Pediatric Informatics: Computer Applications in Child Health (Health ...

Chapter 31
Communities of Pediatric Care and Practice
Joseph H. Schneider
Objectives
Upon completion of this chapter, the reader should be able to discuss and formulate
questions about the following issues regarding the electronic exchange of clinical
information:
The need for accessible health information in providing quality care and the
roles of Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) in providing “anytime, anywhere”
health information
Key issues affecting the formation and success of HIEs
Key pediatric issues that must be addressed in designing HIEs
31.1 Introduction
The impact of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 1 on health care infrastructures abruptly
clarified the need for and value of “anytime, anywhere” access to health information
by health care providers during disasters. The development of Health
Information Exchanges (HIEs) to meet that need has faced and continues to face
technical, business, and adaptive challenges in creating sustainable child health
information systems. Key issues in HIE development for child health are the inclusion
of pediatric-specific data and guardian-related privacy/security issues. As HIE
developers address these issues in designing regional information systems, experts
in both child health and informatics must be included in the planning and implementation
to achieve successful development, diffusion, and sustainability of HIEs.
31.2 Case Study 1: Hypothetical Scenario
Samuel and his aunt got off the plane in Dallas after the long ride from New Orleans.
His mother had died in a car accident in New Orleans a week ago and he was now
a 4 month old refugee thanks to Hurricane Katrina. Born prematurely, he had
C.U. Lehmann et al. (eds.), Pediatric Informatics: Computer Applications 399
in Child Health, Health Informatics,
© Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2009