ASTP launched the Strengthening the Technical Advancement and Readiness of Public Health via Health Information Exchange (STAR HIE Program) in 2020. The program expanded in 2021 to increase support for efforts to improve vaccination data sharing between jurisdictional immunization information systems (IIS) and HIEs. CyncHealth in Omaha, Nebraska, was among the 22 recipients that received a combined $5 million in funds from ASTP via the CARES Act.

ASTP talked with Jaime Bland CEO, at CyncHealth to learn how the STAR HIE Program supported the state’s public health agency with the exchange of health information during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ASTP: How did CyncHealth use STAR HIE Program funding?

CYNCHEALTH: CyncHealth used the STAR HIE Program funding to enhance our support of public health initiatives and increase engagement with public health. We primarily used the funding to establish a process and precedent for the exchange of full-scope vaccination data from the Nebraska State Immunization Information System (NESIIS). This successful effort significantly improved our capacity to share and manage immunization information effectively.

We also directed funds toward implementing a bi-directional data feed between a health care facility/provider, CyncHealth, and the State of Nebraska Division of Public Health. We developed a comprehensive sustainability plan for short and long-term sustainability and to continue to foster a more robust relationship between the HIE, public health, and other health care providers.

ASTP: What problems or challenges did you encounter, and how did the STAR HIE Program funding help? 

CYNCHEALTH: We encountered several challenges. Initially, extended negotiations around governance and the memorandum of understanding (MOU) posed a significant timeframe obstacle, delaying the progression of technical work. The uncertainty surrounding the execution and timeframe of the legal documents posed communication difficulties with potential partners regarding the technical project timeline. The STAR HIE Program funding allowed us to clarify these issues, bridge communication gaps, and ensure a common understanding of the MOU’s provisions across all levels of state public health and CyncHealth organizations.

ASTP: How will you build on this work and what are some future projects for CyncHealth?

CYNCHEALTH: As CyncHealth continues to engage in public health-related initiatives, a significant area of focus will be the reuse of infrastructure to serve a larger volume of public health and human services uses cases. We will continue to act as a collector and reporter of public health registry data, increase our reporting to include electronic case reporting, and will focus on modernizing the delivery of the data through application programming interfaces. CyncHealth will also continue to engage in social determinants of health network development and social care data ingestion and exchange. We aim to bring value by concentrating on use cases that will assist communities disproportionately impacted by health disparities.

ASTP: What role do you think HIEs play in improving public health infrastructure? 

CYNCHEALTH: HIEs play a vital role in improving public health infrastructure. They serve as central hubs for the exchange of health data from a multitude of sources, enabling more effective communication among health care providers and the seamless sharing of comprehensive patient information.

HIEs also enable improved disease surveillance and response. By integrating data from various sources, they provide public health agencies with a comprehensive view of population health, making it easier to identify and track disease outbreaks, respond to public health emergencies, and monitor the overall health of the population.

In addition, HIEs contribute to health equity. By ensuring that patient data is available to all providers, regardless of their location or the patient’s socioeconomic status, HIEs help to level the playing field and ensure that all individuals have access to high-quality care.

Furthermore, HIEs play a key role in supporting innovation in health care. By providing a rich data source for researchers and policymakers, HIEs can enable the development of new treatments, interventions, and policies that can improve public health.

ASTP: How has the STAR HIE Program positioned you to better respond to public health emergencies?

CYNCHEALTH: The STAR HIE Program strategically enabled CyncHealth to respond more effectively to public health emergencies. The program helped us implement policies and establish an infrastructure that can be broadly re-used and replicated. This not only enhanced our capacity to help manage a global pandemic, but also equipped us to handle future public health crises with greater agility.

The STAR HIE Program also encouraged a broad view of data sharing, emphasizing sustainability, and the need to think beyond the immediate pandemic use-case. As a result, we are better prepared to mobilize and share health data swiftly in response to any public health emergency, facilitating a faster and more coordinated response.

ASTP: What is your greatest achievement under the STAR HIE Program?

CYNCHEALTH: CyncHealth adopted the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI), version 3 standards. This is driving improved data quality and completeness aligned to national standards in both Nebraska and Iowa. Continued work on the adoption and implementation of USCDI standards has allowed CyncHealth teams to identify facilities that require assistance in maintaining a higher level of data interoperability. This has been done primarily through the preliminary development of a USCDI scorecard, which will enable CyncHealth to assess a variety of connections, feeds, and participants on a regular basis.

ASTP: Why was this Program necessary during the COVID-19 response?

CYNCHEALTH: The STAR HIE Program strengthened the capacity for HIEs to support public health agencies during the unprecedented global health crisis. By providing necessary funds and technical support, it enabled HIEs to improve and expand their non-traditional data exchange services to include NESIIS data and the bi-directional exchange of that data with health care providers.

The funding helped ensure efficient sharing of health data which is crucial for managing such emergencies. For HIEs, the STAR HIE Program played a transformative role. It facilitated the development of innovative services and provided a vehicle for HIEs to leverage federal investments and industry advancements to better serve public health. It enabled HIEs to operate as critical data hubs, facilitating real-time information exchange among health care entities, which was essential in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. For public health, the program allowed the state registry to access improved vaccination data and delivered more complete immunization data directly to providers.

Learn more about CyncHealth. Learn more about ASTP’s STAR HIE Program.

This is the third in a series of blog posts about the STAR HIE Program recipients.