PUBLIC HEALTH E-HEALTH

PUBLIC HEALTH E-HEALTHPUBLIC HEALTH E-HEALTH

alPHA Semi-Annual Meeting

February 3, 2006

PHIIT Office

Public Health Division

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e-Health is about using information technology to modernize Ontario’s health system.

Pharmacists

LabTechnologists

CommunityCare Workers

Specialists

Hospital Health Care Providers

Primary Care Providers

Public Health Workers

What is e-Health?

3e-Health Strategy -- Three Key Components

Fundamentally, Ontario’s e-Health Strategy at this point is focused on three key things

• Align and deliver key provincial e-Health initiatives

• Build and deliver the I&IT infrastructure we need

• Create and deliver an Electronic Health Record and the tools that will allow us to run the health system better

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Public Health e-Health –A Renewed Sense of Urgency

• Bioterrorism• West Nile Virus (WNv)• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)• Pandemic Influenza

• Common themes in Naylor and Walker Reports:• I&IT Governance• Surveillance• Communications

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I&IT Governance

Historically, I&IT Governance has been fragmented, impeding the implementation of collaborative initiatives.

Two recent changes have been made to strengthen governance • The creation of a Public Health e-Health Council co-chaired by PHD and

field representative

• The creation of a Public Health I&IT (PHIIT) Office within Public Health Division (PHD)• Ensures that Public Health in Ontario has access to the information systems

required to support its business• Works closely with e-Health Office• Supports public health components in both MOHLTC and MHP• SSHA and Health Services Cluster are primary delivery partners

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Public Health e-Health Council Vision

By engaging public health and the broader health sector, we will provide leadership in the best use of e-Health to transform public health into an efficient, effective, integrated and highly accountable system that advances the well-being of all Ontarians.

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Using Information Technology toTransform Public Health in Ontario

Public Health e-Health Framework

Public Health Applications

Transition Support

Communication Tools

Standards & Architectures

Public Health Community

Public Health Units Public Health Division Broader Health Sector

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Using Information Technology toTransform Public Health in Ontario

The Public Health Community is made up of:

• 36 Public Health Units across Ontario• Public Health Division of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care• Broader Health Sector

• To be prepared for possible threats (i.e. bioterrorism, avian flu, West Nile virus, SARS, etc.), the Public Health Community needs better:

• Communications Tools• Public Health Applications• Standards and Architecture• Transition Support

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Transition Support

Communication Tools



The Public Health e-Health Framework provides the tools and support needed for the Public Health Community to work together more efficiently to protect Ontario’s communities and renew public health

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• Communication Tools – PublicHealthOntario.ca, eHealthOntario.ca, Public Health Alerts

• Public Health Applications – iPHIS, Immunization Information System, Inspections Information System, integrated Lab information, Public Health Surveillance

• e-HealthOntario.ca Applications - Drug Profile Viewer• Standards & Architectures – technology standards,

common architecture• Transition Support – Support for IT staff and end-users

to adapt to information technology

Public Health e-Health Framework (cont’d)

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Transition Support

Communication Tools


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Communications Tools - Portals

• PublicHealthOntario.ca – serving public health providers and PHD staff

• eHealthOntario.ca – serving broader health sector

• Live – April 2005 (Phase 0)

• Collaboration Pilot – August 2005

• Increase in the number of e-Communities – December 2005

• Collaboration services that provide secure workspaces in which e-Communities collaborate on documents – January 2006

• Additional functionality added in phases over time

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AccessControl

Portal Conceptual Architecture

PH

O.ca

Portals

eHO

.ca

PublicHealthUsers

Content

BroaderHealth sector Users

Registered Users

Publishers

E-mail

INFORMATION

PUBLICATION FACILITY

APPLICATIONS

COLLABORATION SERVICES

SMS

Text-to-voice

Fax

Etc.

Etc.

ODB-ED, OLIS, iPHIS, ISCIS,

eReferral, eLearning, etc.

Asynchronous Tools e.g. Document Management, Check-in/Check-out, Version Control, Discussion Forums

Synchronous Tools e.g. Instant Messaging, Online Web Meetings

Controlled Access Content

EBSCO Journals and searchable

databases

Allows MOH and other stakeholders to broadcast important

and routine messages to targeted groups of

registered users

SSHA’s Registration Management

System (RMS)Common Identity and Access Management

solution

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Interim Collaboration Pilot

• Pilot project to clarify Collaboration Requirements, in the context of both PublicHealthOntario.ca and eHealthOntario.ca

• Project extended to provide two-way communication over the flu season

• Pilot has been well-received

• 600 users

• Regional Infection Control Networks• Alzheimer Knowledge Exchange• Seniors Health Research Transfer

Network • Ontario Public Health Libraries

Assoc.• Public Health Substance Abuse • Drug Profile Viewer Regional

Coordinators • Public Health Research, Education,

and Development (PHRED) Group• Pandemic Planning• Public Health Infectious Disease

Advisory Committee• Smoke-Free Ontario (Northeast)

16Communications Tools –Enabling Technology Strategy (ETS)

• Provides connectivity to health care organizations who lack the means to access e-Health services (e.g. Physician Practices, Community Health Centres, Long-Term Care Homes, Community Mental Health Agencies, Public Health Labs)

• Sows seeds of technology in broader health sector

• “Connectivity Bundles” comprising SSHA network connection + firewall appliance

• First network circuit installations in 2005

17Communications Tools –Videoconferencing

• Goal: provision of videoconferencing in 14 Public Health Units (PHUs)

• Five installations complete in PHUs• able to connect to key PHD locations• using SSHA infrastructure• Located in Thunder Bay, North Bay, Kingston, London and Niagara

• 2006/07 – Last nine units to be installed

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Transition Support

Communication Tools


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Public Health Information Systems

• Integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS)• Infectious Disease Outbreak Management System• Installed in all Public Health Units

• Immunizations Information System• End-state vision is that information will be captured at each stage of the

immunization process from vaccine ordering to post-administration, record-keeping and analysis

• Inspections• Multi-sectoral system to conduct location-based surveillance, including

scheduling and tracking inspections• Initial priorities were Food, Water and Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy• Requirements Study: July - October 2005• Inspection project manager hired through PHIIT (Jan/06)• Project has three tracks: SFO, Drinking Water and a “big picture” track

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Public Health Information SystemsCanada Health Infoway (CHI)

• CHI Solutions cover:• Communicable Disease Outbreak Management • Immunizations (including Vaccine Ordering and

Distribution)• Data standards and standards for data warehousing • Alerting and Notification standards

• Ontario-specific implementation planning project• October 2005 to March 2006

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Other Projects supported by PHIIT

• Chronic Disease Surveillance Strategy• development of a strategy• expand Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS)

data collection to all PHUs and to add some additional data elements

• Low Birth Weight Strategy (LBWS)• expand an existing database province-wide – will

enhance provincial data (more timely and more variables)

• Funds will flow shortly to PPSEO / “Niday” group, through mid-wifery program

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• Children In Need Of Treatment (CINOT) • Commence software redevelopment of dental treatment

database for children from needy families• Software changes to support the January 1, 2006 fee

change are in place• Work to explore solutions options for the new system to

begin shortly


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• Web-based Smoking Cessation

• As part of the Cessation component of the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy, the objective of this project is to develop a web-assisted cessation intervention service

• This web-based program is a cost-effective way of reaching a large number of smokers and may have the potential to facilitate behaviour change. Through this service, a smoker can assess his/her self-efficacy and readiness to quit, access self-help resources, customize a quit program and learn about support community from home or work.

• Overall project completion scheduled for June 2006. Funded through Smoke-Free Ontario


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What you need to know• PublicHealthOntario.ca:

• Uses the communications infrastructure to support delivery of public health and health promotion initiatives

• Aims to be a preferred destination for public health in Ontario when seeking the information and services they need to help them provide better care in Ontario (e.g. iPHIS, Immunization Information System) and tools (e.g. collaboration tool)

• First alert to new Important Health Notices• Complements your Health Unit’s web site

• Enabling Technology Strategy:• Connectivity will give your Health Unit a secure and reliable

connection to Public Health e-Health applications

• Videoconferencing:• An efficient means to conduct meetings and to collaborate with

other Health Units and the broader health sector

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Communications to Medical Officers of Health

• Medical Officers of Health are the key to the success of e-Health in the Public Health Units

• Over the past 3 months, you have received:• An e-mail requesting up-to-date contact information to

receive alerts for Important Health Notices and asking you to identify other key contacts according to their role in your Health Unit

• A test IHN to test the improved alert notification system• Connectivity bundle order form from SSHA to give your

Health Unit a secure connection and firewall

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What’s Coming:• A new Virtual Library of e-Journals and the MedLine and

CINAHL databases to help your staff conduct research and have the latest information at their fingertips

• Communication containing information on how you and your staff can create their own e-Communities on PublicHealthOntario.ca

• Regular updates on what’s new on PublicHealthOntario.ca

Communications to Medical Officers of Health

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Transforming Public Health in Ontario



Transition Support

Communication Tools


Public Health Community

Public Health Units Public Health Division Broader Health Sector

PublicHealthOntario.ca Public Health AlertsImmunization

Information SystemImproved Knowledge

Management

Public Health Surveillance

iPHISTechnology StandardsInspections

Information SystemIntegrating Lab

Information

Documents

PUBLIC HEALTH E-HEALTH