Health Information Exchange: A Frontier Model

This project laid the groundwork for the formation of a health information exchange within an established network of critical access hospitals, clinics, public health providers, and behavioral health providers across the rural, remote Nebraska Panhandle. The three goals were: (1) to develop an operational entity and incorporate a regional health information organization to support the development of a health information exchange; (2) to provide standardized training and user capacity development programs throughout the Panhandle; and (3) to implement electronic health records in critical access hospitals and rural health clinics through a shared process. The evaluation explored both the extent to which the objectives were obtained, and the outcomes: -An operational entity was established (Goal 1). The Rural Nebraska Healthcare Network formed the Western Nebraska Health Information Exchange, LLC as the operational entity and the Managers are responsible for all implementation and operation activities. -Standardized training and user capacity development programs were delivered to hundreds of Panhandle participants live, and over Nebraska’s telehealth network (Goal 2). -Progress was made toward implementing electronic health records (Goal 3). Avendor was selected and, at the grant’s conclusion, the Managers were negotiating contract terms and identifying funding for the implementation costs

Electronic Health Records: Eliciting Behavioral Health Providers’ Beliefs [Brief Reports]

Interviews with 32 community behavioral health providers elicited perceived benefits and barriers of using electronic health records. Themes identified were (a) quality of care, (b) privacy and security, and (c) delivery of services. Benefits to quality of care were mentioned by 100% of the providers, and barriers by 59% of providers. Barriers involving privacy and security concerns were mentioned by 100% of providers, and benefits by 22%. Barriers to delivery of services were mentioned by 97% of providers, and benefits by 66%. Most providers (81%) expressed overall positive support for electronic behavioral health records

Western Nebraska Health Information Exchange: Public Health Reporting – Where Does All the Data Go?

The Public Health Reporting - Schematics and Matrix outlines the current requirements of public health surveillance and reporting from rural healthcare providers to local, state, and national entities. The report was created to enhance the understanding of public health reporting for members of the Western Nebraska Health Information Exchange Network. The Public Health Reporting- Schematics and Matrix: - Highlights the complex processes, duplicate steps, and challenges with public health reporting and information sharing in Western Nebraska. - Enables public health administrators, educators, and policy makers to make reporting systems more efficient. - Illustrates an effective way to document a public health reporting trail that can be replicated by other communities throughout the nation