Building Public Health / Clinical Health Information Exchanges:

The Minnesota Experience

Marty LaVenture, MPH, PhDDirector, Center for Health InformaticsMinnesota Department of Health

Minnesota e-Health and MN-PHIN

MN Public Health Information Network

(MN-PHIN)Improving state-local

effectiveness & efficiency

Interoperability and Health Information Exchange

Initiating Key Projects

04 05 06 07 1009 1108 12Years

Advisory Committee

Privacy & Security

MN Public Health Information Network

New Projects

Mn Health Care Connection

EHR Grants

Changing Environment

Yesterday Today

Little Awareness Lots of Awareness

Hype Realization of Complexities

IT First Quality/Value FirstLittle Public or Private Sector Activity

Broad Public & Private Activity

SW Applications Work/business Process & Informatics

The Purpose of MN-PHIN

To create … the infrastructure, the policies and the

skilled workforce To improve … the collection, management, uses, and

exchange of timely and accurate data; and the design, functions and interoperability

of public health information systems.

Current MN-PHIN Priorities

Support information system projects of state and local importance

Promote adoption of standards for interoperability and exchange

Communicate knowledge, information and best practices; assess and build informatics capacity

Engage key partners in advancing the strategic application and management of public health information systems.

Necessary to AchieveResource Capacity

An informatics-savvy organization has …

Staff Competencies

Senior Informaticians

Directors & Managers

Standards/Interoperability

Inventory of Systems, Processes and DatasetsFront line staff

Data Management/Reporting Tools

Applications/Systems

Leverages data standards

Functional CapacityAn informatics-savvy organization …

Creates strategic direction for informatics within the agency

Assures knowledge, data and information needs are met

Assures effective management of information systems

Assures effective management of IT operations.

Communicates with policy makers, staff and the public

Evaluates and improves information systems/Processes

Assures interoperability with other information systems.

Assures confidentiality, security and integrity of data

Provides training in public health informatics

MN-PHIN Informatics ProfilesMeasuring and Building Public Health Informatics Capacity in Minnesota

The Profiles measure …

Statewide Assessment

Assessment

Self AssessmentTools

Informatics Education

Print MaterialsPeer-to-peer Knowledge Sharing

Webinars Regional Workshops

Community of PracticeCreated to Build Functional and Resource Capacities

Minnesota Public Health Information NetworkMDH Center for Health Informatics

Informatics Tools

Project ToolsPlanning Methodologies

The Community of Practice supports…

INFORMATICS implies a disciplined approach to information systems design and use that drives improvements in public health practice

Using Informatics to Change Practice

Source: Adapted from Bellinger, G. Knowledge Management and the Minnesota Department of Health

Healthier Communities

An INFORMATICS SAVVY ORGNIZATION

is one which has an informatics-skilled workforce,

a disciplined approach to information system design and use,

and reliably managed IT operations.

Example Tool for Agencies

Source: Public Health Informatics Institute (www.phii.org)

Examples of supporting the Community of Practice

“Public Health Data Standards 101”

1. Value Proposition• “What are the achieved or anticipated benefits of HIE” Empower citizens as health/care consumersEnsure all relevant medical information on an individual is securely available to their current physician or to an emergency roomReduce costly inefficiencies within and across health care settingsUse health care and public health data to better protect communities against health risks or threats. Improve the safety and quality of health care

2. Securing “Buy-In” From Stakeholders• “How did you secure buy-in from stakeholders?”Be inclusive of private and public healthcare and public health settings, including LTCBuild on a “culture of collaboration”Create broad statewide visionFocus action on visible steps Guide by broad public – private advisory CommitteeUse a neutral convening body

4. Key Lessons Learned• “ What would you recommend others do?”Be consumer focused Establish communities of practiceUse endorsing LegislationGov/t role: neutral convening body, facilitation, assist in measurement, assessment and communicationsYou don’t need “all” the answers todayLeading from the “backseat” is OKPlan Broadly, Implement IncrementallyInclude Public Health from the beginning

3. Key Barriers and Challenges• “What are some of the key challenges and barriers?Data (e-mail) overload / knowledge deficit Assuring rural / underserved needs are metAddressing population health issuesUse opportunities for federal/private fundingModel for sustainable funding for projectsUtilizing expertise state wide

Thank You

Web ResourcesReports and

policy Directory of

projectsShared tools

and templates

Minnesota e-Health Initiativewww.health.state.mn.us/e-healthMartin.laventure@state.mn.us