E-health and Health Information Technology (HIT) to Improve Children’s Health

Information and communications technologies are significantly changing health care in the United States. Yet, as this electronic revolution accelerates there has been virtually no public discussion about how HIT could improve care for the nation's children. At this time of technological innovation and while significant public and private dollars are being invested, it is crucial to ensure that children’s needs are considered.

The Children's Partnership has initiated this E-health and HIT program, which includes research, community-based demonstrations, and policy development and advocacy. The program aims to determine how HIT can promote wellness through access to coordinated, quality, preventative, and child-centered care.

Program Elements:

Technology-Enabled Innovations for Improving Children's Health

This research and policy initiative is a joint project of The Children's Partnership and the Public Health Institute/Health Technology Center (HealthTech) to develop the forecasts and planning needed to ensure that emerging technologies in healthcare benefit children. Based on extensive research into the most promising technologies, the project develops state-level policies and works to integrate them into California's health information technology/health information exchange (HIT/HIE) planning and implementation.

Phase One includes research and forecasting. Click here for more information and resources.

promoting the meaningful use of HIT for children

E-Health Snapshot: Federal Support for Health Information Technology in Medicaid provides an overview of the key health information technology (HIT) provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that have direct implications for Medicaid.

On May 26, 2009, The Children's Partnership sent a letter containing recommendations for meaninful use of health information technology (HIT) for children to Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at the Office of the National Coordinator at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Download the letter here.

Children's Health Information Technology Action Plan

Our Children's Health Information Technology Action Plan can modernize health care for America's children and model the effective use of these reforms to improve the health of broader populations while building greater fiscal efficiencies.

E-Health Snapshot: A Look at Emerging Health Information Technology in Medicaid and SCHIP Programs is an overview of state activity that highlights how HIT solutions in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) are being used to improve care for America's children.

E-Enrollment

E-Enrollment uses Information and Communications Technology to make health insurance enrollment and renewal more efficient for families and more accountable to the public.

E-Health Snapshot: Harnessing Technology to Improve Medicaid and SCHIP Enrollment and Retention Practices reviews promising opportunities for improving our public health programs through effective use of available technology.

Modernizing Medicaid and SCHIP So They Work Better for Children and Taxpayers: The Case for Wise Investments in Health IT describes how Express Lane Eligibility fits into the health information technology (HIT) agenda.

Building Efficient and Effective Medicaid and CHIP Enrollment Systems: Core Requirements to Ensure the Greatest Value for Children and Families gives states a framework for moving forward with modernizing public program enrollment technology in a manner that improves the consumer experience, promotes systems integration, and complies with the Medicaid Information Technology Architecture (MITA) Framework.

Click here for more E-Enrollment information and resources.

Telemedicine

Telemedicine, the application of Information and Communications Technology to provide health care at a distance, is becoming a vital tool in meeting the health care needs of low-income and underserved children.

School-Based Telehealth: An Innovative Approach to Meet the Health Care Needs of California Children outlines how telehealth—the use of technology to provide health services at a distance—in schools is emerging as a valuable way to complement and expand the capacity of schools to meet the health care needs of children, particularly those who are low-income and living in medically underserved areas.

Meeting the Health Care Needs of California's Children: The Role of Telemedicine describes how telemedicine, the application of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to provide health care services at a distance is used to improve the health of California's children, especially those who are low-income or living in medically underserved areas.

Download Meeting the Health Care Needs of California Children in Schools and Child Care: Telemedicine Can Help to learn how telemedicine can help California schools and child care centers meet the health care needs of the children and communities they serve.

Electronic record systems

Electronic Record Systems -- electronic health records, personal health records, and similar technology solutions that facilitate the management, sharing, and use of information -- can help providers coordinate care and improve their ability to deliver appropriate, cost-effective services in a manner that optimizes the health of the child.

Improving Health Outcomes for Children in Foster Care: The Role of Electronic Record Systems describes how such systems can benefit children in foster care, highlighting early results, lessons learned, and recommendations from state and local efforts.

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