Informatics Competencies and Workforce Development A Minnesota Perspective 2012 Public Health Informatics Directors Meeting May 2nd, 2012 Marty LaVenture, MPH, PhD FACMI Director, Office of Health Information Technology & Center for Health Informatics & MN e-Health Initiative Minnesota Department of Health

2 Topics Discussion Minnesota Context PHI - Competencies Workforce / Organizational Development Discussion

3 Milestone: Signing Ceremony April 25th Recognize the Public Health Informatics Registered Apprenticeship In Process, Public Health Informatician as full Occupation Code

4 Context: Implications for Public Health Public health Information systems today: Moving from to a new era for our systems Recognize the accelerated pace for e-Health – especially expectation for interoperability Requires modernization & increase in sophistication Necessity of cross jurisdictional collaboration for requirements and standards

MDH-CDC pilot informatics field assignment 5 MDH Office of Health Information Technology (OHIT) Focus Example Strategic Initiatives  Minnesota e-Health Initiative  Policy & oversight program and privacy  e-Health Advisory Committee and Workgroups Health Informatics Projects  RWJF Common Ground Project  Public health informatics profile toolkit  EHR assessment and evaluation  Standards monitoring and recommendations  Health information exchange  Immunization interoperability Health Informatics Capacity  Mentoring and training of informatics graduate students  Teaching, advising and consultation

Improve Public Health Informatics Capacity Increase workforce Informatics Skills Support “Informatics Savvy” Health Departments Encourage Modernizing Applications Advise on Interoperability & Use Standards Conduct “Research” & Evaluation

7 Rationale for Public Health Informatics  Is about …The effective application of information technology… …of informatics—harnessing the available technology to meet the information needs of … public health practitioners in particular.  Public Health Informatics is the science about the effective use of information to improve practice  “…systematic application of information and computer science and technology to public health practice, research, and learning.” Source: Art Davidson & O’Carroll P. Pub Health Informatics & Information Systems,2003; LaVenture & colleagues – 2009, Yasnoff 2000,

8 Focus for Public Health Informatics PH Systems Require More Than IT: Technology Content Processes Workforce Informatics FocusIT Focus

9 Informatics Competencies Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals – 2010 Council on Linkages Informatics Competencies for Public Health Informaticians – 2009 Two levels Informatics Competencies for Public Health Three categories

Informatics Capacity An 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 Leverages data standards Evaluates and improves information systems/applications Assures interoperability with other information systems Assures confidentiality, security and integrity of data Provides training in public health informatics

Minnesota Example Approaches Senior Leadership Training Program Specific – workshops Mentoring – ongoing Individual & Organization competencies e.g. Project Management, Business Process Methods, Governance Academic Training Advisors – Consulting Practical & Adult learning focused

Example: Public Health Informatics Institute - Leadership Workshop 1. Introduction 2. Informatics Context 3. Key Best Practices 4. “Just Do It” 5. Wrap-Up & Evaluation—All Workshop Agenda

Organizational Capacity Organizational Development The sum of individual competencies does not necessarily equal organizational capacity Changes may be needed in your organization to ensure that information is managed strategically and information systems development is done coherently and professionally Principles in Practice – Managing Change Key Best Practices – Organization Development Moving towards an informatics savvy organization

14 Using Informatics to Change Public Health Practice

Collaborative Requirements Development Metho dology Developed by the Public Health Informatics Institute

Informatics Related Issues Applied Research / Evaluation Agenda Models e.g. Assessment Outcome measure standards Vocabulary and Terminology Architectures Integration vs Interoperability evaluation Detection and response systems Security

Public Health Informatics Training Needs Identified by MN Local Health Departments (N = 72) MN E-Health Report: Local Health Departments Organizational Infrastructure and Workforce ________________________ Seventy-one percent of local health departments identified public health informatics leadership as a training need. 18 Informatics Training Needs Percent & Number Public health informatics leadership71% (51) Analytical/Assessment (use and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data) 43% (31) Project management process, requirements methodology, and acquisition process 42% (30) Provide and direct electronic exchange with outside agencies (SNOMED, LOINC, HL-7) 33% (24) Essential core computer skills10% (7) Oversee management of information systems (security controls, privacy and confidentiality policy) 8% (6) Other3% (2) Source: Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Health Information Technology, LPH PPMRS Performance Measures (2010) Response Rate: 100% (72/72)

MN Local Health Departments with Informatics Related Policies and Procedures (N=72) MN E-Health Report: Local Health Departments Organizational Infrastructure and Workforce ________________________ Few local health departments have polices and procedures in place for electronic exchange with outside agencies (10%) and project management (6%). 19

20 Examples of Accomplishments  Lead a statewide laboratory assessment  Research & support on leveraging open source principles  Serve as informatics resource for programs  Participate in MN e-Health Initiative workgroups, ONC regional meeting, PHII Academy, lab interoperability CoP Conference Posters  AMIA Spring – Field assignment  PHI Conf – Problem solving framework  AMIA Fall – Laboratory information exchange

Human Resources Opportunities Current and in Progress: Development of Position Tag Job Class Series Minimum Qualifications CDC – Examples Occupational Codes Other States work

Workforce Training Opportunities Leverage / Advocate: PHII resources & PHII Academy CDC Informatics Materials, Fellows Program CDC/ASTHO Fellow Program Academic and ONC Training AMIA – 10x10 and Resources

Informatics Competencies and Workforce Development A Minnesota Perspective 2012 Public Health Informatics Directors Meeting May 2nd, 2012 Marty LaVenture, MPH, PhD FACMI Director, Office of Health Information Technology & Center for Health Informatics & MN e-Health Initiative Minnesota Department of Health

24 Matching Skills to Projects Supportive Working Environment Setting the Right Expectations Mentorship Funding and Sustainability KEYS To SUCCESS DESCRIPTION Balance applying what they know and opportunities to learn Place in an environment that supports decision and actions Expectations must match by skills and timing Informatics mentors are essential Resources to host a fellow and post fellowship

25 Objectives of the Pilot Informatics Field Assignment 1. Test feasibility of placing a 3 rd year fellow in a state health department 2. Identify the opportunities and challenges for informatics field assignment 3. Create models for future fellow placement at state/local health departments Office of Health Information Technology

Public Health Informatics Profile Toolkit Minnesota Department of Health: Jennifer Fritz, Priya Rajamani, Marty LaVenture In support by : The Public Health Informatics Institute & The RWJF Foundation: Chapters: 1: Introduction 2: Purpose 3: Getting Started 4: Assessment Methods 5: Interpreting the Results 6: Creating a Profile 7: Acting on the Results 8: Additional Resources 9: Appendices

27 Example Domain/Topic Area: Standards