328801
Using a Disaster Event as a Use Case for Health Information Exchange
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
: 2:30 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.
Rachel L. Abbey, MPH,
US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Washington, DC
Kevin Horahan, JD, MPH, NRP,
US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Washington, DC
Lee Stevens,
US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Washington, DC
Dan Smiley,
California EMS Authority, Rancho Cordova, CA
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a gateway to and an integral part of the healthcare system. Yet, only a few EMS systems have access to a health information exchange (HIE) or electronic health/medical records. Access to HIE data during a disaster or other emergency has potentially high value. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) have partnered with the State of California on a project to create a single sign-on system for providers, including EMS and other emergency responders. The interface would be similar to what they use day to day to access HIE data. It would connect multiple California HIE systems (public and private) to share health information during a disaster. Access could be “turned on” only during a declared emergency, or available in steady state and would only be accessible to credentialed health care providers. The system has the potential to be used by non-clinical providers for family reunification and possibly for public health emergency planning. Improving the current system will lead to more efficient transitions of care, fuller integration of EMS into the health care system, better patient outcomes and improve community resiliency. A successful model could be replicated in other states and communities. This project has assisted ASPR and ONC in identifying additional problems within the EMS and health IT area that can be adapted, combined, and personalized to enhance both organizations’ abilities to carry out their commitment to the American people.
Learning Areas:
Communication and informatics
Learning Objectives:
Explain how health information exchange (HIE) is critical during disaster response efforts.
Describe the single sign-on system for providers that connect multiple health information exchange systems.
Identify the process taken to create a single sign-on HIE system for California.
Keyword(s): Information Technology
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a principle lead in this project and have received funding to perform the initial work. I have extensive work in health information exchange, public health and emergency preparedness. I am also a member of APHA.
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.
