141st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

284784
Use of a health information exchange for community-based public health messaging


Monday, November 4, 2013

Teresa Younkin, MS, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA
Andrea Hassol, MSPH, Abt Associates, Cambridge, MA
James Younkin, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA
Mary Honicker, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA
Kimberly Chaundy, MS, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA
James Walker, MD, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA
  
Background: The Keystone Health Information Exchange (KeyHIE) serves more than 40 largely rural counties in central Pennsylvania. Patients can use the networked, community-wide personal health record in KeyHIE to view their records, communicate securely with providers, and request reminders for preventive health services such as influenza vaccination. School districts can receive updated CDC influenza vaccine information via KeyHIE Nurse Educators, for broadcast to families through existing communication channels.

Purpose: To test the use of an HIE for rural community health messaging, in this case influenza vaccination reminders.

Results: Influenza reach widespread/epidemic levels in 2012-2013 and the vaccine was a good match to prevailing strains. Timely and repeated reminders encouraged vaccination, to reduce the impact of influenza in the community and schools. KeyHIE was instrumental in reminding 25,437 community residents and families about vaccination in late 2012, through various communication channels, including: IVR, email, school websites, and a networked personal health record (PHR).

Discussion: This project demonstrated the successful use of multiple communication channels and collaboration between a Health Information Exchange and public schools, to deliver community-based, time-sensitive public health messages.

Learning Areas:

Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate how school systems and HIEs can together promote public health goals such as influenza vaccination. Demonstrate how HIEs can leverage multiple communication channels for public health messaging.

Keyword(s): Health Education Strategies, Information Technology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am responsible for community outreach and engagement for the Keystone Health Information Exchange, and worked with community organizations to leverage the exchange to promote infuenza vaccination promotion.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3035.1: Health Information Exchange: Facilitating data sharing between public health and clinical care systems