A New Season Is Ahead for Connie
By Jenn Searls
When I think about my time with Connie, I am proud of how far we've come. We set out to be the connective tissue of Connecticut's health care system, and I believe we are living up to that.
Today is my last day as Executive Director of Connie. Michelle Puhlick, our board and I have planned this transition carefully over many months. Michelle, who has been part of Connie since the beginning, will lead as Interim Executive Director while continuing as our Chief Operating Officer. I'm confident about what comes next because of the foundation we've built together.
A lot of our work happens behind the scenes. Providers, facilities and our own staff take many steps that most Connecticut patients never see, but collectively, is incredibly important to the health of our communities. Because every one of us is a patient that relies on this system, I’ve always seen this work as deeply personal as much as professional.
The foundation we built:
As I look back on our progress, I’m struck by the progress our team has been able to accomplish in just a few years:
A statewide network people rely on. Since 2021, Connie has grown to connect more than 4,000 provider locations across Connecticut.
Tools providers actually use. From January to October 2024, repeat users of our portal and InContext app grew by more than 200%. Population Explorer and other tools, shaped by our Clinical Advisory Council, give care teams current information when and where they need it.
National leadership in data quality. With support from the Connecticut Health Foundation, we put Clinical Architecture's PIQXL Gateway in place. It assesses race, ethnicity and language (REL) data at the source, which moves our state closer to its health equity goals.
Leading consent management for behavioral health. Connie was one of only nine organizations in the country to receive an ASTP/ONC pilot grant for electronic consent management. That work makes it possible for behavioral health and substance use providers to take full part in the HIE.
Partnership with the State. We built a Home and Community-Based Services tool with the Department of Social Services to enable providers access to more data at the point of care.
Michelle has been at the center of the strategy, operations and partnerships behind every milestone above. She knows our participants, our partners and our team, and she understands what makes Connie work. We wouldn't be where we are today without her wisdom and her passion for this space.
The next phase
The past few years were about building: the infrastructure, the connections and the trust that make data sharing possible. The next phase is about putting that foundation to work. Our new strategic plan focuses on making Connie's data more meaningful and actionable, using it to shape patient outcomes, public health response and health equity across Connecticut.
I can't think of anyone better to lead this chapter than Michelle.
I'm leaving with wonderful memories and relationships that I'll keep with me long after this chapter ends. To Connie's hardworking staff, our partners, and the providers and care teams we serve every day, thank you for everything you've done and everything you'll keep doing.
