hispc

The federal government funded a project known as HISPC (Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration) in 34 states to assess how organizational business policies, practices and state laws regarding privacy and security affect health information exchange on a national level. Research Triangle Institute (RTI) is the contractor for these 34 projects.

Oklahoma has been selected to participate in this project. It is known as the Oklahoma Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration (OKHISPC). Governor Brad Henry's office, the Oklahoma State Department of Health, and the University of Oklahoma, College of Public Health are partners in this project. They are working to build partnerships among the state's health care providers, individual consumers, and anyone who is interested in this project to examine privacy issues, information security policies, and state laws. The partners will develop ways in which the information can be protected, yet be able to be shared among health care providers.

Widespread use of electronic health records provides a means of improving quality of care, lowering healthcare costs, and preventing medical errors. Improved patient care and additional cost savings can be realized through seamless electronic communication of clinical information between institutions in a private and secure fashion. Contract funds for HISPC are going directly to identify Oklahoma state current business practices, barriers and solutions related to electronic health information exchange. Oklahoma's information will be combined with other states' with the eventual goal to develop a nationwide electronic health information network. As such, this initiative should significantly advance our understanding of how to use electronic information exchange to transform the health care system without compromising the privacy and security of sensitive medical information.

Anyone who is interested in joining with other committed individuals to help identify barriers (privacy/security, legal, current business models) and solutions (business and legal 'best practice') to facilitate the private and secure exchange of clinical information across organizations should participate.