Advanced Technology » Information Technology

Health Informatics

At RTI and other key research groups around the country, researchers are working to facilitate the electronic management of health information and its secure exchange between health care providers, public health agencies, and consumers. The information technology tools and systems that facilitate this exchange include electronic health records, personal health records, and other forms of health information technology such as e-prescribing, clinical decision support tools, and integrated disease and exposure surveillance systems.

The potential benefits of advances in health informatics include the prevention of medical errors and a reduction in health care costs (partly through reduced paper work and greater efficiency). The ultimate payoffs will be expanded access to affordable, personalized care, greater involvement of consumers in their own health care, overall improvement in the quality of that care, and a more rich information exchange between clinical and public health partners. In addition to core capabilities in health informatics, we also have extensive experience with program evaluation and economic analyses. These additional areas of expertise offer a solid foundation for research in key areas related to health informatics, including quality and cost evaluations.

Capabilities

  • Personal health record applications (full software development life cycle)
  • Strategic, operational, and tactical organizational planning for health information systems and HIE
  • Development of interoperable surveillance systems
  • Technical assistance for state agencies in electronic health information exchange
  • Quality, cost, and health outcomes research
  • Advanced network portals that accelerate free exchange of information among researchers, clinical practitioners, and the community
  • Centralized scientific data management, modeling, simulation, analysis, and visualization tools
  • Knowledge networks and knowledge management tools that can help translate research findings into practice and disseminate information into the community

Focus Areas

  • Consumer and clinician attitudes regarding health information technology
  • Privacy and security policy
  • Medicaid and SCHIP
  • User-centered design and usability assessments
  • Surveillance systems
  • Full life-cycle evaluation and outcomes research

Projects

  • Privacy and Security Solutions for Health Information Exchange (AHRQ, 2005–2009). RTI subcontracts with 40 states and two territories to assess variations in organization-level business practices, policies, and laws to identify privacy and security barriers to health information exchange and to develop feasible solutions and implementation plans.
  • Technical Assistance for Health IT and Health Information Exchange in Medicaid and SCHIP (AHRQ, 2007–2010). RTI provides technical assistance for state Medicaid and SCHIP agencies in this domain. Scope includes helping agencies develop, implement, and participate in health information technology and health information exchange.
  • Project HealthDesign: Empowering Consumers Through the Use of Personal Health Records (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2007–2009). RTI is participating in the development and testing of an integrated set of next-generation personal health record (PHR) applications for consumers. RTI and The Cooper Institute are collaborating on this grant to develop a PHR designed to help sedentary adults begin and sustain regular physical activity.
  • Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study (MIDAS) (NIGMS, 2004–2009). Web-based portal, mathematical models, and a set of computational and analytical tools have been developed for researchers and public health officials to model emerging infectious diseases and influence rapid public health responses. Portal houses a central catalog of models and results from participating research groups.
  • Electronic Health Record Adoption Focus Groups: Hospital Administrators and Physician Practices (Partners Healthcare/Massachusetts General Hospital, 2005–2006). RTI has conducted focus groups with primary care physicians and hospital chief information officers to identify the factors that affect adoption and use of electronic health records (EHRs).
  • National Survey to Measure the Adoption of Electronic Health Records Among Physician and Group Practices (GWU, MGH, ONCHIT, 2006–2008). RTI conducted a survey to measure the extent to which electronic health records (EHRs) are in use in outpatient medical practices in the United States. Some 5,000 physicians and their practices are included. The study is commissioned by George Washington University (GWU) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), through a grant from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  • Enabling Patient-Centered Care Through Health IT (VCU, AHRQ, 2007–2010). As a subcontractor to a primary care network affiliated with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), we are developing a Web portal called 'My Preventive Care.' Information in patient electronic medical records is evaluated through algorithms for 13 primary preventive care screenings related to health conditions, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, blood pressure, and diabetes. As part of a study on the value of interactive tools, the portal sends reminders to doctors or patients about needed diagnostic tests along with other preventive care tips.

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