National Health IT Collaborative Vision Purpose Mission Anticipated Outcomes Workgroups Background Reference Links

The first meeting of the National Health IT Collaborative for the Underserved, which aims to ensure that underserved populations are included as health information technologies (Health IT) are developed and deployed, was convened on June 12, 2008, in Washington, DC. The four organizations that worked to organize the Collaborative are: the HHS Office of Minority Health; the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS); the Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc. (SHIRE), and Apptis, Inc., of Chantilly, VA.

They will be joined by additional Federal agencies and private sector and community-based stakeholders to mount a year-long Health IT initiative. Long-range, participants will work to improve the quality of care, increase access to care and care-related services and reduce the cost of care among the underserved.

The Collaborative will be led by Dr. Garth Graham, HHS Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health.

A webcast of the launch is available at
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/hcast_index.cfm?display=detail&hc=2818

Vision

The Health IT Collaborative for the Underserved envisions an interconnected public and private health system where all consumers have access to high quality, affordable care and to the information and technology resources required to maximize their access and effective use of health care services.

Purpose

The Collaborative aims to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities experienced by medically underserved areas and populations through the use of advances in health IT. It will incorporate experience from both the public and private sectors to improve the health of communities and populations that have historically had the worst health outcomes and the least access to care.

Mission

The Collaborative's mission is:

To advance the availability of quality health services for all, including low-income, racial/ethnic minority populations and other underserved populations, in a secure, timely, efficient, responsive and coordinated national system of care;

To contribute to the coordination of preventive and primary care in both public and private sectors that will enhance the lives of all Americans, including the most vulnerable populations; and

To work to ensure that Federal, state, local and private efforts to develop and coordinate advances in technology in the health arena include funding, programs and initiatives for underserved communities.

Anticipated Outcomes

The Health IT Collaborative will comprise leaders and subject matter experts in technology, education, outreach, advocacy, public policy , workforce development, training, and funding. Outcomes and results expected by April 2009 may include the following:

• A compilation of models, strategies, practices and/or activities with proven effectiveness in informing and engaging the underserved in the use of Health IT for health self-management and empowerment;
• Model legislation that can be adopted at Federal, state or local levels to advance the adoption and use of Health IT among underserved populations;
• Description of academic, in-service and other models, strategies, practices and/or activities resulting in the availability of health professionals and technical personnel in underserved communities who are Health IT-literate and competent.
• A compendium of public and private funding options and written guidance for underserved communities seeking financial support for Health IT operations and sustainability.
• Recommendations for a structural framework to maintain an emphasis on Health IT adoption in underserved communities, with such functions as providing for information exchange; conducting pilot programs; providing technical assistance and publication of community guidance documents.

Workgroups

Three workgroups are planned. Workgroups will report and publish findings at the HIMSS annual conference in Chicago in April 2009.

Advocacy and Policy
This workgroup will provide environmental scans and assessments of current federal Health IT legislative and regulatory proposals and actions affecting underserved and rural populations. It will review state legislation and regulations for potential impact on these populations; identify components of model Health IT legislation to address needs of underserved/rural populations and legislative language that could be included in model legislation. These activities will result in draft model statute for review by stakeholder groups.

Workforce Training and Development
This workgroup will develop or identify strategies to train personnel from underserved communities. It will work with clinical staff to increase their capacity, knowledge and utilization of Health IT tools and technologies and ways to facilitate quick adoption of Health IT tools by clinical and professional staff to achieve quality improvement and cost savings. It will promote the involvement of academic institutions in preparing individuals from underserved communities for Health IT careers.

Funding
This workgroup will address such tasks as developing a clearinghouse for funding opportunities available from industry and government; innovative ways for the private sector to invest and support Health IT projects and programs; and tools to support communities to successfully access and acquire public and private funds

For further information, contact:

Miryam Granthon
Tel.: 240.453.6159
Email: Miryam.granthon@hhs.gov