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August, 2005 Building a business case for child health information systems integration The Public Health Informatics Institute (Connections’ parent organization) is developing a business case for the integration of child health information systems. A sound business case is an indispensable aid to a public health agency’s decision-makers, who use it in project planning, including whether to buy or develop an information system, as well as when and how to implement it. A business case can foster common understanding of the problem, bolster stakeholder buy-in, and detail costs and expected long-term benefits. For public health agencies planning to integrate information systems, the business case answers the question: What are the financial, business, and organizational consequences of making specific decisions and taking various actions? The business case project is directed by Public Health Informatics Institute Deputy Director Kris Saarlas and is supported by the Genetic Services Branch of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (HRSA/MCHB) and a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “The Institute’s business case,” said Saarlas, “is focused on developing estimates of the costs and benefits of integrating child health information systems – not individual information systems. This is a key distinction because the business case should demonstrate the value of integrated child health information systems to society, providers, parents, and public health programs.” The business case will address costs and benefits of integrating information systems for vital records, immunizations, newborn dried blood spot screening, newborn hearing screening, lead screening, WIC, EPSDT, birth defects surveillance, early intervention, and children with special health care needs. The business case will feature a flexible, companion modeling tool that allows public health agency staff to compare and contrast different approaches to health information systems integration and customize the business case to meet their specific needs. For example, an agency that is integrating vital records, newborn hearing screening, and early intervention will be able to enter data about its specific programs and state/locale to determine the costs and benefits that will accrue to different stakeholder groups, including providers, parents, and public health programs. Stakeholder benefits may include:
Report and modeling tool coming soon Tim Dall, a health economist with the Lewin Group, is developing the business case and its modeling tool using interviews, surveys, and focus group discussions. This approach will draw critical input from key child health stakeholder groups, including pediatricians and other health care providers, public health program managers, parent advocacy groups, health care quality experts, health care payers, and federal and state policymakers. In July, Dall gave a presentation to Connections members. View his PowerPoint presentation titled Building the Business Case for Integrating Child Health Information Systems. HOME | SITE MAP | CONTACT US | SEARCH | PRIVACY POLICY
©2005 Public Health Informatics Institute
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