Vision: Implement a statewide health information technology and exchange infrastructure.
Mission: Facilitate the adoption and use of health information technology and exchange to improve healthcare quality, patient safety and overall efficiency of healthcare and public health services in North Dakota.
Overview: On April 18, 2006 the first Health Information Technology Summit (HIT), was held in Bismarck in partnership with the following: Senator Kent Conrad, North Dakota Healthcare Review, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, North Dakota Healthcare Association, North Dakota Medical Association, Gruby Technologies, and the Center for Rural Health (CRH), UND School of Medicine Health Sciences. In order to continue the dialogue with regard to the future of HIT in North Dakota the North Dakota HIT Steering Committee was created with the Summit partners and the North Dakota Department of Health.
As a next step, a meeting of 40 North Dakota Stakeholders was convened, August 9th in Bismarck, in order to inform our efforts relative to HIT application in North Dakota. With funding provided through the federal Small Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) grant program, administered by the CRH, the services of consultants, David Ginsberg (President - PrivaPlan Associates, Inc., Santa Fe, New Mexico) and David Gregory (President - Medical eSolutions, Atlanta, Georgia), provided a national overview on HIT activity, as well as HIT and regional health information organization (RHIO) development in other states; particular attention was given to how HIT is impacting healthcare quality, safety and performance. The meeting also included facilitated discussion to develop next steps for the steering committee, as well as participating organizations, agencies, and healthcare facilities. The report from the August 9th meeting will be posted upon completion.
The Steering Committee members realize that states which have experienced the most success in implementing new HIT initiatives began with discussions between key stakeholders early in the process. It is the objective of the North Dakota HIT Steering Committee to facilitate further exploration of HIT application in our state, in a practical manner.
Lynette Dickson, MS, LRD
Center for Rural Health
University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences
E-mail: ldickson@medicine.nodak.edu
Tel: 701-777-6049
Main office number: 701-777-3848
