Overview
The Iowa Department of Public Health has formed Iowa e-Health - a collaboration among consumers, health care providers, insurers, state government, and health care purchasers - to build the Iowa Health Information Network (IHIN) and encourage Iowa providers to use electronic health records (EHRs).
The IHIN will allow health care providers to access vital patient health information no matter where the patient has been seen in Iowa. Think of the IHIN as a “hub” that connects different EHRs throughout the state, which allows patient information to flow between providers in a secure and confidential way. Whether in an emergency or during a regular visit with a primary care physician, patient health information will be exchanged quickly and accurately through the IHIN.
Initially, the type of information that will be exchanged through the IHIN include:
- secure provider to provider messaging
- continuity of care document (summary of a patient record)
- clinical lab results
- immunization list
- medication history
The 5 Domains of Iowa e-Health:
- Governance: convening stakeholders, setting direction and goals, and providing oversight to ensure accountability
- Finance: identifying and managing financial resources to achieve short and long-term sustainability
- Technical Infrastructure: implementing and managing the core infrastructure and standards to enable the electronic exchange of health information among providers
- Legal and Policy: establishing policies and trust agreements to safeguard privacy and security of electronic health information
- Business and Technical Operations: performing day-to-day activities to support Iowa e-Health operations and alignment with broad health reform
Background
Accurate, up-to-date health records play a critical role in helping doctors make the best diagnoses and provide the best care possible. Yet sharing traditional paper records from one doctor to another, or to the patient, can take precious time.
Electronic health records (EHRs) are replacing paper medical record systems across the country and in Iowa. Health care providers are using EHR systems in ever growing numbers -- an important part of enhancing health care quality and efficiency in Iowa. They make it possible to establish a statewide health information exchange (HIE) - called the Iowa Health Information Network (IHIN) to assure the real-time sharing of electronic records between health care providers.
President George W. Bush signed an executive order in 2004 setting a goal for all Americans to have an electronic health record by 2014. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed by President Obama in 2009 provided $19 billion for investment in a health information infrastructure.
The Iowa Legislature created the e-Health Executive Committee and Advisory Council in 2008 (House File 2539). The Executive Committee and Advisory Council works closely with the Iowa Department of Public Health to help advance health information technology in Iowa.
In March 2010, Iowa e-Health was awarded $8,375,000 of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding over four years through a cooperative agreement with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) to help fund the IHIN.
In 2011, the Iowa Legislature also passed House File 649 that created a workgroup to develop a business model and financial sustainability plan for the IHIN. The legislation also addressed legal and policy protections for pilot participants of the IHIN.