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IT support is emerging as a key factor in hospital satisfaction and many trends will shape these relationships, report says.

Collaboration with Greater Flint Health Coalition hopes to improve health IT infrastructure, analytics, long-term care coordination goals in the area.

Only a few days remain to submit speaker and session proposals for the Healthcare IT News and HIMSS Big Data & Healthcare Analytics Forum, which will be held in San Francisco June 14 and 15.

Lantern, a San Francisco-based startup, with 17 employees, is working with UPMC Enterprises, the commercialization arm of the Pittsburgh-based healthcare giant, to further develop the company’s online mental health wellness services and products. The startup, founded in 2012, recently closed on a $17 million investment led by UPMC Enterprises on February 10. All other previous investors, including Mayfield Fund, SoftTech Venture Capital and Stanford University, joined the round. [Also: 3 recent health IT IPOs to watch] UPMC, one of the largest integrated healthcare delivery systems in the country, is the ideal partner, Alejandro Foung, Lantern co-founder and CEO, said in a statement announcing the new funding. "A large part of UPMC's appeal, Foung added, is its "focus on disease prevention – a sharp contrast to the fee-for-service model that currently dominates the behavioral health landscape." "This is for us about a very long-term bid on how we can use technology to engage consumers and patients in their mental health, said Mark Stabingas, executive vice president at UPMC Enterprises. "There’s an acute shortage of mental health professionals," he said. "There are lots of people who could benefit from mental health services." UPMC clinicians will work with Lantern on two pilots aimed at expanding Lantern’s programs to address additional behavioral health issues and potentially to address populations of patients with more complex conditions, Stabingas said. As taken as the UPMC team is with the products, the Lantern team has built to date, Stabingas said, "We are compelled first and foremost by the team. We are as much focused on the idea that we can partner with the team to build something really compelling for the long haul that has the opportunity to help millions and millions of patients." [Also: Steward ACO picks Patrick Kennedy-backed Quartet] Among the companies, UPMC has backed is Evolent, a public company that offers a mix of consulting and technology. Its cloud-based IT, which includes population health and analytics tools, is built to help hospitals and health systems migrate from a fee-for-service system to value-based care. Another behavioral health IT company recently in the news is Quartet, which is backed by Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy who serves on the board of the New York-based startup. Twitter: @HealthITNews

Calling the HIMSS Annual Conference a technology show hardly does it justice - especially given the wide range of topics presenters, vendors and guest speakers plan to focus on when the show kicks off in Las Vegas on Feb. 29. To help you keep track of the topics and for guidance on participting in the discussion sure to erupt in social media, here's our hashtag guide for the conference. Bookmark this page for quick reference. #RethinkRCM is the hashtag to use for revenue cycle management at HIMSS16. #WomenInHIT supports and empowers fellow women in IT. #PutData2Work is the official hashtag to follow trends and innovations for improved outcomes and efficiencies unveiled at HIMSS16. #Nurses4HIT is the HIMSS16 hashtag to keep up-to-date on care transformations making an impact on nursing. #IHeartHIT isn't just a declaration. Use this hashtag at HIMSS16 to share personal stories how HIT has effected you.  #HX360 is designated for topics fostering advances to new models of care.  #HITworks  helps you quantify the value of your HIT at HIMSS16. #HITventure is the official hashtag to learn how collaboration in HIT can contribute to tech-enabled solutions. #HITsecurity is the hashtag to follow to learn how the industry is proposing to solve cybersecurity problems in HIT.  #GenY4HIT follows the discussion at HIMSS16 on the new generation's impact on HIT.  #Engage4Health highlights the role empowered consumers play in their healthcare. #EmpowerHIT lets you follow how the push for interoperability is shaping up, according to the 40,000-plus attendees at HIMSS16.  #DrHIT hashtag highlights the issues that result when integrating clinicians and technology. #Connect2Health helps you discover the role of healthcare IT thanks to mobile technology. #Aim2Innovate explores the ways innovation and HIT are being pushed to improve outcomes.  Twitter: @HealthITNews

(SPONSORED) This fall, athenahealth convened 60 leaders of hospitals and health systems at population health advisory roundtables to dig into the top concerns and challenges as the industry shifts to value-based reimbursements.

The healthcare economist and 20-year HIMSS attendee says the patient component of healthcare is finally coming of age.

Construction process is revealing more layers of procedure needed to elevate the industry's clinical and business model, experts say.

Centering Healthcare Institute, Community Care of North Carolina and the Jersey City Medical Center – Barnabas Healthcare will present on their models at a March event.

WE Communications’ senior vice president Nicole Miller shares advice ahead of her HIMSS16 session on managing customer messaging in a cybersecurity situation.