208417 Building the Louisiana Public Health Information Exchange (LaPHIE) - the role of a neutral convener

Monday, November 9, 2009: 9:30 AM

Susan Bergson, MPH , Health Systems Development- HIV/AIDS Programs, Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA
Jane Herwehe, MPH , Louisiana State University, Health Care Services Division, Baton Rouge, LA
Clayton Williams, MPH , Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA
Lisa Longfellow , Office of Public Health, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, New Orleans, LA
Manya Magnus, PhD, MPH , The George Washington University, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Washington, DC
Amy Zapata, MPH , Louisiana Office of Public Health, HIV/AIDS Program, New Orleans, LA
  
The Louisiana Public Health Information Exchange (LaPHIE) is a network of seven public hospitals and public health practitioners initiated in 2005 which includes the Louisiana State University Health Care Services Division (LSU HCSD), and the State of Louisiana, Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) Office of Public Health (OPH) HIV/AIDS Program (HAP), the Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Program, and TB Program and the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI). LaPHIE partners have developed an innovative bi-directional electronic health information exchange supported by information sharing agreements, legal analysis, consumer acceptability research, and strong community relationships. The goal of the initiative is to improve timely diagnosis and treatment for persons with HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and syphilis. LPHI has served as a neutral convener for LaPHIE since its inception. A neutral convener can also be referred to as a facilitator, intermediary, organizer, and/or planner. Its primary purpose is to build partnerships; broker communication and consensus and assure parity in decision making. Given the importance of neutrality in representing all partners in the network as well as consumer stakeholders, this is a central role that allows LaPHIE to function without conflict. While the role of a neutral convener is frequently overlooked, it can play an important role in establishing governance and garnering resources to assure the viability and sustainability of an HIE while navigating complicated relationships. This presentation will outline methods used in the neutral convener role, key lessons learned during the LaPHIE implementation process, and how these have improved the overall collaboration. The use of a neutral convener in the building of LaPHIE has set a successful precedent for collaboration in Louisiana. As health information exchanges across the United States increase, Public Health Institutes as neutral conveners will play an increasingly important part in their success and longevity.

Learning Objectives:
1.Identify key attributes of a neutral convener 2.Discuss the role of a neutral convener in establishing the governance and structure of a Health Information Exchange (HIE) such as the Louisiana Public Health Information Exchange (LaPHIE) 3.Define the benefits of using a neutral convener to facilitate a HIE such as LaPHIE

Keywords: Public Health Informatics, Collaboration

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I represent the Louisiana Public Health Institute who is the neutral convener for the Louisiana Public Health Information Exchange.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Legal and Ethical Questions: Building a Case for Public Health Information Exchanges
See more of: Health Informatics Information Technology