NCALHD Technology Committee Meeting

February 15, 2017 9:00 AM

Cardinal Room, NC DPH

Agenda

Batch Interface/Reporting Update : Phillis Rocco and Herman Gettes reported that the batch interface errors are under 5% statewide average, with CureMD and Patagonia Health at approximately 7%, with the other vendors lower. Herman spoke about a new report BL202 which is much more user friendly for working errors by client. It was noted that the RFP for the Enhanced Surveillance/Collection of Clinical Data system to support LHD batch interface, state lab, CDSAs through an HL7. Beth Lovette and Phyllis Rocco acknowledged that we have been discussing the HL7 interface for over a year and the RFP is not yet out. Phyllis also mentioned that we are 2 years out from identifying a batch interface fix needed on the Netsmart side that would resolve errors from resubmitted encounter forms and there is still no go-live date on this fix. It was noted that there are systemic state issues that make IT improvements and/or changes very challenging and time consuming. Nonetheless, LHDs should continue to run batch error reports monthly and work those errors to increase the state level data in HIS. And DPH should continue to allow LHDs to submit local data directly for best data.
Security Risk Assessments: Clyde Hewitt, Cynergis Tek, (referred by NCHICA) offered a presentation on the HIPAA/HITECH requirements for a regular, thorough security risk assessment. He noted that the greatest OCR penalties result from the organization’s failure to do a comprehensive risk assessment. He recommends that the risk assessment be performed just prior to the budget cycle because there will almost always be a need for technology improvements requiring funding. Several LHDs in the room have already had a risk assessment provided by an external vendor and reported costs from $3,000 - $6,000 but also noted that the county-level risk assessment would likely be more costly. (The slides will be attached to these minutes if they are provided by the speaker.)

NC HIEA General Update and follow-up to Opt-out: Alice Miller and ______from the NCHIEA, along with Bob Martin from DHHS, DPH. The issues that were discussed are
LHD and DPH have identified concerns about exchanging patient level data with the NCHIE for clients requesting confidential services, in particular minors consent. As of today, NCHIEA policy is that the opt-out for allowing other providers to view personal health record information is at the client level, i.e. the client can’t opt out for a particular encounter, provider or program type. At this point Bob reported that it appears that these concerns will need to be addressed through a “local fix” which will be managed at the EHR vendor level. The general consensus is that LHDs that are currently actively exchanging data with the NCHIEA or any other exchange (if this concern has not been addressed) should put the exchange on hold for now. Bob Martin and Chris Hoke will work through John Bryant and the Batch Interface Workgroup in collaboration with our peers at NCHIEA to arrive at a best practice for every LHD in NC so we will keep the group updated. It was noted that public health and health information exchange absolutely have mutual goals, so will work carefully to build the necessary bridges to protect public health and also exchange important personal health information. Alice noted that the opt-out timing has been reduced by the NCHIEA from 2 weeks to 2 days from receipt of the client’s written request to opt-out.
Alice noted the NCHIEA has developed new participation agreements with new language related to federal changes. There is no requirement to move to the new agreement for those LHDs who have already signed the participation agreement. There is now a “submission only” option, without a bi-directional exchange, which may be more do-able for some EHR vendors. She also mentioned that with Advisory Board feedback, they have eliminated fees to providers working to meet the Medicaid requirements for data exchange. CureMD is engaged in interface discussions with the NCHIEA, so stay tuned for next steps (but don’t rush too much until a fix for the confidential services issue outlined above). There will be a tele-town hall training for direct secure messaging through the NCHIEA on Feb. 28.

There were no action items.

Respectfully submitted, Beth Lovette, Technology Chair

Alamance County Health Department / PA Sent
Alexander County Public Health / On Hold / HIS-Netsmart
Anson County Health Department / On Hold / HIS-Netsmart
Beaufort County Health Department / Live in PROD / Patagonia
Bladen County Health Department / PA Sent
Brunswick County Health Services / On Hold / CureMD
Buncombe County Public Health / PA Sent / Patagonia
Burke County Health Department / On Hold / HIS-Netsmart
Cabarrus Health Alliance (County Health Department) / PA Sent
Caldwell County Health Department / On Hold / HIS-Netsmart
Carteret County Health Department / On Hold / CureMD
Caswell County Health Department / PA Sent
Catawba County Public Health Department / PA Sent
Chatham County Public Health Department / Follow-up 1 Week / Patagonia
Cherokee County Health Department / On Hold / HIS-Netsmart
Clay County Public Health Department / PA Sent
Columbus County Health Department / On Hold / CureMD
County of Cleveland dba Cleveland County Health Department dba Carolina Community Health Partnership / Live in PROD / Patagonia
Craven County Health Department / On Hold / CureMD
Cumberland County Health Department / Technical Discussion / Other
Dare County Health Department / Follow-up 1 Week / Patagonia
Davidson County Health Department / PA Sent / Other
Davie County Health Department / Live in PROD / Patagonia
Duplin County Health Department / On Hold / CureMD
Durham County Department of Public Health / Follow-up 1 Week / Patagonia
Edgecombe County Health Department / PA Sent
Forsyth County Health Department / PA Sent
Franklin County Health Department / Live in PROD / Patagonia
Gaston County Health Department / Technical Discussion / HIS-Netsmart
Graham County Health Department / Follow-up 1 Week / Patagonia
Greene County Health Department / Technical Discussion / Patagonia
Guilford County Health Department / PA Sent / Other
Halifax County Health Department / Provide PAA Creds / Patagonia
Harnett County Department of Public Health / Live in PROD / Patagonia
Haywood County Health & Human Services Agency / On Hold / HIS-Netsmart
Henderson County Department of Public Health / On Hold / CureMD
Hertford County Public Health Department / Closed / Other
Hoke County Health Department / Follow-up 1 Week / Patagonia
Hyde County Health Department / Technical Discussion / Patagonia
Iredell County Health Department / PA Sent
Jackson County Department of Public Health / Follow-up 1 Week / Patagonia
Johnston County Public Health Department / On Hold / CureMD
Jones County Health Department / On Hold / HIS-Netsmart
Lee County Health Department / PA Sent
Lenoir County Health / On Hold / HIS-Netsmart
Lincoln County Health Department / On Hold / HIS-Netsmart
Macon County Public Health Department / Development Underway / Patagonia
Madison County Health Department / On Hold / CureMD
Mecklenburg County Health Department / PA Sent
Montgomery County Health Department / Follow-up 1 Week / Patagonia
Moore County Health Department / Follow-up 1 Week / Patagonia
Nash County Health Department / Intake Process
New Hanover County Health Department / PA Sent
Northampton County Health Department / On Hold
Onslow County Health Department / PA Sent
Orange County Health Department / Follow-up 1 Week / Patagonia
Pamlico County Health Department / On Hold / HIS-Netsmart
Pender County Health Department / On Hold / CureMD
Person County Health Department / Follow-up 1 Week / Patagonia
Pitt County Health Department / On Hold / HIS-Netsmart
Randolph County Health Department / On Hold / CureMD
Richmond County Health Department / Follow-up 1 Week / Patagonia
Robeson County Health Department / Technical Discussion / Patagonia
Rockingham County Health Department / Live in PROD / Patagonia
Rowan County Health Department / Follow-up 1 Week / Patagonia
Sampson County Health Department / On Hold / CureMD
Scotland County Health Department / On Hold / CureMD
Stanly County Health Department / On Hold / CureMD
Stokes County Health Department / PA Sent / Patagonia
Surry County Health Department / PA Sent / Patagonia
Swain County Health Department / On Hold / HIS-Netsmart
Transylvania County Department of Public Health / Development Underway / Patagonia
Union County, acting through Union County Consolidated Human Services Agency / On Hold / CureMD
Wake County by and through Wake County Human Services / PA Sent / Other
Warren County Health Department / Closed / HIS-Netsmart
Wayne County Health Department / PA Sent
Wilkes County Health Department / Follow-up 1 Week / Patagonia
Wilson County Health Department / On Hold / CureMD
Yadkin County Human Services Agency / Development Underway / Patagonia
Summary / Status / EMR Vendor / Software
Albemarle Regional Health Services / On Hold / CureMD
Appalachian District Health Department / Follow-up 1 Week / Patagonia
Granville-Vance County Health Department / Technical Discussion / CureMD
Rutherford-Polk-McDowell District / PA Sent / HIS-Netsmart
Toe River Health District (Avery, Mitchell & Yancey County Health Departments) / On Hold / CureMD
Tyrell County Martin-Tyrell-Washington District Health Department / PA Sent