Elevating Local Voices: Insights from MNCM’s Regional Community Conversations

September 25, 2025

Liz Cinqueonce, MBA

President & CEO, MN Community Measurement


“It feels like we’re doing everything we can, but sometimes the barriers are difficult to overcome on our own.”

That was one of the candid reflections shared during MN Community Measurement’s (MNCM) first Regional Community Conversation , held on September 10 at the Medi-Sota Clinic Managers Networking meeting. It captured the spirit of the day: local health leaders working hard to improve outcomes, while recognizing that real progress requires collective effort, shared resources, and fresh strategies.


The Regional Community Conversation series is designed to bring those voices together—taking a closer look at health care outcomes at the local level, identifying barriers that stand in the way, and sharing promising solutions aimed at improving health across the region.

Looking at the Data

MNCM presented regional data for communities served by Medi-Sota members across several key clinical measures. In many areas—such as colorectal cancer screening, asthma control, diabetes care, vascular care, depression remission, and adolescent mental health screening—results were significantly lower than statewide averages. These numbers sparked discussion about what’s being tried locally and where support is most needed.

Key Themes that Emerged

1 | Community-Led Solutions Are Taking Shape

From clinician expert panels to expanded use of electronic health record (EHR) systems, communities are innovating. Mailing at-home screening kits, hosting marketing events, and engaging licensed school nurses in care coordination are just some of the strategies being tested. While school-based clinics were seen as a promising avenue, complex billing rules remain a barrier to scaling them

2 | Persistent Barriers Continue to Challenge Progress

Several common themes surfaced: outreach is difficult and sometimes unwelcome, compliance remains a struggle, and resources for smoking cessation are scarce. Transportation barriers prevent many from accessing care, while limited internet access undermines the promise of video visits. Vaccine hesitancy—particularly around flu shots—was also called out as a growing concern, requiring more creative communications.

3 | The Value of Collaboration and Shared Learning

Participants highlighted the importance of collaboration across clinics, public health, schools, and community organizations. They emphasized that MNCM’s role in bringing transparent, meaningful data to the table creates the foundation for these shared conversations and helps guide collective action.

 What emerged most clearly was this:

Communities are committed to improving health outcomes, but they cannot do it alone. Meaningful progress depends on working together, learning from one another, and aligning data with action.

MNCM is committed to evolving its work based on what we hear in these dialogues—empowering communities with data that matters and delivering services that help us reach our shared goals.

Interested in hosting a Regional Community Conversation in your area?

We invite you to reach out to us at support@mncm.org . Your voice matters, and your input will help shape the future of health care improvement across Minnesota.


MNCM extends our sincere thanks to Medi-Sota for welcoming us to host our first Regional Community Conversation during the Clinic Managers Network meeting. We truly appreciate the opportunity to engage with clinic leaders from across the region and begin meaningful conversations about the importance of collaboration in improving health outcomes. To learn more about Medi-Sota and their work, please visit their website.


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October 20, 2026
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — October 20, 2026 — MN Community Measurement (MNCM) today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Koble-MN's health information exchange (HIE) business line and the MNSHINE brand from The Koble Group. On November 1, MNCM will officially change its legal name to Minnesota Statewide Health Information Network and Exchange, known as MNSHINE. The transition follows a special joint meeting of MNCM's Board of Directors and members on October 12, at which the Board unanimously approved resolutions authorizing the acquisition, changing the organization's legal name, and establishing a new HIE Advisory Committee. Members unanimously adopted the name change and related amendments to the organization's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. An intentional decision to collaborate The transition is the result of an intentional decision by Minnesota health care leaders to collaborate on a health data landscape that makes sense: one that reduces redundancy, increases efficiency, and delivers needed information to those with legal authorization to receive it, where and when it is needed, without unnecessary administrative barriers. "This is not simply a merger of services. It is a deliberate choice to build the kind of health data infrastructure Minnesota deserves," said Liz Cinqueonce, President and CEO of MNCM. "For too long, organizations across our state have had to navigate duplicative systems and disconnected data. By bringing measurement and exchange together, we can reduce that burden and make sure the right information reaches the right people at the right time, with patient privacy protections firmly in place, so they can focus on improving care." The effort builds on months of work by the Executive Leadership Council, convened earlier this year by MNCM, the Minnesota Electronic Health Records Consortium, and Koble to explore how a sustainable, statewide health data utility could serve the public interest. "Minnesota is at its best when we take on difficult challenges together and align on solutions," said Mark Steffen, MD, Chair of the MNCM Board of Directors. "The Board's unanimous support reflects a shared conviction that our future depends on organizations keeping their unique strengths and missions while participating in shared infrastructure and governance. That balance is what enables greater coordination, transparency, efficiency, and impact." A trusted backbone for Minnesota's health data Minnesota's future health data ecosystem is one in which organizations retain their unique strengths and missions while participating in shared infrastructure and governance. The vision for MNSHINE is to become the health data utility, governed in the public interest with strong privacy protections and transparency, that serves as the trusted backbone connecting these efforts, ensuring data can be used more effectively to improve health, wellbeing, and outcomes for all Minnesotans. By bringing the measurement of health care quality, cost, and utilization together with the infrastructure that moves clinical data between organizations, MNSHINE will be positioned to support providers, payers, public health, researchers, policymakers, and communities alike, each within the limits of applicable law and participant agreements. The goal is healthier people, stronger communities, greater equity, better public decisions, smarter investments, and a health system that learns continuously. Continuity for HIE participants HIE services will continue without interruption. To ensure continuity of leadership and relationships, Chad Peterson, CEO of The Koble Group, has joined MNCM as Senior Vice President of HIE Services. “For HIE participants, this transition opens new possibilities,” said Peterson. “When exchange and measurement are guided by one mission, we can reduce duplication for providers and better support care coordination, while holding firm to the privacy protections patients expect. I’m proud to help lead that work, and I’m committed to making sure every participant feels supported as we grow.” MNCM has also established the HIE Advisory Committee as a standing committee of its Board of Directors. The committee continues the work of the Koble-MN Advisory Committee and will advise the Board on interoperability, participant relationships, privacy, security, data governance, and health equity. Jennifer Lamprecht of Sanford Health and Dr. Justine Mrosak of Hennepin Healthcare have been appointed to co-chair the committee, which will include consumer representatives alongside members representing a cross-section of Minnesota's health care community. Protecting patient privacy This transition changes who operates Minnesota's health information exchange. It does not change how patient information is protected or who may access it. MNSHINE will continue to operate in compliance with HIPAA and the Minnesota Health Records Act, which is among the strongest patient-consent laws in the nation, and in compliance with the participant agreements that govern how information is exchanged. Health information exchange and measurement will each remain governed by their own legal and contractual requirements, and bringing them into one organization does not change the purposes for which patient information may be used.
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