Engaging Consumers: Tools

This section of the Communication and Outreach module contains tools and resources that are designed to provide guidance to state, regional and community leaders on how to effectively communicate with the various stakeholders in healthcare about the importance of health information technology (IT) and  health information exchange (HIE).

Ultimately, this section will provide insights on how national, state and community leaders can reach out in a targeted way to many of the stakeholders in healthcare, including clinicians, consumers, employers, health plans, hospitals and other providers, manufacturers, public health, and state and local government agencies.

In its first iteration, the Communication and Outreach Module will lend support to how to effectively engage and communicate with three target audiences: consumers (see InformationSTAT^TM Tools and Resources); physicians; and employers.

Engaging Clinicians

Clinicians play a major stakeholder role in the development and successful operation of health information exchange (HIE) initiatives.  Data from eHI's Third Annual Survey of Health Information Exchange at the State, Regional and Community Levels reveals that "engaging clinicians" is identified as a "very difficult challenge" by 20 percent of HIE initiatives and as a moderate challenge by 62 percent. eHI's work with communities has shown that attention to some key concepts and usage of physician-friendly tools can be helpful in successful engagement of clinicians in HIE. See below for a number of tools designed to help state, regional and community leaders successfully engage clinicians.

• Guide for Engaging Clinicians.  eHI's Guide for Engaging Clinicians in Health Information Exchange Initiatives offers ten tips for engaging clinicians in state, regional and community-based health information exchange initiatives.

• Communications Tools for Engaging Clinicians. The following customizable materials can be used by state, regional and community leaders as they reach out to clinicians.
  • Brochure: Physicians and Health Information Exchange: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know
  • Brochure: Health Information Exchange: The Physician-Patient Relationship
  • Powerpoint: Physicians and Health Information Exchange: What is Health Information Exchange?
  • Powerpoint: Physicians and Health Information Exchange: The Value of HIE to a Physician's Practice and Consumers
  • Case Example for Physician Patient Relationship: Information is King for Indianapolis Patients
  • Case Example for Physician Patient Relationship: Staying Connected in an Unconnected Health System
  • Case Example for Physicians and Quality Programs: Quality Equals Money
  • Case Example for Emergency Physicians: The Tool of the Future in Emergency Medicine
  • Case Example for Physicians: Every Second Counts

Engaging Employers

Employers play a support role in the development and successful operation of health information exchange (HIE) initiatives.  However, since healthcare is not the core business of employers and health information exchange is merely a means of making the healthcare system more efficient, effective and safe, employers will not have the same sense of urgency or commitment to your cause as other stakeholders. 

Data from eHI's Third Annual Survey of Health Information Exchange at the State, Regional and Community Levels reveals that employer involvement in health information exchange is up by nearly 32 percent over last year.  However, the eHealth Initiative's work with communities and the eHI Employer and Purchaser Advisory Board (EPAB)  has shown that attention to the following concepts can be critical in successful engagement of purchasers in HIE.

Click here for eHI's Guide for Engaging Employers in Health Information Exchange Initiatives

Background

InformationSTAT™-a public education and communications toolkit, was developed by the eHealth Initiative Foundation with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) which provided funds to strengthen Gulf Coast health care services and regional electronic health information infrastructure in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Public Opinion Strategies LLC conducted the attitude and opinion research to inform the messages included in the InformationSTAT™ Toolkit. Communications firm Health2 Resources played a key role in coordinating and overseeing the Toolkit's development. The communications-related components of the project were conducted over a 12-month period and supported by approximately $500,000 in funding.