The Health Information Exchange, Research Paper Example

Stakeholders

The Health Information Exchange of New York State provides an opportunity to improve the quality and security of health information that is shared across different organizations, using the technology that is available. Key stakeholders include state and local government officials, healthcare professionals, and most importantly, patients. This group of stakeholders relies on strategic approaches in order to ensure that New York residents receive effective services in the area of health information collection, storage, and retrieval at all times (NYeC, 2009). With this framework, it is expected that individual stakeholders will receive high quality care and treatment, while also considering other factors that support technology-based security that governs this process. The different areas of focus that impact stakeholders directly have a significant influence how health information is stored and transmitted.

Engagement/Participation

New York State has been heavily involved in activities that are designed to facilitate successful information sharing to ensure that healthcare throughout the state is successful (NYeC, 2009). This process supports the development of cost effective approaches to manage healthcare that will also enable state residents to have improved access to healthcare that supports their needs effectively and comprehensively on many levels (NYeC, 2009). In order to make this possible, however, a number of organizations must participate that will have a positive and meaningful impact on key objectives, using the resources and knowledge that are available (NYeC, 2009). For example, technology-based principles are instrumental in this strategy because they provide additional support regarding the effectiveness of developing new strategies for growth in supporting the protection and retrieval of health information (NYeC, 2009).

Careful thought and consideration must be made in regards to the programmatic strategy because it conveys the importance of developing new initiatives to protect patient rights and to recognize the importance of how care is provided and managed by the people of New York State (NYeC, 2009). The exchange of health information across different platforms is critical to the success of this process and provides support to the expansion of different programs in order to achieve the chosen objectives (NYeC, 2009). The ability to achieve a widespread and large scale health information implementation effort requires the active participation of key stakeholders in the process of sharing information across different platforms (NYeC, 2009). In this context, it is important to establish an environment whereby health information is shared across different platforms in many different ways (NYeC, 2009).

The New York State budget has dedicated a substantial portion to technological development and growth within the healthcare field (NYeC, 2009). Under these conditions, it is expected that there will continue to be new capital improvement projects that will accommodate the needs of local healthcare experts throughout the state (NYeC, 2009). The success of the program, however, is dependent on a number of factors that impact its potential success, noted as follows: “Laying a foundation for HIE is not just about infrastructure – it requires governance structures and processes, policy development and implementation guidance” (NYeC, 2009). It is expected that this process will support the continued development of new practice methods that will facilitate positive outcomes for local communities (NYec, 2009). New healthcare service offerings must be at the forefront of budgetary decisions; however, this cannot be accomplished without the development of new approaches to facilitate outcomes for these residents in an effective manner (NYeC, 2009). In an effort to achieve the desired framework for success, it is expected that the program will ensure that the activities that are identified will utilize resources wisely and promote greater health protection throughout the state (NYeC, 2009).

Business and Finance

From a business and financial perspective, it is necessary to evaluate the opportunities that are available with the development of new approaches to manage health information more effectively. Achieving the appropriate funding for a new program requires the recruitment of different contributions and other factors that will encourage the growth of financing to ensure programmatic success (NYeC, 2009). Most importantly, it is necessary to establish a sustainable financial portfolio so that the effort is successful, while also considering the long-term financial stability of the program (NYeC, 2009). Managing the program from a financial perspective also requires a long-term approach that will be effective in enabling the program to achieve greater budgetary responsibility and oversight at all stages (NYeC, 2009).

Privacy

Health information is consistently considered to be a key privacy issue; therefore, it is important to identify the areas that must be considered so that health information remains confidential and is only used by authorized parties. Privacy settings must be appropriate because the program must facilitate effective health information sharing that only occurs under the appropriate conditions. As a result, it is necessary to determine how to best maintain privacy so that patients feel comfortable with the situation and with their information, as it is only used and shared under specific conditions. This process is critical to the success of the program and its long-term efficacy for the healthcare programs that are provided throughout the State of New York. This process is essential to the discovery of an approach that supports the protection of patient information at all times to ensure privacy.

Technology and Security

Technology-driven efforts for the program must demonstrate the capability of the system and its overall impact on healthcare practice. This is achieved through the integration of technology-based solutions that will have a positive impact on the program and its long-term success. At the same time, the technology that is implemented for the program requires a high degree of technical capacity, while also remaining user friendly. The infrastructure of the technological interface must support a widespread strategic planning effort in order to promote a high level of advancement, as well as a secure platform for information sharing that will accomplish the desired objectives for the data that is collected (NYeC, 2009). Also, storage efforts must be secure and timely so that the information is not shared or accessed by unauthorized parties.

Conclusion/Recommendation

The success of a health information exchange in the State of New York requires a strategy that will be comprehensive and appropriate on many levels in order to accomplish the objectives of the program. Financing for the program must be identified and must be consistent with programmatic needs. In addition, it is important to identify the different perspectives that are likely to be effective in supporting the program and its long-term success. At the same time, the program must rely on a successful technological interface and system so that there are sufficient opportunities to promote greater security for the data that is shared. This data is the key to the exchange and must be protected at all times in order to ensure that all possible needs and expectations are met, using the resources that are available. This program will aim to satisfy the need for a widespread health information exchange in the State of New York and will provide improved access to healthcare services for persons throughout the state.

References

New Yorke Health Collaborative. State HIE Cooperative Agreement Program: Strategic Plan. Pp. 1-88.