HIT: Tools to address social inequities experienced by users of LHDs' programs and services

In February 2009 ARRA and the HITECH Act were signed into law providing government funding and incentives for development of initiatives to strengthen our Nation's health care IT infrastructure and increase providers' use of IT. The HITECH Act has several goals, including improving quality of care, care coordination, and population and public health.

As key health providers in communities across the U.S., Local Health Departments (LHDs) anticipate participation in the initiatives the HITECH Act creates. Over 3,000 LHDs exist nationwide, serving as the health care safety net for the medically underserved. In the course of assuring the public's health within their respective communities, LHDs provide services such as immunizations, HIV/AIDS and STD testing, and home visits for pregnant women and newborn infants—for the most part to recipients who lack access to providers that may generally provide such services. Many LHDs also operate health centers offering primary care services to their communities.

LHDs recognize opportunities now exist for adopting HIT needed to support both the public health and the primary care services they provide. Of relevance are technologies such as EMRs and e-prescribing to support primary care, interface solutions to exchange data with community-based providers, case management technology to support public health programs, and mobile solutions to support community and home-based services. This presentation outlines the practice models relevant to LHDs, and the scope of HIT critical for supporting services provided and addressing social inequalities in their communities. In the context of social justice, the presentation highlights the necessity of assuring LHDs obtain a fair share of ARRA funding, as these resources are necessary to both establish the LHD's components of the HIT infrastructure relevant to creating meaningful use and to more efficiently and effectively meet the needs of the medically underserved population reliant on such organizations for health care.