4016.2: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 - 9:15 AM

Abstract #4115

Technology enables integrated public health service delivery

Mary E. Gerlach, MBA, RD, Office of Information Management, Public Health Division, New Mexico Department of Health, 1190 St. Francis Drive, S-1105, Santa Fe, NM 87505, 505-827-2392, maryg@doh.state.nm.us and Matt C. Bailey, BA, Fox Systems, Inc, 4110 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 345, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, 505-983-9541, matt@foxsys.com.

The New Mexico Department of Health, Public Health Division (PHD) has recently implemented a statewide Integrated Network for Public Health Official Records Management (INPHORM), an integrated client information collection and reporting system for over thirty public health programs statewide. The goals of the INPHORM System were to more accurately and efficiently collect and report public health program and client service data provided throughout the State by the public health workforce, that would also be used as one tool to assist with the integration of public health services. Using functional requirements developed in a collaborative manner by end-users, PHD purchased a commercial off-the-shelf public health software application, customized the software for New Mexico, and developed testing, training and implementation plans that led to the successful deployment of this new integrated technology. The actual implementation, including the testing of the software and training of almost 450 state workers, was accomplished in eight months. The barriers to a successful information technology implementation in this restricted time period with limited resources (financial, human and technical) were significant, and the lessons learned should prove invaluable for other public health organizations. Lessons learned include success factors that are critical to a successful integrated technology deployment; organizational barriers to technology implementation efforts and strategies to eliminate those barriers; and the many benefits of an integrated information system to the clients served through public health programs, including the improvement of integration of public health services.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to: 1. List at least three success factors (enablers) required for the successful deployment of an integrated public health information system. 2. Identify at least three organizational barriers to successful integrated information system implementation in the public health environment. 3. Describe at least three benefits to public health clients provided through the use of technology to integrate public health service delivery

Keywords: Health Information Systems, Information System Integration

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: New Mexico Department of Health, Public Health Division Contractors involved in implementation who may be mentioned include: QS Technologies, Inc., Greenville, South Carolina DynCorp Management Resources, Reston Virginia POD Associates, Inc., Alb
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA