September 2007
Nebraska News
- eHealth Council to meet Oct. 9
- Health Information Security and Privacy Committee organizing
- Office of Rural Health receives HIT Network Implementation Grant award
- Public Policy Center maps public health data
- Rural Health Association recognizes eHealth Council members
National News
- HITSP requests public comment for more AHIC recommendations
- State Alliance for eHealth meets Oct. 3
- Medical settings where children are treated to benefit from HL7’s new EHR system functional profile
- Report examines Medicaid HIT initiatives
- NASCIO profiles state HIT initiatives
- Vermont releases state eHealth plan, launches electronic medication history
- Minnesota establishes health information exchange, mandates EHRs by 2015
Nebraska News
eHealth Council to meet Oct. 9
The NITC eHealth Council meets Oct. 9 from 1:30 to 4:30 at the Governor’s Residence, 1425 H Street in Lincoln.
Health Information Security and Privacy Committee organizing
The Health Information Security and Privacy Committee will begin its second year addressing concerns related to privacy and security. If you are interested in participating, please contact Deb Stoltenberg, 402-471-2337 or deb.stoltenberg@dhhs.ne.gov .
Office of Rural Health receives HIT Network Implementation Grant award
The Nebraska Office of Rural Health was awarded a grant through the FLEX Critical Access Hospital Health Information Technology Network Implementation Grant program. The Accelerating Performance Improvement through Enhanced Connectivity project will focus on developing and implementing a sustainable interoperable system which will improve the flow of clinical information along the continuum of care in order to provide a seamless process of health care delivery for patients and providers. This system will improve the quality of care by creating an electronic linkage which will allow each provider to make more informed treatment decisions based upon current patient data and information.
In order to develop an interoperable clinical information system, the project will focus on a circle of local partners that includes a 19-bed critical access hospital, five rural health clinics, a home health agency, a nursing home and an assisted living facility, several EMS units, a hospital-owned retail pharmacy and an independent retail pharmacy, and a network tertiary hospital. Wherever the patient enters the health care system along this continuum of care, the intent is to have current information accessible for all of these providers.
This project will address the identified needs for better coordination of patient care, improved access to current patient data, reduction in medication and medical errors, reduction in medical complications, and better management of patients with chronic diseases. It will also address the need for more effective communication as a key patient safety initiative.
The proposed services include: implementation of electronic prescribing for medical providers, electronic transmission of transfer/discharge forms, implementation of bedside charting for staff, access at the bedside for medical providers to consult with specialists, computerized medication administration forms, electronic access for EMTs of appropriate patient information in the field, and access to mental health providers for acute and long term care. It will also be an opportunity to explore the benefits of an electronic personal health record so that consumers can communicate electronically with their providers.
The target population is located in Thayer County/Hebron, Nebraska, and surrounding communities in Nebraska and Kansas.
A list of awards is available at http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/funding/flexpurpose.htm.
Public Policy Center maps public health data
Keerun Kamble, a graduate student with the Public Policy Center, has put together a comprehensive review of how public health information flows to/from community organizations (hospitals, clinics, schools, dentists, public health districts, etc.) to state and federal organizations. The study was done ask as part of a HRSA Rural Network Development grant in Western Nebraska.
The information flows examined include:
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Communicable Disease
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HIV/AIDS
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Nebraska Newborn Screening Program
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Newborn Hearing Screening
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Chronic Disease
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Nebraska Cancer Registry
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Nebraska Trauma Registry
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Immunization
The report is very accessible and includes:
- visual schematics of information flows
- narrative of information flows
- screen shots/forms through which information is collected
The report is available at http://www.ppc.nebraska.edu/materials/phreporting.pdf .
Rural Health Association recognizes eHealth Council members
Two members of the eHealth Council were recognized at the Nebraska Rural Health Association conference. Dr. Keith Mueller received the Rural Health President's Award. Harold Krueger received the Outstanding Rural Health Achievement Award. Congratulations, Keith and Harold. More information on their awards is available at http://www.nebraskaruralhealth.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=59
National News
HITSP requests public comment for more AHIC recommendations
The Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel is asking for public comment on four items:
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Consumer Access to Healthcare Information via Networks Interoperability Specification (ISO3)
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Consumer Access to Healthcare Information on Portable Media Interoperability Specification (IS05)
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Medication Management Requirements Design and Standards Selection (RDSS55)
More information is available at hitsp.org .
State Alliance for eHealth meets Oct. 3
The State Alliance for e-Health will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007 in Nashville. The meeting will be webcast. Additional information is available at www.nga.org/center/ehealth .
Medical settings where children are treated to benefit from HL7’s new EHR system functional profile
Health Level Seven (HL7), a preeminent healthcare IT standards development organization with broad international representation, announced the release of the Child Health Functional Profile as the third registered profile based upon HL7’s ANSI-approved EHR System Functional Model standard. The purpose of the Child Health Functional Profile is to provide general pediatric functions critical for electronic health record systems that are used to care for children in the United States. More information is available at http://www.hl7.org/documentcenter/public/pressreleases/HL7_PRESS_20070823.pdf .
Report examines Medicaid HIT initiatives
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General has recently released a new report, State Medicaid Agencies’ Initiatives on Health Information Technology and Health Information Exchange. The report found:
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Twelve State Medicaid agencies have implemented a total of 16 HIT initiatives.
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Twenty-five State Medicaid agencies are involved in planning and developing statewide HIE networks.
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Thirteen State Medicaid agencies include MITA as part of their HIT and HIE planning.
The report recommended that CMS should:
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Continue to support the goals of MITA.
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Collaborate with other Federal agencies and offices to assist State Medicaid agencies in developing privacy and security policies.
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Continue to work with the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT to ensure that State Medicaid initiatives are consistent with national goals.
The report is available at http://www.oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-02-06-00270.pdf .
NASCIO profiles state HIT initiatives
Nebraska’s eHealth Council was listed in the National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO) Profiles of Progress. The document profiles one eHealth initiative per state. In most cases, initiatives in which the state CIO is involved were highlighted.
The report can be downloaded at http://www.nascio.org/publications/.
Vermont releases state eHealth plan, launches electronic medication history
Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL) recently published the Vermont Health Information Technology Plan: Strategies for Developing a Health Information Exchange. The plan is available at http://www.vitl.net/interior.php/pid/7. In April, VITL launched an electronic medication history service. With patient permission, emergency department clinicians at two pilot sites can access a list of medications dispensed and paid for by insurers in the past year. Ninety-nine percent of patients have opted in. The August issue of the VITL newsletter has more information (http://www.vitl.net/uploads/1187959781.pdf).
Minnesota establishes health information exchange, mandates EHRs by 2015
In September, Governor Tim Pawlenty joined with leaders from Minnesota’s largest health care organizations to announce an electronic health information exchange that will connect doctors, hospitals and clinics across health care systems so they can quickly access medical records needed for patient treatment during a medical emergency or for delivering routine care.
The Minnesota Health Information Exchange will improve patient safety, increase efficiency among health care providers, and reduce administrative costs for all health care organizations. When the exchange goes live in early 2008, it will be one of the largest health information exchanges in the nation, serving more than three million Minnesotans, and additional Minnesotans will be served as more health care organizations join the exchange.
The founding partners include Allina Hospitals & Clinics, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners, Medica, and the state of Minnesota. UCare is also an initial financial contributor to the exchange. Others supporting the project include Community Health Information Collaborative, Fairview Health Services, FirstPlan, HealthEast Care System, Hennepin County Medical Center, North Memorial Medical Center, Park Nicollet Health Services, and Preferred One.
The press release is available at http://www.governor.state.mn.us/mediacenter/pressreleases/PROD008303.html.
For more information on Minnesota’s other eHealth activities and legislation, see this presentation by the co-chairs of the Minnesotal e-Health Initiative Advisory Committee at http://www.health.state.mn.us/e-health/summit/brainerdwellik07.pdf .
eHealth Clearinghouse