Community Health
Information Collaborative
and the
Northeast Minnesota
Regional Health Information
Organization
Cheryl M. Stephens
Executive Director
Community Health Information Collaborative
Melinda Machones
HIT Project Manager
The College of St. Scholastica
Clark Averill
IT Director, St. Luke’s Hospital
Chair, CHIC Board of Directors
CHIC Overview
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Planning started in 1997
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Initial focus
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Developed with Federal Office of Rural Health
Network grant
Key participants included regional hospitals, physician
practices, public health, and the Minnesota Health
Data Institute.
To coordinate health information technology in
Northeastern Minnesota
To share costs and best practices across the
membership
Gained Non-profit 501(c)3 status in 1999
Current CHIC Services
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Provide secure and encrypted claims
submission to Medicare, Medicaid and various
commercial Payors.
Lead agency for the Minnesota Immunization
Information Connection in 18 counties.
Administrative Coordinator for Emergency
Preparedness activities for 16 hospitals in 7
counties in the Arrowhead.
Provide USAC administrative services –
brought $185,000 back to the region in 2004
CHIC Members
Total Sites contributing data – 344
Hospitals – 32
Tribal Health Agencies – 20
Clinics – 110
Schools – 146
Public Health Agencies – 19
Corrections – 2
Long-term care – 9
Home Care Agencies – 2
Urgent Care Sites – 2
Pharmacy – 2
Membership Fee Structure
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Based on organization size and services
used
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Hospitals/Health Systems fees are based on bed size
and employed physicians
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Clinics fees are based on employed physician
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Public Health is a set fee
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Tribal Health is a set fee
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Some members fees are paid by grants that CHIC is
administrating
Reasons for RHIO
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National Focus snapshot
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Office of National Coordinator of Health Information
Technologies (Dr. David Brailer)
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June 6: American Health Information Community
Advisory Panel announced
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June 7: Four RFP’s focusing on Health Information
Exchange
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June 8: Capital Hill HIT Showcase
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June 16: "Health Technology to Enhance Quality Act
of 2005" (Health TEQ)”
Reasons for RHIO
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Regional Activities
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MN e-Health Steering Committee
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This Minnesota Rural Health Conference
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St. Scholastica focus on HIT and interdisciplinary
health sciences programs
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SMDC, St. Luke’s, SISU investments in EHR
technology
CHIC is the logical organization
to drive this strategy in NE Minnesota
RHIO Definition
An organization that facilitates the
sharing of health information across
all organizations contributing to the
continuum of patient care.
RHIO Models
Common Community EHR
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Not practical, would involve replacing all existing investments
Shared repository of summary EHR data
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Costly duplication of technology
Shared access to multiple EHRs
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Practical solution in consumer-directed market
Shared electronic clinical transactions
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Practical starting point while EHR adoption matures,
e.g. immunization registries, Rx histories, e-prescribing
RHIO Major Stakeholders
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Physicians, hospitals, public health,
tribal health and other health care
providers
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Payers
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Patients / Consumers
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Employers
Criteria for our RHIO Vision
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An appropriate and effective Vision must
include the following components:
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Create the technological infrastructure
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Develop processes to make effective use of
these systems within and between healthcare
systems
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Engage all stakeholders with special focus on
rural providers
RHIO Work Group
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CHIC
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SISU Medical Systems
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The College of St. Scholastica
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Iron Range Resources
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St. Luke’s Hospital
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St. Mary’s/Duluth Clinic
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SuperiorEdge
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Community Health Board
Cheryl Stephens
Mark Schmidt
Kathy LaTour
Melinda Machones
Richard Walsh
Clark Averill
Tess Settergren
Kelly Peterson
Julie Myhre
Challenges
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EHR adoption in rural NE Minnesota
providers – cost and resources
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Lack of comprehensive standards
between vendors
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Public concern over privacy and security
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Available funding
Advantages
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CHIC’s history and relationships with
providers
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SMDC and St. Luke’s commitment to the
project
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National focus and momentum
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We can learn from earlier projects around
the country
RHIO Initiatives in NE MN
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Learn from other RHIO projects
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Acquire Funding
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Assess Environment
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Address privacy and security issues
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Promote the project
Initial Implementation
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Share CCR with EPIC and Meditech
providers
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2 largest systems in the region
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CCR provides basic patient information
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Allows us to expand by system or by record
data
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Provides for a well-defined, early success
Questions?
Thank You!