WHCC Contract
In October 2007, the WyHIO completed a survey for the Wyoming Healthcare Commission (WHCC) to provide information on existing healthcare information technology capability in Wyoming’s medical community, specific software in use, access to high speed internet connections in Wyoming, and the ability to exchange electronic healthcare information among providers in Wyoming. The WyHIO contracted with the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center at the University of Wyoming to conduct the survey, which began in early 2007. The cooperation of key stakeholders in the healthcare community was essential to help the WyHIO and the WHCC gauge the readiness of the Wyoming healthcare community to engage in healthcare information exchange.
Additionally, the WyHIO has asked the WHCCto consider supproting a statewide HIE needs assessment as part of a phase 2 for this project. That request is under consideration. View the request.
Federal Communications Commission Grant Application
Wyoming was recently awarded an FCC grant to tie health care providers together is a dedicated communications network. The WyHIO participated with 12 other organizations to apply for that grant. Partners in this effort included
• The University of Wyoming – lead agency
• Memorial Hospital of Laramie County
• The Wyoming Hospital Association
• The Wyoming Department of Health
• The Wyoming Health Information Organization
• Qwest Communications
• The Wyoming Primary Care Association
• The Veterans Administration
• The Social Security Administration
• Peak Wellness Center
• The Wyoming Association of Mental Health and Substance Centers
• The Community Center of Central Wyoming.
The pilot program will provide for the construction of state or regional broadband networks and services provided over those networks. The networks will be designed to bring the benefits of innovative telehealth and telemedicine services to those areas where the need is most acute. For additional information, see http://www.health.uwyo.edu/fcc/
Health Information Privacy and Security Project
Wyoming was one of 34 states and territories awarded in 2006 a subcontract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality through RTI International, Inc. (RTI) to create a Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration (HISPC) group that would address privacy and security policy questions affecting the interoperable exchange of electronic health information among the numerous organizations that make up the health care community. A partnership between the WyHIO and the University of Wyoming Center for Rural Health Research and Education (CRHRE) was created to accomplish the goals of the HISPC.
Following completion of the project, Wyoming requested, and was awarded a follow-on grant to create an online privacy/security resource center for Wyoming. This center, named Wyoming's Health Information Resource (WYHIR), is now available, and provides resources to help coordinate research and education to address barriers to health information exchange identified over the course of the original study. This site will provide HIPAA and other security/privacy training, general information, links to other educational opportunities, a regular newsletter, funding opportunities, and a forum for the membership to discuss and exchange ideas and best practices.
To access the site, visit http://www.wyhir.org
Health Information Exchange Roadmap
The WyHIO is now developing a Roadmap for the desing and implementation of a statewide HIT/HIE network, based on recommendations in the recent WHCC and WyHIO reports and consensus developed at the HIT/HIE Conference. The purpose of this statewide HIT/HIE effort is to give providers the ability to gather and exchange electronic healthcare information as one means to improve the cost, quality, access to, and safety of healthcare. Your review and commnet on the first version of the Roadmap will be appreciated. View the Roadmap.
Application for CMS Demonstartion Project
On behalf of the healthcare community, the WyHIO is developing an application to participate in a federal demonstration project to incent primary care providers to adopt and use electronic health records. The applicaiton is still under development , but is due by May 13, 2008. Information on this project may be found on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid website.
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/cmsforms/downloads/cms10069.pdf
What We Have Accomplished
$86,000 Rural Network Development Planning Grant was received from HRSA
$67,000 in donations received from HIE stakeholders
Established 13-member Board representing stake holders from the public, health care providers, payers and businesses
Designated as the Steering Committee for the National Governor’s Association grant to address privacy and security policies affecting electronic health information exchange