Looking Ahead to the Modernization Program's Breakout Sessions at the IHS Partnership Conference

The Division of Health Information Technology Modernization and Operations (DHITMO) recognizes the importance of collaboration as the foundation for the Health IT Modernization Program. IHS envisions building and operating the enterprise electronic health record (EHR) with our partners, not for them, in our efforts to continually improve health care across Indian Country. Part of our commitment in this collaboration, is meeting with our partners at the upcoming IHS Partnership Conference on August 13-15, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona, to discuss the Modernization Program. The subsequent sections present the key focus areas for our breakout sessions, which we encourage you to attend:

Health IT Modernization Roundtable
DHITMO will facilitate a roundtable conversation with the IHS Office of Information Technology leadership during the Partnership Conference. Audience members will have the opportunity to sit with Chief Information Officer Mitchell Thornbrugh, Deputy Chief Information Officer Andrea Scott, DHITMO Director Jeanette Kompkoff, and Chief Medical Information Officer Dr. Howard Hays to learn more about the Modernization Program. This will allow sites to receive more information about implementing the EHR solution and the program more broadly.

Your Roadmap to Modernization Readiness: An Overview of the Getting Ready to Get Ready Guide
Kimberly Shije, senior organizational change manager, will share a closer look at the Getting Ready to Get Ready Guide that was introduced at the May 2024 tribal consultation and urban confer. The Getting Ready to Get Ready Guide is a tool that will assist sites in the preparation and alignment for upcoming changes. We look forward to offering a greater understanding of the Guide during the conference.

Implementation & Deployment: The Pathway to EHR Modernization
Adrian Haven, DHITMO senior deployment manager, will facilitate the EHR Implementation Pathway breakout session and deliver updates on its progress. He will provide an overview of the EHR implementation process, detailing the program scope and desired outcomes. The presentation includes a high-level briefing of the pilot and cohort implementation approach and how sites will be selected to participate in the cohort.

Four Directions Warehouse
Charles Cross, senior engineering manager, will lead this breakout session and share information about the IHS Four Directions Warehouse (4DW). He will explain the current Resource and Patient Management System and how the 4DW will offer a consolidated data repository independent of EHR vendor constraints. This repository will also support an archive function to meet record retention guidelines and access historical clinical data after the source systems have been decommissioned, among other benefits.

Day in the Life – Patient and Clinician Perspectives
The Modernization Program will present a system demonstration focusing on the patient experience and clinical workflows across several care venues. Nurses, providers, other care team members, and the patient will interact collaboratively using Oracle Health solutions as we move through the patient’s journey at home, in an ambulatory clinic, in the emergency department, and in the inpatient acute care setting. These system demonstrations will show how the EHR solution will continue to improve health care IT. 

Overall, the Modernization Program’s roundtable and breakout sessions will give our sites a closer look into the EHR implementation process. By working together and gaining a better understanding of the needs of patients and staff, we will position ourselves to be ready for the changes and benefits the new EHR solution will bring.

Stay Connected with the Health IT Modernization Program