Engagement in Health Information Technology and Health Information Exchange - Related Efforts: Is Public Health-Healthcare Collaboration Evident?

Health information technology (HIT) and health information exchange (HIE) - related initiatives continue to advance, and progress is evident.  Individuals and organizations representing public health are engaged, however, there is still opportunity and need for further involvement.  Taskforces have also been formed and the members have been actively involved in documenting public health interests in the context of HIT and HIE.  Initiatives have been undertaken with public health engaged as partners providing input and in some cases, leading the initiatives.

 

The Office of the National Coordinator for HIT (ONC) recognizes the interests of public health organizations in the context of HIT and HIE.  This is demonstrated for example, by the priorities identified through the American Health Information Community (AHIC) and the participation by key public health leaders in this community and related efforts, and in providing recommendations to the Secretary of DHHS. 

 

The evidence that individuals and organizations representing public health have contributed to HIT and HIE-related projects, was manifest through findings from an assessment of relevant projects and publications.  The assessment noted the specific contributions, and also sought to examine whether existing efforts at public health organizations such as the public health information network (PHIN) were informing HIT and HIE efforts.  The assessment revealed opportunities for collaboration, benefits of collaborating, lessons learned from the collaboration, and challenges.  The need for more involvement by individuals and organizations representing public health was noted in areas such as, personal health records (PHRs) initiatives, regional and state level health information exchange efforts, in providing feedback on HIT and HIE-related deliverables made available for public comment, and others.