Lessons Learned from Developing Informatics Workforce in Utah DOH

1. Lessons Learned from Developing Informatics Workforce in Utah DOH Wu Xu, Ph.D. The State HIT Coordinator - Utah Director, Center for Health Data and Informatics Webinar of Public Health Informatics for Leaders November 10, 2016

2. Outline Framework of an Informatics-Savvy Health Department How to establish informatics job classifications Data security and informaticians Executive leadership is the key

3. Framework of an “Informatics-Savvy Health Department” Developed by Bill Brand, MPH, Public Health Informatics Institute; Marty LaVenture, PhD, Minnesota Department of Health; PriyaRajamani, PhD, University of Minnesota; Wu Xu, PhD, Utah Department of Health.

4. Defining Requirements of Three Key Elements of an “Informatics-Savvy Health Department” Developed by Bill Brand, MPH, Public Health Informatics Institute; Marty LaVenture, PhD, Minnesota Department of Health; PriyaRajamani, PhD, University of Minnesota; Wu Xu, PhD, Utah Department of Health.

5. What is Public Health Informatics?Multi-Discipline Sciences and Practice Basic Informational Sciences Public Health Domain Epidemiology Lab sciences Nursing Policy analysis Maternal and Child Health Environmental health Information science Computer science Cognitive science Organizational science Etc. Public Health Informatics Source: Adapted from Dr. Charles Friedman, What informatics is and isn’t, JAMIA, Oct 2012

6. Milestones of Health Informaticians in Utah • 2005: State IT centralization legislation • All IT personnel, Information/business analysts moved to Department of Technology Services • 2007: Department-level Informatics Office • 2008: The term of “Informatics” codified in Utah Health Code §26-9f-106(6) • The department shall provide informatics staff support to the [digital health service] commission. • 2011: InformaticianJob/Position Descriptions

7. Utah Informatician Job Descriptions • Health Informatics Manager(Division-level) • Senior Health Informatician (Bureau-level) • Health Informatician(Entry level for major System or Program) • Information Security Officers hired under the informatics positionssince 2012

8. National Consensus of Informatics Workforce Roles and Responsibilities (2013-2014) Utah Utah Source: 2013 - CDC, Public health Informatics Institute/Minnesota Department of Health with input from ASTHO & NACCHO Members and 2014: http://www.phii.org/resources/view/6423/workforce-position-classifications-and-descriptions

9. Steps of Creating Informatician Job Descriptions • Proposals/justifications for DOH ROI • DOH Executive Director’s approval (2008) • DHRM benchmark & market analysis (local and national inquires) • DOH-DHRM jointly developed the description • Sister agencies’ buy-in (DTS and DHM, DEQ) • Publish and implementation (2011) • 1st revision (2012) – Add info. security positions • Planned revisions (2016-2017)

10. Data Security and Informaticians 2012 Utah health data breach

12. Data Breach Negative Impact • Citizens’ privacy • Public trust • Suspending information exchanges • Budget impact • Agency’s responsibilities in IT management • Rebuilt the relationship between DTS & DOH

13. Overall Security Improvements by Informaticians • Add information security officers and/or responsibilities in the Informaticians’ job descriptions • Established an independent Office of Health Data Security reporting to the Executive Director • Each division/bureau has a Information Security Officer • Updated all legal agreements, policies, procedures • Examines and updated all technical connections, architecture design, and system security plans and postures, etc. • Build a department-wide culture of security and training

14. Coming Revisions Update the competency requirements Set the upper limit of salary higher Help supervisors to understand what are and what are not Informaticians’ responsibilities Add a review process for reclassification of other professionals into the informatician career track Review the performance plan before approving to hire an informatician

15. Informatics Training Opportunities Practice-based fellowships for new and existing staff (SHINE) Partnerships and mentoring (student projects, collaborations with health departments) Academic degrees and certificates (Public Health Informatics Certificate, MHI, PhD) Online, synchronous and asynchronous programs for existing staff and leaders (Informatics Academy) Adapted from Brian Dixon, Regenstrief Institute, 2016

16. Local Peer-to-Peer Training/Sharing • Led by the Center for Health Data and Informatics • Department-wide Monthly Informatics Brown Bags since 2007 • Department-wide Informatics Peer Network since 2013 • On-Job Training Through Common or Shared Responsibilities • Project management/Project Plan • Business Case Development • Use Case Development • Requirement Development • IT Contract Management • Analytics Development • IT Service Level Agreement Management • System Security Plan & Risk Assessment

17. Informaticians as Integrators Current and Proposed Structure to Enhance Interoperability

18. Executive Leadership is the Key UDOH Interoperable Assessment Results (1)

19. Executive Leadership’s Role in Planning UDOH Interoperable Assessment Results (2) • Definition • Standards Adoption • Rick Management • Sustainability • Funding

20. Executive Leaders’ Outreach to Stakeholders UDOH Interoperable Assessment Results (3) Executive Support Program Champion Personnel Skills and Training Community Engagement Broad Communication Data Sharing Agreement

21. Executive Leaders’ Actions • Department-wide planning, coordination and management are key success factors • Develop department-wide IT project portfolio management • Enable the Architecture Standard Team to review new system design • Coordinate similar IT contractsand RFPs • “Interoperability Cluster” Retreats • Communication, communication and communication at various levels and with different partners

22. Questions? THANK YOU! Wu Xu wxu@utah.gov