Building Public Health / Clinical Health Information Exchanges: The Minnesota Experience Marty LaVenture, MPH, PhD Director, Center for Health Informatics Minnesota 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 Years Advisory Committee Privacy & Security MN Public Health Information Network New Projects Mn Health Care Connection EHR Grants

Changing Environment YesterdayToday Little AwarenessLots of Awareness HypeRealization of Complexities IT FirstQuality/Value First Little Public or Private Sector Activity Broad Public & Private Activity SW ApplicationsWork/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 Achieve Resource Capacity An informatics-savvy organization has … Staff Competencies Senior Informaticians Directors & Managers Standards/ Interoperability Inventory of Systems, Processes and Datasets Front line staff Data Management/ Reporting Tools Applications/Systems Leverages data standards Functional 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 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 Profiles Measuring and Building Public Health Informatics Capacity in Minnesota The Profiles measure … Statewide Assessment Self Assessment Tools Informatics Education Print Materials Peer-to-peer Knowledge Sharing Webinars Regional Workshops Community of Practice Created to Build Functional and Resource Capacities Minnesota Public Health Information Network MDH Center for Health Informatics Informatics Tools Project Tools Planning Methodologies The Community of Practice supports…

Example Tool for Agencies Source: Public Health Informatics Institute (

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 consumers  Ensure all relevant medical information on an individual is securely available to their current physician or to an emergency room  Reduce costly inefficiencies within and across health care settings  Use 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 LTC  Build on a “culture of collaboration”  Create broad statewide vision  Focus action on visible steps  Guide by broad public – private advisory Committee  Use a neutral convening body 4. Key Lessons Learned “ What would you recommend others do?”  Be consumer focused  Establish communities of practice  Use endorsing Legislation  Gov/t role: neutral convening body, facilitation, assist in measurement, assessment and communications  You don’t need “all” the answers today  Leading from the “backseat” is OK  Plan Broadly, Implement Incrementally  Include Public Health from the beginning 3. Key Barriers and Challenges “What are some of the key challenges and barriers?  Data ( ) overload / knowledge deficit  Assuring rural / underserved needs are met  Addressing population health issues  Use opportunities for federal/private funding  Model for sustainable funding for projects  Utilizing expertise state wide

Thank You Web Resources  Reports and policy  Directory of projects  Shared tools and templates Minnesota e-Health Initiative