Public Health and Regional Health Information Organization Collaboration: Public Health Integration Into the Statewide Health Information Network - New York (SHIN-NY)

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH) are working together to accelerate public health situational awareness through health information exchanges (HIEs).   New York is employing a multi-phased approach whereby the Public Health HIE Architecture and Standards are developed during the first year of the project and implemented during the second year.  The architecture and standards collectively define the specifications for the Universal Public Health Node (UPHN) which will serve as the standardized interface for exchange of data within the Statewide Health Information Network for New York (SHIN-NY).

The SHIN-NY is a network of networks to interconnect clinicians to exchange patient information, regardless of the venue in which the patient receives care in order to deliver the right care at the right time in a coordinated, patient-centered manner.  The information exchange is based on a service-oriented architecture using web services and common health information exchange protocols and will be a part of the emerging Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN).  

Governance is a critical element in achieving success in large scale initiatives and NY utilizes a Statewide Collaborative Process (SCP) overseen by the New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC). NYeC is a public-private partnership and statewide governance body playing an integral role in the development of information policies through a consensus-based approach as part of New York State’s overall health IT strategy.  NYeC leads the Statewide Collaborative Process through an open, transparent, and consensus driven manner to which all contribute to ensure a comprehensive policy framework to advance health IT in the public’s interest.  The SCP is driven by the efforts of four workgroups which recommend policies, standards, technical approaches and services to the NYeC Policy and Operations Council, the NYeC Board and the NYS Department of Health.