HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: NEWS, RESOURCES and LINKS

HL7 GUIDE V 2.3.1	Implementation Guide for Immunization Data Transactions Using V 2.3.1 of the Health Level Seven (HL7) Standard Protocol Click here to download the Guide, ver. 2.2, June 2006 (.pdf).
IIS CODEBOOK	AIRA Immunization Information Systems Codebook: Guide to Code Sets and Data Definitions for Registry Data Sharing Using HL7 Developed by the AIRA Data Definitions Workgroup, this Excel spreadsheet illustrates and documents the collected data items used in the IIS community. Data elements are defined; standard encoding for each value is specified; and examples of usage are given. This document is intended to be used in conjunction with the "Implementation Guide for Immunization Data Transactions Using V2.3.1 of the HL7 Standard Protocol" (see above). Click here to download latest version -- 07/28/2008 (.xls).
NEW DATA ELEMENT REQUEST	If you see a need for a new data element or a new value for an existing data element, you can make a request for this element or value to be added to the IIS Systems Codebook. Your request will be reviewed by the AIRA Data Definitions Workgroup. Final review and approval of any new element will be made by the AIRA Data Exchange Standards Steering Committee. Click here to access the New Data Element Request Form.
IIS/IHS INTERFACE GUIDE	Working Together on Data Exchange: a Guide to IHS and IIS Interfaces Indian Health Service (IHS) recognizes that state IIS are critical tools for increasing and sustaining vaccination coverage. This guide will assist both IHS and state partners to become involved in the IHS initiative to establish immunization data interfaces between state IIS and the IHS Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS). Click here to download (.pdf).

NEWS

Dave Ross Named as New CCHIT Commissioner

Dave Ross, Director of the Public Health Informatics Institute (PHII), a long-time AIRA partner, has been appointed as one of three new commissioners to serve on the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT). Dave was selected, along with two other new commissioners, from a pool of 35 applicants. His selection was approved unanimously by the CCHIT Trustees.

AIRA congratulates Dave. We know that his expertise will prove invaluable in work of CCHIT to develop certification criteria and a program to certify health information technology products and networks.

OASIS Members Approve ebXML Messaging Services 3.0 as Standard

Read press release at http://www.oasis-open.org/news/oasis-news-2007-10-16.php.

eHealth Initiative Release Blueprint for Healthcare IT Action Plan

The non-profit eHealth Initiative (eHI) released the eHealth Initiative Blueprint: Building Consensus for Common Action. This report represents consensus from nearly 200 diverse stakeholders on a shared vision for improving healthcare through information technology. 

The entire report is available from the following site: www.ehealthinitiative.org/blueprint.

Health Information Exchange Research and Sustainability Tools Released by eHealth Initiative Foundation

Information can be found at http://toolkit.ehealthinitiative.org.

PHIN Conference Presentations Available Online

Click here to access the presentations from the PHIN Conference held September 25-27, 2006, in Atlanta, GA.

Executive Order Promotes Use of HIT Standards

On Tuesday, August 22, 2006, President Bush signed an Executive Order entitled Promoting Quality and Efficient Health Care in Federal Government Administered or Sponsored Health Care Programs. This order defines "interoperability" and also encourages the adoption of health information technology standards.

Click here to access text of the Executive Order. Click here to read eHealth Initiative's summary of the Executive Order

Eighteen Electronic Health Record Products ar First to Get Certified

The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) releases its list of the first electronic health record (EHR) products to receive certification.

Click here to read more on this development.

eHealth Initiative Releases Latest Report on Status of RHIOs

Preliminary results of eHi's 2006 survey on state, regional and community-based RHIO initiatives show that most states are developing plans to support electronic health information exchange.

Click here to download the entire July 2006 report (.pdf).

ASTHO Releases Issue Brief on CRA

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) just released "Tracking Patients and Vaccines in Large Scale Events." This issue brief describes how state public health agencies are achieving Countermeasure and Response Administration (CRA) System capacity and the role of the CRA in pandemic flu preparedness and response. AIRA provided input in the development of this paper.

Click here to read the entire report (.pdf).

"Bills to Share Health Data Introduced, Stalled"

Click here to read this article from eWeek.com (June 21, 2006) on the actions of the House and the Senate with regard to the sharing of health information data.

AHRQ Publishes Important Report on States' Role in RHIOs

Click here to access the entire January 2006 AHRQ report (1.6 MB pdf file), entitled "Evolution of State Health Information Exchange/A Study of Vision, Strategy and Progress."

HHS Announces Contracts for NHIN Development

Click here to read press release (11/9/2005).

HL7 and EHRVA Issue Press Release on HL7 Activities in Support of Katrina Relief

Click here to read the September 29, 2005 press release (.doc).

HL7 Use in the Aftermath of Katrina Continues to Get Press Coverage

Click here to read iHealthBeat article. AIRA is mentioned.

Commissioners Selected for New American Health Information Community (AHIC)

Click here to read the entire HHS press release (9/13/2005).

Important eHealth Initiative Survey Report Issued

The eHealth Initiative Foundation's report "Emerging Trends and Issues in Health Information Exchange: Selected Findings from eHealth Initiative Foundation's Second Annual Survey of State, Regional and Community-Based Health Information Exchange Initiatives and Organizations" has been released and provides a wealth of information on the current state of health information exchange initiatives around the country.

Click here to download the entire report (.pdf). Click here to read the eHealth Initiative August 29, 2005 press release.

AIRA Joins the Public Health Data Standards Consortium (PHDSC)

AIRA recently became a member of the Public Health Data Standards Consortium and we already have active members involved in several PHDSC workgroups. http://phdatastandards.info/default.htm

RELATED LINKS

Certification Commission for Health Information Technology http://www.cchit.org/

eHealth Initiative (eHI) http://www.ehealthinitiative.org

• Connecting Communities for Better Health (CCBH) Resource Center http://ccbh.ehealthinitiative.org/

Health and Human Services (HHS) 500 Day Plan http://www.dhhs.gov/500DayPlan

Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) http://www.himss.org

Public Health Data Standards Consortium (PHDSC) http://phdatastandards.info/default.htm

Public Health Informatics Institute (PHII) http://www.phii.org

Public Health Information Network (PHIN) http://www.cdc.gov/phin