Methods for Leveraging a Health Information Exchange for Public Health: Lessons Learned from the NW-PHIE Experience

Authors

  • Michael Trebatoski Science Applications International Corporation, Healthcare Systems, McLean, VA
  • J Davies Inland Northwest Health Services, Spokane, WA
  • Debra Revere Center for Public Health Informatics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
  • David Dobbs Science Applications International Corporation, Healthcare Systems, McLean, VA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v2i2.3211

Abstract

The intent of this article is to provide public health and health information exchanges (HIEs) insight into activities and processes for connecting public health with clinical care through HIEs. In 2007 the CDC issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the “Situational Awareness through Health Information Exchange” project. The project’s goals are to connect public health with health information exchanges (HIEs) to improve public health’s real-time understanding of communities’ population health and healthcare facility status. This article describes the approach and methodology used by the Northwest Public Health Information Exchange to achieve the project’s goals. The experience of the NWPHIE Collaboration provides an organizational and operational roadmap for implementing a successful regional HIE that ensures secure exchange and use of electronic health information between local and state public health and health care entities. Keywords: Data Collection; Electronic Health Records; Health Information Exchange; Information Management; Information Services; Medical Record Linkage; Public Health; Public Health Informatics

Author Biographies

Michael Trebatoski, Science Applications International Corporation, Healthcare Systems, McLean, VA

Mr. Trebatoski is a Project Manager with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and has 30 years of experience successfully managing multiple projects involving the integration and implementation of systems, customer support, and project planning in health care and laboratory environments. As a member of the SAIC healthcare solutions team, he has worked as a health care Project Manager on the CDC Situational Awareness through HIE program, as well as an Implementation Lead on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) BioSense program. Prior to joining SAIC, Mr. Trebatoski supervised the Decision Support/Reporting Team at Aurora Health Care and has previously worked as a project architect for Cerner Corporation. He holds a BS degree in Medical Technology from the University of Wisconsin.

Debra Revere, Center for Public Health Informatics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Debra Revere, MLIS, MA, is Associate Director of the UW Clinical Informatics Research Group. Ms. Revere also holds a Clinical Faculty appointment in the UW Department of Health Services and, in her role of Research Scientist, has led several biomedical informatics investigations. Ms. Revere?s research interests include information needs of public health practice; development of tools to provide access to evidence-based resources and support decision-making in clinical and public health settings; characteristics of population-based data sources (e.g. surveillance systems, immunization registries); public health information exchange; and the application of qualitative data analysis methods to better understand workflow processes in public health and clinical environments.

David Dobbs, Science Applications International Corporation, Healthcare Systems, McLean, VA

Mr. Dobbs is an Information Technology professional with over 20 years experience managing large-scale information technology projects. He has substantial experience in health integration, program management; large-scale system design and implementation, technology assessment and optimization, and business process transformation. Mr. Dobbs? experience spans the healthcare, public health, financial services, and software development industries. He is currently leading two Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) related projects: connecting Inland Northwest Health Services (INHS) to public health for syndromic surveillance and laboratory notifiable condition reporting; and connecting INHS to the Social Security Administration (SSA) for the sharing of medical encounter summaries to assist in SSA?s disability benefit determination process. Mr. Dobbs led the development of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?s biosurveillance specification for sending clinical care and resource utilization information from healthcare organizations to public health entities, and played an active role in the Health Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSP) for setting national biosurveillance standards.

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Published

2010-10-26

How to Cite

Trebatoski, M., Davies, J., Revere, D., & Dobbs, D. (2010). Methods for Leveraging a Health Information Exchange for Public Health: Lessons Learned from the NW-PHIE Experience. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v2i2.3211

Issue

Section

Original Articles