Community Health
Information Collaborative
and the
Northeast Minnesota
Regional Health Information
Organization
Cheryl M. Stephens
Executive Director
Community Health Information Collaborative
July 17, 2006
CHIC Overview
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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.
Coordinate health information technology in
Northeastern Minnesota
Share costs and best practices across the
membership
Non-profit 501(c)3
Current CHIC Services
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Provide secure and encrypted claims
submission to Medicare, Medicaid and various
commercial Payors.
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Lead agency for the Minnesota Immunization
Information Connection in 18 counties.
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Administrative Coordinator for Emergency
Preparedness activities for 16 hospitals in 7
counties in the Arrowhead.
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Provide USAC administrative services –
brought $400,000 back to the region in 2005.
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
Criteria for our RHIO Vision
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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
CHIC-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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St. Luke’s Hospital
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St. Mary’s/Duluth Clinic
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Community Health Board
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Iron Range Resources
Cheryl Stephens
Mark Schmidt
Pam Oachs
Melinda Machones
Clark Averill
Tess Settergren
Julie Myhre
Mike Larson
Major 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
Key Advantages
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CHIC’s history and relationships with providers
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SMDC, St. Luke’s, and SISU’s commitment to the
project
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St. Scholastica’s involvement and experience with
numerous health information technologies
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National focus and momentum
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We can learn from projects around the country
CHIC RHIO Goals
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Improved health of patients through more
comprehensive sharing of info
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Increased efficiency / productivity of physicians
through more complete and timely access to
patient information
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Creation of a more complete public health
picture of the region to better assess and
address issues that arise
Implementation Phases
I.
Create a Common Web Portal
II.
Combine common systems
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St. Luke’s and SISU both have Meditech
III. Integrate St. Mary’s (Epic) using
national standards
IV. Integrate additional systems throughout
the region
Phase I of Web Portal
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Two distinct processes:
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Remote access to approved systems
Hyperlink into remote system(s)
 No changes to existing systems
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Request process for access to new systems
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For use when a physician must request privileges
and access
Single Sign-On Pilot
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Sponsoring organizations:
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Government Services Administration and Health
Information Management Systems Society
Authentication using PKI technology
Certificates from ACES – current federal
contractor
Test case between three sites in our region
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one physician and two hospitals
CHIC is one of seven (7) RHIOs in the nation to be
chosen for this pilot.
RHIO Committees & Issues
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Policy Committee
Privacy and Security
 Ownership of Data
 Legal barriers
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Technical Committee
Standards
 Architecture
 Authentication/Master Patient Index
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Questions?
Web portal URL
http://www.chic-rhio.org/
Thank You!