Little Rock, Arkansas, September 2024 – In a groundbreaking collaboration, the UAMS College of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Clinical Informatics Fellowship and the Arkansas Department of Health, Office of Health Information Technology (OHIT) have formed a dynamic partnership, launching a transformative rotation with the State Health Alliance for Records Exchange (SHARE) HIE. This month-long rotation is designed to immerse clinical informatics fellows in the practical and theoretical aspects of Health Information Exchange (HIE), enhancing their expertise and shaping the future of healthcare informatics.
Bridging the Gap: Clinical Informatics and HIE
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) defines Clinical Informatics as a subspecialty that transforms healthcare through the innovative use of information and communication systems. Physicians in this field navigate the complex landscape of healthcare IT, leveraging their knowledge to improve patient care, enhance access, and optimize health outcomes. The partnership with the SHARE HIE provides a unique opportunity for fellows to delve into the real-world applications of these principles.
“Through our partnership with SHARE HIE, the UAMS Clinical Informatics Fellowship and OHIT are pioneering a transformative approach to healthcare informatics. This collaboration immerses fellows in the practical and theoretical realms of Health Information Exchange, equipping them to navigate healthcare’s digital landscape with precision and compassion. By bridging the gap between clinical informatics and HIE, we’re not only enhancing care coordination and patient outcomes but also setting a new standard for healthcare training and innovation.” said “Pele” Yu, Jr., M.D., MSPH, MSHI, FAMIA, Program Director and Professor of Pediatrics, Biomedical Informatics, and Public Health at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO), Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Introduction to HIE and SHARE HIE
The rotation begins with an in-depth introduction to HIE, covering its definition, purpose, and significance in healthcare. Fellows are given a tour of the facility and a comprehensive overview of SHARE HIE, Arkansas’s only statewide health information exchange. They explore the role of HIE in improving care coordination, interoperability, and population health management.
Technical Deep Dive: In the subsequent weeks, fellows focus on the technical components of HIE. They analyze HIE architecture, health information organizations (HIOs), and health information networks (HINs). Participation in SHARE operational meetings with hospitals, clinics, and payors provides insights into data exchange standards like HL7, CDA, CCD, and FHIR.
Legal and Ethical Frameworks: Understanding the legal and ethical considerations of HIE is crucial for clinical informaticians. In the third week, fellows explore the regulatory landscape, including HIPAA and the HITECH Act. They discuss consent management, data sharing, patient autonomy, confidentiality, tackling privacy and security challenges to develop strategies ensuring data integrity.
Implementation and Future Trends: The final week focuses on HIE implementation models—centralized, federated, and hybrid—and strategies for successful adoption and change management. Fellows examine governance, sustainability, and emerging trends such as health data utilities (HDU’s), artificial intelligence (AI), national exchange networks, and patient-generated health data. They conclude the rotation by designing a roadmap for implementing HIE in a hypothetical healthcare organization.
“Empowering healthcare leaders through innovation is our mission. At SHARE, we’re dedicated to fostering seamless data exchange, enhancing patient privacy, and driving transformative healthcare outcomes for a better Arkansas. The collaboration with UAMS is a monumental step in educating our current and future clinicians on health information exchange and interoperability. ” Said Justin Villines, MBA, BSM, HIT Policy Director, Arkansas Department of Health, Office of Health Information Technology, SHARE HIE – Fellowship Rotation Director
Impact and Future Prospects
This innovative rotation enhances fellows’ expertise in clinical informatics and strengthens the clinician-patient relationship by improving information flow and care coordination. Understanding HIE complexities and challenges equips fellows to lead initiatives that enhance healthcare quality and access. The partnership between UAMS Clinical Informatics Fellowship, OHIT, and SHARE HIE sets a new standard for training in healthcare informatics. It exemplifies how collaborative efforts can drive advancements in health information technology, benefiting patients, healthcare providers, and the broader healthcare system.
As these clinical informatics fellows transition into leadership roles, their experiences and insights from this rotation will be instrumental in shaping the future of healthcare informatics and improving patient outcomes across Arkansas and beyond.
About UAMS Clinical Informatics Fellowship Training Program:
The UAMS Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) is home to the UAMS Clinical Informatics Fellowship Training Program, which provides state-of-the-art training and broad informatics experience for physicians pursuing advanced medical subspecialty training in applied Clinical Informatics.
Their two-year program is ACGME-accredited. Eligible applicants have successfully completed an accredited residency program in a primary medical specialty (i.e., pediatrics, internal medicine, etc.). There are two training sites for the program: Arkansas Children’s Hospital and UAMS Medical Center. The fellow stationed at each site may also perform clinical duties at that location amounting to up to 20% of their time. Clinical informaticians are physicians, health information technology (IT) professionals, and – above all – leaders. They bridge the gap between the transformative potential of technology and the knowledge needed to apply health IT in the clinical setting.
Learn more: https://medicine.uams.edu/dbmi/clinical-informatics-fellowship
