285495
Creating a coordinated HIV data system in North Carolina: Laying the foundation
Heather Parnell, MSW,
Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke University, Durham, NC
Renee Jensen, BS,
Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke University, Durham, NC
Kristen Sullivan, PhD, MSW,
Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC
Miriam Berger, MPH,
Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke University, Durham, NC
Shemeika McEachern, MPA,
Division of Public Health, Noth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC
Brian Berte,
Division of Public Health, North Carolina Departmenf of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC
Evelyn Byrd Quinlivan, MD,
Center for Infectious Diseases, UNC Centers for AIDS Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Jacquelyn Clymore, MS,
Communicable Disease Branch, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC
Background: The HRSA-funded NC-LINK project focuses on increasing the number of people living with HIV (PLWH) in consistent care through a system of linkages between HIV testing and care providers in North Carolina. Currently, state-level electronic systems in HIV surveillance and care lack interoperability and integration. Increasing this interoperability and integration is the foundation for creating effective and coordinated health information exchange. Objective: The NC-LINK project aims to improve care-coordination by electronically linking statewide systems and regional data repositories. The first step is to electronically connect all Ryan White Part B services using CAREWare, a database system created by HRSA for Part B reporting compliance. Methods: In NC, HRSA Part B clinical and support service data reside on the state CAREWare server. In 2013, CAREWare data will be shared statewide for all PLWH who have clinical or service information residing at more than one provider location on the network. This will allow providers to view past and present data for clients they serve who may have received services elsewhere in the network. Results: In January 2013, there were approximately 9,000 active clients in CAREWare within 37 different domains, individual provider patient databases. There were approximately 226 active users - including providers, administrators, case managers, etc. Of those 37 domains, 31 were actively sharing information. Conclusions: A coordinated statewide care system that shares client information can reduce the duplication of clients in care as well as determine the number of PLWH who have fallen out of care. Support agencies and medical providers can use local data sets for local quality improvement activities. The NC-LINK project is designed to enhance data exchange by creating a statewide system linking Part B providers. The next step will be to link care data to surveillance data to help create a complete health information exchange.
Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Communication and informatics
Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate the process of developing a statewide health information exchange between Ryan White Part B HIV providers.
Identify the potential outcomes and uses for linked electronic HIV care data
Describe how electronically linking care data lays the foundation for creating a larger statewide health information exchange for all HIV positive individuals.
Keyword(s): Health Information Systems, HIV/AIDS
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Principal Investigator of the sub-contract with Duke University overseeing the evaluation of this project.
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.
