To Discuss the Impact of an Electronic Health Record in a Public Health Clinic for Managing Chronic Conditions

Key Objectives:
-          Challenges in implementing a commercial of the shelf EHR in a public health outpatient environment -          Component tools within a commercial of the shelf EHR that advance epidemiologic goals -          Additional, external tools to extend the utility of a commercial of the shelf EHR to advance epidemiologic goals.

Brief Summary:
Rio Grande State Center (RGSC), operated by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) in conjunction with the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS),  serves an area in South Texas with an estimated population of 1,305,782 (US Census Bureau). This center offers healthcare, inpatient mental health services and long-term services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  The Rio Grande Valley has high proportions of its population suffering from chronic conditions especially heart disease and diabetes with an estimated 76,000 people suffering from diabetes, and approximately $720 million spent on diabetes care yearly (South Texas Diabetes Initiative). In addition, 1 in 4 people in this region do not have health insurance. The outpatient clinic (OPC) at the RGSC, operated by DSHS, is an accredited healthcare facility and has the capacity to contribute significantly in bringing down prevalence rates of heart disease and diabetes. This project focuses on the analysis and configuration of the EHR to meet quality measures and meaningful use requirements. End goals will be to improving patient experience,  monitor chronic conditions, reduce unnecessary and duplicative questions and testing, advance data sharing and hopefully reduce the overall cost that goes in to managing chronic conditions. Improved data sharing in a public health clinic will ultimately enhance community disease surveillance and generally improve health at the Rio Grande Valley.