NCHICA NCHICA

NC HIE Council Committees

Intro l Charter l Members l Meetings


Descriptions:

 

Policy Development Committee

Responsibility: Addresses HIE Policy issues. Participates in the adoption of key enabling agreements such as the NHIN 2 adoption of Data Use and Reciprocal Support Agreements in North Carolina. Goal is to build HIE policy based on evidence and supported by consensus. Members represent NC health and care stakeholders and bring a legal, privacy, security and / or stakeholder perspective. Areas of responsibility include:

This committee meets on the fourth Wednesday of each from 11:00 am -1:00 pm: see the NCHICA calendar for the latest details. Meetings are held in person and via web conference for remote participants. Current emphasis is on ensuring a complete universe of policies impacting HIE across North Carolina.

Technical & Operations Committee

Background: At this time, NC is preparing to respond to HIE opportunities arising from the federal American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (the economic stimulus package). A coordinated, consistent approach for HIE in NC is demanded by the final legislation and also will deliver the best outcomes for the healthcare of NC residents. The role of the committee is to become informed about the options for a standards-based, interoperable, statewide electronic HIE and then to recommend an implementation plan, including a timeline and budget, for accomplishing this goal.

Responsibility: The committee will provide a vehicle for input from and a channel of information to individual providers, payers, labs, pharmacies, radiology and those enterprise-centric or regional HIEs within NC that would be served by a statewide capability. The committee will inform efforts associated with the development and technical operation of a statewide HIE. The goal of the committee is to provide a neutral forum for adoption and / or establishment of standards-based approaches to technical operations for those organizations and HIEs that wish to participate in the statewide HIE. Members of the committee represent operational and planned HIEs and bring a technical and / or operational skill set to the activity. Areas of responsibility include:

Finance & Administration Committee

Responsibility: Coordinates business approach to HIEs in NC. This committee was critical in developing one of the NHIN 2 deliverables - the NC HIE Sustainability Plan - which was delivered to ONC in January 2009. On an ongoing basis, the committee serves as a forum for leveraging business approaches to HIE development and deployment in NC. The current activities of the commitee include guiding the update of the Sustainability Plan to reflect the realities of the ARRA legislation. Members represent NC healthcare stakeholders and bring a financial and / or administrative skill set. Areas of responsibility include:

The committee meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 2:00 - 4:00 pm: see the NCHICA calendar for latest details. Meetings are held in person and via web conference for remote participants.

Stakeholder Relations Committee

Responsibility: Coordinates two-way communication among NC health and care stakeholders with respect to HIE activities. On an ongoing basis this committee actively gauges communication needs for HIE in NC and serve as a forum for sharing approaches and benefits from HIE development and deployment in NC. The goal is to support HIE communication needs associated with HIE development and deployment, support underlying technology education and adoption issues, and coordinate across stakeholder groups.

Members represent NC healthcare stakeholders and bring a communication skill set. Areas of responsibility include:

This committee has been convened and is currently focused on Education & Outreach goals including those opportunities for inclusion of HIT curricula, Informatics education and HIT Regional Extension Centers as contemplated by the ARRA legislation.

Quality of Care & Value Committee

Mission: to ensure that evidence-based and patient-centered clinical priorities are communicated and incorporated into the Council's initiatives. The committee is an advocate for measurable, effective, efficient, safe, and quality care for all North Carolinians.

The committee contributes to the Council's mission by:

  1. Leading evidence-based, collaborative HIE initiatives to improve the health of North Carolinians and to ensure clinical priorities are communicated and incorporated into statewide HIE efforts.
  2. Evaluating and defining existing and/or needed metrics and reporting tools that should be used to describe how HIE projects facilitate access to health care, quality of care, efficiency of care delivery, patient experience and health status in North Carolina.
  3. Recommending ways that HIE topics related to patient safety and quality enhancement can be integrated with academic education, public/population health, and research activities throughout NC.
  4. Promoting the adoption of best practice health information management and technology by facilitating the establishment of a web-based resource and networking center for provider outreach and education on HIE-related safety and quality improvement in NC.
  5. Facilitating communications between vendors and clinicians so that appropriate safety and quality measures are incorporated into medical record systems.
  6. Serving as a stakeholder advisory group on quality and value for various public and private HIE efforts.
  7. Serving in an advisory capacity to the standing committees of the NC HIE Council on the development of HIE projects that align with the mission of the North Carolina Healthcare Quality Alliance (NCHQA).
  8. Identifying and pursuing partnerships and other opportunities to leverage public and private investments in HIT and HIE that support the mission of the NC HIE Council.
  9. Identifying sustainable funding to support initiatives.

The committee limits its focus to facilitation and review of measurement activities that address the clinical processes and health care outcomes of an HIE. Members represent NC health care clinicians, clinical support services, public health, and academic specialties. This committee was convened in October 2008 and meets via web conference at times when practicing clinicians can easily participate.

If you would like to serve on one of the NC HIE Committees, please fill out the Volunteer Form: Word l PDF