuals have with the healthcare system, including their treatment by healthcare providers, the accessibility of care, and the quality of communication throughout their healthcare journey. Research has shown that positive patient experience is associated with improved health outcomes, greater patient satisfaction, and increased adherence to treatment plans.

At the core of enhancing patient experience is interoperability. When healthcare systems are interoperable, healthcare providers can quickly and accurately access and share patient information. This capability minimizes the need for patients to repeatedly provide their medical history or undergo redundant tests, saving time and reducing frustration. Effective communication among providers ensures that patients receive coordinated care tailored to their specific needs.

Moreover, interoperable systems facilitate the creation of comprehensive patient records that integrate data from multiple sources. This holistic view of a patient’s health history enables healthcare providers to make informed decisions, resulting in more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment plans. Patients benefit from receiving care that is timely and relevant to their individual conditions.

Interoperability in healthcare empowers patients by providing them access to their health information through patient portals and mobile applications. Patients can view lab results, schedule appointments, and communicate with their healthcare teams—all from a single platform. This transparency fosters engagement and encourages patients to take an active role in managing their health.

Transitions between care settings, such as moving from a hospital to a rehabilitation facility, can present challenges for patients. Interoperable systems facilitate smoother transitions by ensuring that critical information is readily available to the receiving healthcare team. This minimizes the risk of errors and enhances the continuity of care, leading to better health outcomes.

Interoperability allows for the aggregation of data from various sources, enabling healthcare organizations to analyze trends and outcomes effectively. These insights can drive improvements in care delivery, identify areas for intervention, and enhance the overall patient experience. Organizations can leverage data to develop targeted programs that address specific patient needs, promoting better health outcomes.

In summary, interoperability is crucial for improving the patient experience by simplifying communication, ensuring comprehensive records, enhancing access to care, supporting smooth transitions, and enabling data-driven insights. As the healthcare industry progresses, prioritizing interoperability will be vital for establishing a patient-centered environment that promotes better outcomes and higher satisfaction. By leveraging technology to address gaps in communication and information sharing, we can revolutionize the healthcare experience for both patients and providers.

Let us commit to embracing interoperability as we strive for a more connected, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare system during Patient Experience Week and beyond.

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Opportunities Available Through BH PIP 

BH PIP is a program open to eligible behavioral health facilities in New Jersey looking to implement/optimize healthcare technology to increase patient care support. Participation in this program requires completing specific milestones to receive incentive payments upon successful completion. 

Why Should You Participate? 

• Adoption of EHRs will allow for efficient capture, analysis, reporting and sharing of clinical and operational data  

• Connects “siloed” systems of care to enhance care coordination and quality  

• Ability to participate in the state’s Health Information Exchange, NJ Health Information Network (NJHIN) that facilitates the secure sharing of patient information across different healthcare settings  

• Ability to integrate the statewide database such as New Jersey Prescription Monitoring Program (NJPMP) into the clinical workflows  

•  Increase bandwidth and capacity for treatment  

• Opportunity to establish an integrated behavioral health delivery system, improving care quality and coordination across providers  

• Financial incentives to help offset the costs to implement or upgrade the IT infrastructure 

NJII plays a crucial role in the support of this program between facilities and the state of New Jersey: 

• Recruitment and qualification of Behavioral Health (BH) facilities to participate in the Program. 

• Liaison between BH facilities and the State. 

• Education of all program milestones, deliverables, and deadlines to BH facilities. 

• Assistance in meeting all requirements to complete milestones. 

• Assistance in collecting the required supporting documents for attestations. 

• Assistance in the submission of attestations to the New Jersey Medicaid Management Information System (NJMMIS) portal. 

• Ensuring the disbursement of the incentive payments for BH facilities. 

The future of behavioral healthcare is digital. Don’t let your facility miss out on the opportunity to embrace cutting-edge technology and improve patient care. With BH PIP, you can secure valuable financial incentives while streamlining operations and enhancing patient outcomes. 

Ready to take the next step? Contact NJII today to learn more and start your journey towards a more efficient and effective healthcare delivery system. Time is limited, so act now! 

Contact Information: 

Website: Behavioral Health Promoting Interoperability (BH-PIP) – NJII 

Email: BHPIP@njii.com 

The post Enhance Patient Outcomes and Earn Incentives by Participating in NJII’s Behavioral Health Promoting Interoperability Program  appeared first on NJII.

“We are thrilled to partner with Cognome to advance AI and Machine Learning in healthcare,” says Jennifer D’Angelo, NJII’s COO and CEO of HCIS. “By aligning stakeholder initiatives, we can ensure all hospitals and providers benefit from AI-driven innovation, enhancing research, patient care, safety and operations.”  

NJII, an NJIT corporation, is dedicated to accelerating healthcare technology and fostering innovation throughout New Jersey and beyond. Cognome, formed through a joint venture between Montefiore Health System and the University of Texas at Houston, offers advanced AI and Machine Learning models, as well as the first-of-its-kind AI Governance platform, ExplainerAI^TM, purpose-built for healthcare. For over a decade, NJII has been a trusted leader in healthcare technology, data interoperability, and care transformation. NJII aims to drive AI adoption starting with proper governance, model implementation and co-development with our healthcare partners.  

“This partnership aligns with our commitment to accelerate innovation in key sectors such as healthcare,” says Tom Villani, PhD, NJII’s VP of AI and Machine Learning. “All of our AI models integrate seamlessly with EHRs, delivering real-time insights to physicians. The Sepsis reduction model has demonstrated the lowest flag rate in the industry. AutoChart AI reduces manual chart abstraction by over 90%, providing significant ROI through operational efficiencies and prospective attribution.”  

The ExplainerAI^TM platform, built on the NIH AI Governance framework, enhances trustworthiness and transparency while reducing bias through responsible AI models—crucial for clinician adoption. It also aligns with NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework addressing the need for proper privacy, auditability, cybersecurity and compliance for AI models including those from third parties.

“Partnering with NJII combines our 15 years of building proven AI and ML capabilities with their deep knowledge and collaboration throughout NJ’s healthcare ecosystem,” says James Green, Cognome’s CEO. “Size and diversity in patient data are the ‘fuel’ for intelligent, accurate, and responsible AI models.”  

The partnership will bring together healthcare delivery stakeholders including researchers, technology leaders, AI/ML practitioners as well as operational and quality teams to collaborate on high-value use cases. NJII will also provide data science expertise and custom model development services to meet the growing demand for advanced analytics and purpose-built AI solutions.  

To learn more about this partnership, focused on delivering high-value operational and clinical use cases, join our upcoming Webinar: Accelerating AI Adoption in NJ Healthcare: Collaboration & Real-World Impact – on April 29th at 12pm EDT. Register now.  

For more information, visit:

NJII – New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII) | An NJIT Corporation  

HCIS – Healthcare Innovation Solutions, Inc. (HCIS)  

Cognome – AI-Powered Healthcare and Clinical Decision-Making | Cognome  

About NJII and Healthcare Innovation Solutions (HCIS):  
NJII, a 501c3 non-profit subsidiary of NJIT, turns ideas into workable solutions in healthcare, strategic partnerships, defense, and education. NJII combines NJIT’s resources and strong industry ties to drive innovation that impacts the economy and public welfare. HCIS, a wholly owned subsidiary of NJII, provides quality and performance improvement solutions that help providers succeed with population health and value-based care programs such as MIPS/MVPs, QIP-NJ, TEAM and others.  

About Cognome: With 15+ years of R&D, seven patents, and real-time AI and ML models deployed across 20+ hospitals, Cognome is revolutionizing how healthcare data transforms care delivery, clinical operations, and medical research.  

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Interoperability reduces errors and improves clinical decision-making. It is not just about linking technology; it’s about creating seamless collaboration between healthcare providers. A primary care doctor should have immediate access to a specialist’s test results, just as a hospital should be able to review a patient’s medication history from their pharmacy. When hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, and public health agencies exchange real-time information, care becomes more coordinated, patient transitions are smoother, and safety is strengthened at every stage. 

A critical component is Admission, Discharge, and Transfer (ADT) event notifications, which provide real-time updates on patient hospital events. These alerts keep care teams informed when a patient is admitted, discharged, or transferred, ensuring continuity of care. By streamlining workflows, ADT notifications improve resource management, optimize bed availability, and enhance staff deployment. This proactive approach allows providers to respond swiftly to patient needs, reducing complications and improving overall outcomes. 

Additionally, the Consolidated Clinical Document Architecture (CCDA) standardizes clinical documentation, making the exchange of patient health information more secure and meaningful. With structured information sharing in a uniform format, such as Continuity of Care Documents (CCDs), CCDA enhances data clarity and consistency. This improves provider collaboration, strengthens communication among healthcare teams, and enables more informed decision-making and care planning. 

As we focus on patient safety, improving interoperability is one of the most powerful ways to reduce errors, enhance care coordination, and save lives. Leveraging tools such as, ADT notifications, and CCDA ensures that healthcare providers have accurate, timely, and comprehensive patient information. By strengthening data exchange across healthcare settings, we create a safer and more efficient healthcare system for all. 

Want to learn more about interoperability and how it can improve patient safety? Visit NJII healthcare to learn more. Digital Transformation – NJII or contact us.

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