PUBLIC HEALTH EHEALTH al PHA SemiAnnual Meeting February

PUBLIC HEALTH E-HEALTH al. PHA Semi-Annual Meeting February 3, 2006 PHIIT Office Public Health Division

2 What is e-Health? e-Health is about using information technology to modernize Ontario’s health system. Pharmacists Primary Care Providers Specialists Public Health Workers Lab Technologists Community Care Workers Hospital Health Care Providers

3 e-Health Strategy -- Three Key Components Fundamentally, Ontario’s e-Health Strategy at this point is focused on three key things • Align and deliver key provincial e-Health initiatives • Build and deliver the I&IT infrastructure we need • Create and deliver an Electronic Health Record and the tools that will allow us to run the health system better

Public Health e-Health – A Renewed Sense of Urgency • • Bioterrorism West Nile Virus (WNv) Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Pandemic Influenza • Common themes in Naylor and Walker Reports: • I&IT Governance • Surveillance • Communications 4

I&IT Governance Historically, I&IT Governance has been fragmented, impeding the implementation of collaborative initiatives. Two recent changes have been made to strengthen governance • The creation of a Public Health e-Health Council co-chaired by PHD and field representative • The creation of a Public Health I&IT (PHIIT) Office within Public Health Division (PHD) • • Ensures that Public Health in Ontario has access to the information systems required to support its business Works closely with e-Health Office Supports public health components in both MOHLTC and MHP SSHA and Health Services Cluster are primary delivery partners 5

Public Health e-Health Council Vision By engaging public health and the broader health sector, we will provide leadership in the best use of e-Health to transform public health into an efficient, effective, integrated and highly accountable system that advances the well-being of all Ontarians. 6

Using Information Technology to Transform Public Health in Ontario 7

Using Information Technology to Transform Public Health in Ontario The Public Health Community is made up of: • 36 Public Health Units across Ontario • Public Health Division of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care • Broader Health Sector • To be prepared for possible threats (i. e. bioterrorism, avian flu, West Nile virus, SARS, etc. ), the Public Health Community needs better: • Communications Tools • Public Health Applications • Standards and Architecture • Transition Support 8

9 Public Health e-Health Framework The Public Health e-Health Framework provides the tools and support needed for the Public Health Community to work together more efficiently to protect Ontario’s communities and renew public health

10 Public Health e-Health Framework (cont’d) • Communication Tools – Public. Health. Ontario. ca, e. Health. Ontario. ca, Public Health Alerts • Public Health Applications – i. PHIS, Immunization Information System, Inspections Information System, integrated Lab information, Public Health Surveillance • e-Health. Ontario. ca Applications - Drug Profile Viewer • Standards & Architectures – technology standards, common architecture • Transition Support – Support for IT staff and end-users to adapt to information technology

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Communications Tools - Portals • Public. Health. Ontario. ca – serving public health providers and PHD staff • e. Health. Ontario. ca – serving broader health sector • Live – April 2005 (Phase 0) • Collaboration Pilot – August 2005 • Increase in the number of e-Communities – December 2005 • Collaboration services that provide secure workspaces in which e. Communities collaborate on documents – January 2006 • Additional functionality added in phases over time 12

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Portals INFORMATION PHO. ca Public Health Users Portal Conceptual Architecture SSHA’s Fax Management System (RMS) Text-to-voice Common Identity and E-mail Access Management ODB-ED, OLIS, APPLICATIONS solution i. PHIS, ISCIS, Asynchronous Tools e. g. e. Referral, Document Management, e. Learning, etc. Check-in/Check-out, COLLABORATION Version Allows Control, MOH and SERVICES Discussion other. Forums stakeholders to broadcast important Synchronous Tools e. g. Content and routine messages Instantto. Messaging, Onlineof targeted groups Publishers Web Meetings registered users PUBLICATION Registration FACILITY Etc. e. HO. ca Broader Health sector Users Access Controlled Access Content Registered Users EBSCO Journals and searchable SMS databases

Interim Collaboration Pilot • Pilot project to clarify Collaboration Requirements, in the context of both Public. Health. Ontario. ca and e. Health. Ontario. ca • Project extended to provide twoway communication over the flu season • Pilot has been well-received • 600 users • Regional Infection Control Networks • Alzheimer Knowledge Exchange • Seniors Health Research Transfer Network • Ontario Public Health Libraries Assoc. • Public Health Substance Abuse • Drug Profile Viewer Regional Coordinators • Public Health Research, Education, and Development (PHRED) Group • Pandemic Planning • Public Health Infectious Disease Advisory Committee • Smoke-Free Ontario (Northeast) 15

Communications Tools – Enabling Technology Strategy (ETS) • Provides connectivity to health care organizations who lack the means to access e-Health services (e. g. Physician Practices, Community Health Centres, Long-Term Care Homes, Community Mental Health Agencies, Public Health Labs) • Sows seeds of technology in broader health sector • “Connectivity Bundles” comprising SSHA network connection + firewall appliance • First network circuit installations in 2005 16

Communications Tools – Videoconferencing • Goal: provision of videoconferencing in 14 Public Health Units (PHUs) • Five installations complete in PHUs • able to connect to key PHD locations • using SSHA infrastructure • Located in Thunder Bay, North Bay, Kingston, London and Niagara • 2006/07 – Last nine units to be installed 17

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Public Health Information Systems • Integrated Public Health Information System (i. PHIS) • Infectious Disease Outbreak Management System • Installed in all Public Health Units • Immunizations Information System • End-state vision is that information will be captured at each stage of the immunization process from vaccine ordering to post-administration, record-keeping and analysis • Inspections • Multi-sectoral system to conduct location-based surveillance, including scheduling and tracking inspections • Initial priorities were Food, Water and Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy • Requirements Study: July - October 2005 • Inspection project manager hired through PHIIT (Jan/06) • Project has three tracks: SFO, Drinking Water and a “big picture” track 19

Public Health Information Systems Canada Health Infoway (CHI) • CHI Solutions cover: • Communicable Disease Outbreak Management • Immunizations (including Vaccine Ordering and Distribution) • Data standards and standards for data warehousing • Alerting and Notification standards • Ontario-specific implementation planning project • October 2005 to March 2006 20

Other Projects supported by PHIIT 21 • Chronic Disease Surveillance Strategy • development of a strategy • expand Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS) data collection to all PHUs and to add some additional data elements • Low Birth Weight Strategy (LBWS) • expand an existing database province-wide – will enhance provincial data (more timely and more variables) • Funds will flow shortly to PPSEO / “Niday” group, through mid-wifery program

Other Projects supported by PHIIT • Children In Need Of Treatment (CINOT) • Commence software redevelopment of dental treatment database for children from needy families • Software changes to support the January 1, 2006 fee change are in place • Work to explore solutions options for the new system to begin shortly 22

Other Projects supported by PHIIT • Web-based Smoking Cessation • As part of the Cessation component of the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy, the objective of this project is to develop a web-assisted cessation intervention service • This web-based program is a cost-effective way of reaching a large number of smokers and may have the potential to facilitate behaviour change. Through this service, a smoker can assess his/her self-efficacy and readiness to quit, access self-help resources, customize a quit program and learn about support community from home or work. • Overall project completion scheduled for June 2006. Funded through Smoke-Free Ontario 23

What you need to know 24 • Public. Health. Ontario. ca: • Uses the communications infrastructure to support delivery of public health and health promotion initiatives • Aims to be a preferred destination for public health in Ontario when seeking the information and services they need to help them provide better care in Ontario (e. g. i. PHIS, Immunization Information System) and tools (e. g. collaboration tool) • First alert to new Important Health Notices • Complements your Health Unit’s web site • Enabling Technology Strategy: • Connectivity will give your Health Unit a secure and reliable connection to Public Health e-Health applications • Videoconferencing: • An efficient means to conduct meetings and to collaborate with other Health Units and the broader health sector

Communications to Medical Officers of Health • Medical Officers of Health are the key to the success of e-Health in the Public Health Units • Over the past 3 months, you have received: • An e-mail requesting up-to-date contact information to receive alerts for Important Health Notices and asking you to identify other key contacts according to their role in your Health Unit • A test IHN to test the improved alert notification system • Connectivity bundle order form from SSHA to give your Health Unit a secure connection and firewall 25

Communications to Medical Officers of Health What’s Coming: • A new Virtual Library of e-Journals and the Med. Line and CINAHL databases to help your staff conduct research and have the latest information at their fingertips • Communication containing information on how you and your staff can create their own e-Communities on Public. Health. Ontario. ca • Regular updates on what’s new on Public. Health. Ontario. ca 26

Transforming Public Health in Ontario 27