The overall project goal is to facilitate the exchange of health information by implementing an interoperable EMR along the continuum of care that is patient-centered, facilitating patient safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care services. Three North Dakota CAHs, one tertiary referral hospital, and ancillary providers including a community health center, a rural health clinic and a long term care facility will serve as the network model in this pilot project. An innovative ‘overlay’ system will be used that includes a clinical portal and integration engine which allows the exchange between disparate systems. The project includes a strategic plan involving (final) planning, testing, infrastructure building, and implementation phases, as well as the use of performance measures related to diabetes care management. Plans also include dissemination, sustainability and evaluation.
Front left to right: Angie Amundson (Northwood); Lynette Dickson, Program Director, Center for Rural Health; Dr. Duke, Administrator, Federal Health Resrouces and Services Administration; Marlene Miller, Program Director, Center for Rural Health; Pete Antonsen, CEO, Northwood Deaconess Health Center; Everett Butler, CEO, Pembina Co. Memorial Hospital (Cavalier); Jon Linnell, Executive Director, North Region Health Alliance.
Back Row, left to right: Brad Wehe, Regional Outreach Director, Altru Health System; Chad Peterson, CIO CAH HIT Network (Northwood); Robert Heidt, CIO, Pembina Co. Memorial Hospital (Cavalier); Dr. Joshua Wynn, Executive Associate Dean, UND, SMHS.
The North Dakota pilot project will operate from September 2007 through February 2009 and offers a unique framework involving disparate health information systems that together, provide the full continuum of care. Involvement of the state’s quality improvement organization, a strong clinical component and, building upon a recognized diabetes education center will ensure the necessary focus on the integration of performance outcome measures. Use of stakeholder groups (i.e. steering committee, implementation team and advisory groups) will ensure the effective management of the project including the perspectives of physicians, consumers and other stakeholders. The implementation of a performance improvement tool that translates an organization’s mission and strategy into a comprehensive set of performance measures provides for a strategic measurement and management system. Very importantly, assistance from a consulting group who will bring lessons learned from a proven model, (federally funded project) using the ‘overlay’ system, meets goals described by HRSA for the replication of successful models that are cost-efficient and effective.
For more information about the
Flex Critical Access Hospital - Health Information Technology Network Implementation Grant, visit the federal Office of Rural Health Policy's web site. The web site includes a list of all grantees throughout the nation.
