Team Description
There are significant concerns from the public as well as healthcare professionals regarding the safety and confidentiality of information in an electronic network. These concerns are exacerbated within Wyoming by the state's "frontier" culture. The people of this state are often characterized as fiercely independent, with a strong desire for privacy and minimal intrusion from state and federal agencies. This collective "personality" of both the citizens of Wyoming and the healthcare professionals working in the state will have a significant impact on how any health information technology (HIT) initiative is considered and eventually adopted. The Wyoming Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration, or Wyoming HISPC, will identify and implement solutions to privacy and security issues and perceptions so an interoperable health information network can functionally move forward in the state. Our goal is to address security and privacy issues completely and systematically in order to enlist the support of the citizens of Wyoming and the legislature in developing an HIT network for the state
How to get involved
The Wyoming HISPC is led by a Steering Committee that will oversee the work of four statewide working groups: the Variations Working Group (VWG), Legal Working Group (LWG), Solutions Working Group (SWG), and Implementation Plan Working Group (IPWG). These groups will carry out the major tasks in the project, including:
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assessing organization-level business policies and Wyoming laws as they relate to the exchange of electronic health information;
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analyzing solutions for the barriers or obstacles to the adoption of electronic health information exchange that exist in the state with respectto security and privacy; and
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developing an actionable implementation plan that addresses these barriers and obstacles.
The Steering Committee is seeking volunteers for these four working groups from a wide range of stakeholders throughout the state, representing statewide interests that have a stake in advancing interoperable health information technology. Representatives are sought from many Wyoming organizations, including (but not limited to): licensed health care professional groups, federal health facilities, hospitals, schools, payers, public health agencies, community clinics and health centers, laboratories, pharmacies, long-term care facilities and nursing homes, homecare and hospice, correctional facilities, professional associations and societies, medical and public health schools that conduct research, quality improvement organizations, state government entities (Medicaid, public health departments, etc.), and both individual consumers and consumer organizations. To get involved, contact the project staff at the Center for Rural Health Research and Education at the University of Wyoming in Laramie.
Milestones
Links to relevant web pages
