Yvonne Hughes – 2014 nominee for Modern Healthcare's Community Leadership Award. The success of the healthcare industry depends on leaders who define themselves by leading efforts to change lives and contribute to their communities through their work. But many go above and beyond commitments central to their roles, reaching out to support causes that may be wholly unrelated to healthcare, but which build and sustain strong communities and the quality of life within them. Modern Healthcare's Community Leadership Awards was established to recognize these leaders while bringing attention to the worthy causes they support. Modern Healthcare's Community Leadership Awards was established to recognize these leaders while bringing attention to the worthy causes they support. http://www.modernhealthcare.com/section/community-leadership

1. Phone: 910.332.8014
Fax: 910.332.8042
www.coastalconnect.org
Coastal Connect, Inc.
5305-M Wrightsville Avenue
Wilmington, NC 28403
Modern Health Community Leadership Award Committee,
Attached you will find background information regarding Yvonne Hughes, CEO of Coastal Connect Health Information Exchange. I will have recommendation letters to you by the deadline. Please let me know if you have any questions or require additional information.
Yvonne Hughes has dually led Coastal Connect Health Information Exchange and Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance as Chief Executive Officer. In a mere thirty six months, with a staff of less than ten, Coastal Connect HIE (CCHIE) has connected five unaffiliated hospitals as well as 275 unaffiliated practices, representing 844 providers, in twenty four North Carolina counties. CCHIE successfully completed the pilot phase of rollout in January 2012 and has since been in full implementation mode. CCHIE brought entities to the table to collaborate in a way that had never before been achieved, as a result CCHIE’s governance structure includes representation from our Regional Extension Center, our state Medicaid agency, a consumer representative, a community practice administrator, and hospital leadership. Putting aside competition, CCHIE achieved a unique exchange of ideas rarely seen across the nation, much less in rural communities like our own. Perhaps what is more innovative than our collaboration is the technology that resulted from this project, which allows disparate systems to communicate through bi-directional data exchange. As of May 2014, this technology touches over four million patient lives.
CCHIE’s successful consolidation of disparate patient information systems has provided a single flow of real-time results and patient referral tracking as well as secure and role-based access to inpatient encounters. As a community model HIE focused on being patient centric, our providers have established the initial functionality the HIE offered by participating in a provider survey. Our connected providers continue to identify projects for the HIE that bring value to providing patient care through electronic document exchange.
CCHIE has been a vital aid for our regional healthcare system meeting practices at their EHR journey. CCHIE has taken on the role of maximizing abilities and functions of the health information exchange to enhance the practices experience with their EHR. Advancements in the EHR journey have shown improvements in efficiency, quality of care, a reduction in duplication of services, increased patient satisfaction, and timeliness. Results are never lost and do not have to be tracked down. Time and user stamps provide accountability to ensure results are not overlooked. Results are available in real time allowing for timely care. Quality has improved drastically, many physicians report this has resulted in reduced duplication of tests. Patients no longer need to carry around records, remember medications, or keep track of tests or procedures. These changes have significantly improved patient satisfaction eliminating burdens during a stressful time for patients and families.
CCHIE continues full integrations of practice’s electronic medical records and practice management systems and manages orders deployed for regional hospitals. CCHIE strives to grow the current service area connecting additional hospitals, practices, Home Health Agencies, Skilled Nursing Facilities, and resource labs. CCHIE pushes for community adoption through support of provider practice staff and their adoption of HIE applications. CCHIE is dedicated to patient engagement and education.
CCHIE is a familiar name in healthcare among the Southeast region of North Carolina. With representation and collaboration among the network supported CCHIE’s representation is as diverse as the population we serve. CCHIE’s goals have remained consistent—patient centered focus, value to providers, exporting and sharing of data sets, and transparency. CCHIE has gone above and beyond simply putting a dollar amount on the value they are bringing to North Carolinians statewide—they have captured “Stories From the Field” exploring the use of HIE resources among practices and hospital system. These stories continue to capture the lasting impact on populations served. The leadership, outreach, and education CCHIE brings to all levels of healthcare entities in our region are innovative and lasting. CCHIE has been recognized nationally by NCHICA, NCHIMSS, Intel, Amerinet, AHIMA, and received the “Healthcare Hero” award for Innovation in the Southeast region of North Carolina.
Thank you,
Hunter Crumpton, MPA
Quality & Education Specialist
Coastal Connect, Inc. (CCHIE)
May 30, 2014

2. R. Yvonne Hughes
7604 Owl Roost Court Wilmington, NC 28411 (910) 262-3270 / yhyatt44@yahoo.com
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance Wilmington, NC 3/98 – Present
Hospital Alliance with 12 members in North and South Carolina that was formed in 1990 with the mission of assisting hospitals to achieve financial and operational efficiencies through collaborative efforts.
Coastal Connect, Inc. Wilmington, NC 2/10 - Present
Community based health information exchange with 5 participating counties in southeastern North Carolina, formed in 2009 with the mission of increasing the efficiency of patient care by enabling provider’s access to relevant patient information at the point of care.
Executive Director 2/10 - Present
• Provide overall leadership to the operations of CCHA and CCHIE to include a combined budget of $2.5 million dollars
• Oversee budget, personnel, operations, contract negotiations that have a combined quantifiable savings of approximately $6 million dollars annually
• Lead regional collaborative initiatives with multi-stakeholder representatives, administrative oversight for regional grants and policy development for both organizations
• Serve as chief executive officer for both CCHA and CCHIE Boards
Director of Projects and Alliance Relations 2/06 – Present
• Negotiated purchasing agreements, saving member hospitals approximately $700k annually
Director of Financial Services and Alliance Relations 3/98 – 8/05
• Developed annual operating budget, day to day financials and reporting to Board
New Hanover County Health Department Wilmington, NC 9/05 – 2/06
New Hanover County Health Department services the residents of New Hanover County by assuring they have a safe and health community.
Fiscal Support Supervisor
• Daily management and supervision of three full time fiscal support employees and temporary staff
• Managed continuous operation of fiscal department and central supply ensuring compliance with all county and state regulations
Cape Fear Memorial Hospital Wilmington, NC 10/92 – 3/98
County hospital in Wilmington, NC with 140 + licensed beds and approximately 600 employees.
Medical Staff Credentialing Coordinator 3/97 - 3/98
• Managed primary and re-credentialing of 200+ medical staff members
Administrative Assistant/Ward Clerk 10/92 - 3/97
• Administrative support to department director and seven emergency care physicians
EDUCATION
The University of North Carolina at Wilmington Wilmington, NC
• Masters of Public Administration
Mount Olive College Mount Olive, NC
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
• American College of Healthcare Executives
• Healthcare Financial Management Association

3. SEAHEC
TeachingHealth. Taking Care.
May 30,2014
Dear Modern Health,
Health Sciences Foundation, Inc. South East Area Health Education Center Revenue Cycle Solutions
I am writing to nominate Yvonne Hughes, Executive Director of Coastal Connect Health
Information Exchange (CCHIE),for Modern Health's Award. I have worked closely with
Yvonne through both the CCHIEGovernance Board and CCHIEExecutive Committee; I currently serve as Treasurer for the Board. Yvonne has led her team in a strategic manner, laying a strong
foundation for the success of HIM systems to form and advance throughout our region. Her patient- centric approach has engaged health professionals at all levels creating an operational collaborative effort that has been pivotal to CCHIE's success.
Yvonne's pragmatic approach to HIE has received national recognition for creativity, collaboration, innovation, and sustainability. CCHIEis a regional health information exchange aimed at helping healthcare providers better serve their patients by giving them reliable patient information in an efficient manner. As the Director of Practice Operations for SEAHEC, I know how physician practice workflow significantly improves due to the successful implementation of the HIE technology. CCHIE is enabling these providers to meet Meaningful Use Stage 2 requirements while working toward a goal of population health analysis.
Yvonne has helped to establish a successful community HIE in our region. Thanks to her efforts and expertise, CCHIEhas been able to improve the quality and delivery of healthcare in our communities. She has set a standard for our state in regard to collaboration and innovation, paving the way for others to transform their own HIEsystems.
Modern Health’s award would be well-represented by Yvonne Hughes. Her work with CCHIEis truly remarkable. Her passion for improved healthcare systems throughout our region can be seen through her work with not only HIE systems-but in public health, hospital systems, and health education and prevention programs.
Thank you,
Director, Practice Operations
SEAHEC
PO Box 9025 Wilmington NC 28402 910 343 0161 fax 9107629057 www.seahec.net
II~~M.OIcrNP.
In affiliation with the University of North Carolina
et Chapel Hili School of Medicine

4. May 31, 2014
Dear Modern Health Awards Committee,
It is an honor to nominate Yvonne Hughes for Modern Health’s Award. Yvonne has the dual responsibility as Executive Director of both Coastal Connect Health Information Exchange (CCHIE) and Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance (CCHA). As Vice-Chair on the CCHIE Governance Board and Executive Committee, I have seen Yvonne’s ability to lead our organization through many challenges. Her clear-sighted vision of a community-based health information exchange has helped ensure that CCHIE will serve both patients and providers while enhancing the quality of care.
I have had the opportunity to partner with Yvonne on projects and initiatives at both regional and state levels involving my organization, Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear (CCLCF). CCHIE’s collaborative efforts engage and support a variety of diverse projects throughout the state and region. Speaking to my own organization and needs, CCHIE has supported our case managers and Medicaid practices through access to real-time care documents, allowing for improved care transition of our patient population.
The value CCHIE brings to our state and region is unsurpassed. Yvonne’s ability to identify and address the needs of our populations, healthcare organizations, and patient care teams is outstanding. She has a unique and forward-minded approach, aligned with systematic planning, that allows for practical acceptance and adoption of innovative advances. Yvonne continues to find new ways to bring value to healthcare with improved quality management measures through population health analysis and layering of HIE technology. CCHIE’s continuous contributions can be seen in improved workflow, efficiency, quality, accuracy and consistency. Moreover, we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our connected providers regarding the simplicity and satisfaction with HIE systems.
I recommend Yvonne Hughes without hesitation for the Modern Health Award. Yvonne continues to be an asset to HIM nationwide. Please do not hesitate to contact me with additional questions at lydia.newman@carelcf.org or (910) 332-9556.
Sincerely,
Lydia Newman
Executive Director
Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear

5. Coastal Connect Health Information Exchange
5305-M Wrightsville Avenue
Wilmington, NC 28403
Tele: (910) 332-8012 I Fax: (910) 332-8042
www.coastalconnect.org
May 31, 2014
Dear Modern Health Awards Committee:
I am delighted to provide this letter of support for the nomination of Yvonne Hughes, Executive Director, Coastal
Connect Health Information Exchange (CCHIE), in Wilmington, NC.
Confirmed as CCHIE Executive Director in 2009, Yvonne coordinated the process that culminated in establishing CCHIE as a 501.3c organization in 2010. A master of organizational transparency, Yvonne exercised astute leadership as CCHIE progressed through selecting a health information exchange (HIE) vendor and, once contracts with the vendor were in place, moving through an 18month HIE pilot project. Keenly attuned to HIE stakeholder goals and preferences, Yvonne championed, and continues to maintain, a patient-centered focus for operation of CCHIE. She engineered the organization's successfully securing in 2011 a 1.46 million dollar grant (over three years) from the Duke Endowment to fund connection to CCHIE for medical providers associated with Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC), healthcare safety net organizations, and medical specialists identified by CCNC.
Yvonne's progressive leadership clearly carried CCHIE through the organization's start-up phase. As the organization moves forward with its "walk, crawl, run approach," Yvonne actively seeks opportunities to expand both the depth and breadth of that leadership. Her effective "best fit" personnel hires substantially benefit the organization. Her work with the CCHIE Board of Directors developed and maintains historically sustainable funding for this HIE that serves a diverse healthcare community of hospitals and medical practices in Southeastern North Carolina. Yvonne exemplifies grace as she maintains productive oversight for this increasingly complex operation.
Further evidence of Yvonne's contribution to Health Information Technology includes:
• CCHIE receiving the Amerinet national Community Impact and Innovation Award in March 2013
• CCHIE receiving the North Carolina Health IT Innovation Clinical Applications Award in May 2013
• Yvonne's national webinar presentation, "Following the NeHC Roadmap Case Study on Coastal Connect HIE &
HEALTHeLINK Prioritizing and Phasing HIE Services," for the National eHealth Collaborative (NeHC) on May 29,
2013
• Recognized as a Healthcare Hero in our region of North Carolina by the Greater Wilmington Business Journal
I enthusiastically support nomination of Yvonne Hughes for the Modern Health Award. Please let me know if you need additional information.
Sincerely,
P. Allen Gray, Jr., RN, PhD Consumer Representative CCHIE Governance Board