CommonWell was founded on the simple premise that, working together, we can break down barriers to health data exchange. As part of our industry-wide collaborative effort, we knew having health care providers’ candid input and involvement was imperative to our shared success.
That’s why CommonWell formed the Provider Advisory Council (PAC) in 2016. PAC members represent a cross-section of:
- Health care venues: urban and community hospitals, post-acute, ambulatory, specialty
- Roles: CEO, CIO, CMO, nurse, physician, pharmacist, IT, operations
- CommonWell Service Adopters: athenahealth, Cerner, eClinicalWorks, Evident, Health Gorilla, MatrixCare and more
The 12-member Council meets with CommonWell leaders on a bi-monthly basis, ensuring the voices of providers, staff and patients are captured throughout all CommonWell efforts.
Read on to get to know a few of our PAC members!
Aaron Miri, PAC Chairman & UT Health Austin and Dell Medical School Representative
Aaron Miri is the Chief Information Officer for The University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School and UT Health Austin. Aaron brings more than 15 years of healthcare experience driving growth and innovation, leading both provider and commercial healthcare enterprises, and providing thought leadership and close collaboration with state and federal representatives.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I love to grill. It all started as a way for me to do food prep and teach math to my daughters. We spend the weekends measuring spices, trying out new recipes and dishes. The meals aren’t always a complete success, but the time spent together, and the math lessons are worth its weight.
What is a book or TV show you recommend and why?
I’m a big fan of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos series, which you can catch re-runs on PBS or YouTube. I enjoy it because it stretches your mind to think beyond your normal world and seek a bigger picture perspective.
How would you explain interoperability in one sentence?
When you no longer have to wonder how or where you will retrieve your medical records as it’s as easy and seamless as summoning a stranger’s car via a ride sharing app.
Darcie Peacock, Solace Pediatric Home Healthcare Representative
Darcie Peacock, BSW, MS, OTR/L, is CEO of Solace Pediatric Home Healthcare, the largest pediatric home health company in Colorado. Darcie started her career as a social worker for child protective services and following the completion of her MS, became a home health occupational therapist. She has held a number of management roles, including the Clinical Director of Alliance of Therapy Specialist prior to joining Solace Healthcare.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I have a house full! I have three kids, two dogs, three goats, nine chickens and four ducks. I love a busy, loud and crazy house!
What is a book or TV show you recommend and why?
My all-time favorite leisure reading book is All the Light We Can Not See by Anthony Doerr. For work-related reading, I typically pick books connected to a current situation, so I get at least a tidbit from each one. Two I regularly recommend are Dare to Lead by Brene Brown and Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if your Life Depends on It by Chris Voss. My favorite TV show is The Office. I’ve probably watched from start to finish the whole series at least 3 times. Surely, the reason why I love The Office needs no explanation!
How would you explain interoperability in one sentence?
Interoperability allows EHR systems to connect directly with the potential to improve efficiency, accuracy, access and coordination of care!
What is your dream for interoperability?
My dream is to completely eliminate any patient demographic data entry. As a pediatric home health provider, our patients always have been seen already by another healthcare provider. I have an incredible team working to connect families to our wonderful clinicians; their talents could be put to such better use than inputting demographic information, medications, allergies, etc.
We all hear about the massive nursing shortage across our country regularly, yet we have nurses making phone calls and documenting hours upon hours each day. Precious time is spent by my team calling and tracking down information from our physician office partners, which pulls from their resources as well. I want all our focus and time to be spent on things that actually enhance our patient care and experience. I believe interoperability will get us there!
Harold Lawrence, Community Hospital-Fairfax Representative
Harold Lawrence, BSPharm, serves as Pharmacy Director and ACO Champion at Community Hospital- Fairfax in Fairfax, Mo. In his current role, Harold leads his organization’s efforts to meet Promoting Interoperability standards, allowing him to work directly with all clinical end-users of its Electronic Health Record.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I am fascinated by behavioral models that incorporate quantum mechanics.
What is a book or TV show you recommend and why?
“Inner World, Outer World” I like the notion of having to consider all the occurrences within the natural world and more specifically that relate to the human condition which we do not understand. We must constantly challenge existing models and continuously evaluate our sources of truth.
How would you explain interoperability in one sentence?
My notion of interoperability is getting the right information, to the right person (patient or caregiver), at the right time, in the right format that is actionable and in support of the overall care of a patient no matter where that information was generated or stored.
What are emerging technologies that could alter or enhance existing models?
FHIR standard development. Where we are and where the next priorities should be.
Dr. Inna Yaskin, Elite Medical Center Representative
Inna Yaskin, DO, is a triple board certified physician in internal, geriatric and weight loss medicine and currently serves at the President and Medical Director of Elite Medical Center in Sunnyvale, Calif. Inna has more than 18 years of experience in direct patient care as well as medical directorship of several palliative, long-term and multiple-skilled nursing facilities.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Before applying to medical school, I had aspirations of becoming a veterinarian thanks to my love for animals. Due to the demanding and physical nature of the work, I ultimately chose to become a physician instead, which has led me to a rewarding career in medicine.
What is a book or TV show you recommend and why?
I enjoy the medical drama Private Practice. It does a great job of portraying the medical home model in a private medical co-op setting. It highlights the importance of personalized medicine and how collaborative work leads to better patient care.
How would you explain interoperability in one sentence?
Interoperability is the ability to easily exchange and use health information to cost-effectively provide more comprehensive and beneficial care.
NyEela Harney, Community Hospital-Fairfax Representative
NyEela Harney, RN, BSN, CLNC, currently serves as the Clinical Informatics Coordinator at Community Hospital-Fairfax in Fairfax, Mo. NyEela has more than 17 years of experience working in multiple care settings in rural community hospitals and as a nursing clinical instructor in acute care and long-term care settings.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I love to travel! I’d stepped foot on the soil of 25 countries by the age of 26.
What is a book or TV show you recommend and why?
E2 (E-Squared) by Pam Grout is the most thought-provoking book I’ve ever read and has made me consider things with a different perspective. For fun fictional reads, John Sandford is my favorite author.
How would you explain interoperability in one sentence?
The seamless exchange or sharing of data, ideally in an efficient manner and optimal format that assists the user in having the information provided at the appropriate time to best care for a patient no matter where the location and within the normal workflow.
To learn more about each PAC members, check out their bios here.