Since we launched the the Center for Information Therapy (IxCenter) eight years ago, we have focused on three core objectives:

1. Advancing the practice of information therapy (Ix).
2. Building the science around Ix.
3. Embedding Ix into everyday care delivery.

The rationale for this approach has always been straightforward. We needed to make enough progress on the first two objectives in order to both advance the field and make the third objective possible.

We have begun to witness substantial signs of progress. Indeed, we brought Ix practice and science to a level that facilitated our 2009 efforts to embed Ix into the meaningful use (MU) definition. The MU framework is associated with tens of billions of dollars in incentives to be paid out to providers under the HITECH provisions of the Recovery Act. In collaboration with others — particularly those organizations active in the Consumer Partnership for eHealth — the draft definition of the MU requirements include several core elements of Ix (i.e., patient-specific education resources, after-care summaries, prevention/follow-up reminders, self-management tools, etc.).

(As background, the health information technology (HIT) provisions (also known as HITECH) of the recovery act/stimulus bill (American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009) established tens of billions of dollars of incentives for Medicare and Medicaid providers who not only adopt electronic health records (EHRs), but become “meaningful users” of them. This distinction was critically important because it is common wisdom that simply adopting HIT systems will have little impact if those tools are not deployed in such a way that they help clinicians and patients manage information effectively and communicate better.)

David Blumenthal, who directs the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for HIT, and other senior ONC staff have made a strong commitment to ensuring the patient-facing aspects of meaningful use remain a high priority as HITECH implementation progresses. Although the incentives will be administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), ONC will be responsible for supporting the extension centers and HIT research center that will support providers’ HIT adoption.

In a testament to the critical role that the IxAction Alliance and the IxCenter have played in advancing consumer-facing HIT applications, ONC has asked me to join their staff to ensure the successful translation of MU requirements into HIT implementation. This is a tremendous opportunity to fulfill the IxCenter’s mission of embedding Ix into everyday care delivery expectations, and therefore, an opportunity I had to embrace.

Implications for the IxCenter and the IxAction Alliance

In addressing my departure and the current challenging business environment, the IxCenter Board of Directors has considered multiple possible scenarios for sustaining the momentum of Ix progress. The Board decided that the best course is to close the IxCenter itself and to position the IxAction Alliance for continued growth and impact by integration of the Alliance into another not-for-profit organization. After careful consideration, the IxCenter Board has decided to transfer management of the Alliance and donate the IxCenter’s core intellectual property to the eHealth Initiative (eHI), a multi-stakeholder organization of more than 170 members. The IxCenter will cease operations on 11/30/09.

Through this transition, we believe strongly that the IxAction Alliance can continue to be an engine of progress, stimulating innovation and diffusing best practices. IxAction has evolved in the last few years into a community of shared learning — a cross between an innovation network and a learning collaborative.

We are also very pleased that the transition to eHI will create alignment with an excellent organization and a larger immediate constituency. eHI’s mission is to drive improvement in the quality, safety and efficiency of health care through information and information technology. Through its own strategic planning process, eHI has recently placed greater emphasis on consumer engagement and patient-centered care. IxAction will continue to drive forward with the same mission and have the opportunity to extend its reach, including a wider array of providers, state-based organizations, and other health care leaders.

“By combining the strengths of eHI and the Alliance, we will emerge as a stronger advocate for patient-centered care and HIT. Working together, we can make a significant and meaningful impact on health care. In the coming weeks, we will work closely with leaders and members of the Ix Action Alliance to ensure a smooth transition” said Jennifer Covich, Interim Chief Executive Officer.

The substantial intellectual assets that the IxCenter has amassed in the last eight years—most notably the several dozen IxInsights reports, IxResearch Briefings, and other IxAction resources—will transition with the Alliance to their new home. There, they will be maintained and nurtured, and eHI will build upon this work as it brings its wealth of knowledge and expertise to the task of managing the Alliance. IxAction’s output will continue to provide enormous value to organizations within the Alliance and externally—including helping to inform the work that ONC does in MU implementation.

There will be no interruption in support for the IxAction Alliance. Members will continue to benefit through the leadership provided by eHealth Initiative. The web portal, briefings, reports and IxAction events will continue to be available. Staff who are also transitioning from from the IxCenter will join in the future support for the efforts and  activities of the Ix Action Alliance.

Organizations who have questions or comments about the transition should contact Cindy Throop at cindy.throop@ehealthinitiative.org or Jennifer Covich at Jennifer.Covich@ehealthinitiative.org. We welcome all your suggestions and ideas.

Looking Back
The IxCenter and the IxAction Alliance have accomplished a great deal.

• We have stimulated innovation and diffused best practices on an ongoing basis among dozens of progressive organizations across the country.
• We have produced a rich set of resources in the form of dozens of white papers, webinars, IxInsights reports, research briefings, conference presentations, and many other documents.
• Through the efforts of the Alliance’s Ix Payer Workgroup, we have made great strides in building an infrastructure for widespread Ix adoption: Inclusion of Ix criteria in URAC disease management standards, NBCH eValue8 RFI, and Healthy People 2020 objectives.
• We have played an instrumental role in ensuring that Ix is a part of the draft definition of HIT meaningful use, and have an opportunity now for that work to continue as a federal government priority with tens of billions of dollars in provider incentives behind it.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 6:35 pm and is filed under EHRs, Engaging Consumers, Inside the Beltway. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.