Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2012

Journal

Online Journal of Public Health Informatics

Volume

Volume 4, Issue 1

Keywords

Public Health Leadership; Homeland Security; Electronic Health Record; Government Funding; Health Information Exchange; Community Health Centers; Geiger Gibson; GG/RCHN

Abstract

Since taking office, President Obama has made substantial investments in promoting the diffusion of health information technology. The objective of the national health IT program is, generally, to enable health care providers to better manage patient care through secure use and sharing of health information. Through the use of technologies including electronic health records, providers can better maintain patient care information and facilitate communication, often improving care outcomes. The recent tornado in Joplin, MO highlights the importance of health information technology in the health center context, and illustrates the importance of secure electronic health information systems as a crucial element of disaster and business continuity planning. This article examines the experience of a community health center in the aftermath of the major tornado that swept through the American midwest in the spring of 2011, and provides insight into the planning for disaster survival and recovery as it relates to patient records and health center data.

Comments

Reproduced with permission of the Online Journal of Public Health Informatics.

This is an Open Access article. Authors own copyright of their articles appearing in the Online Journal of Public Health Informatics. Readers may copy articles without permission of the copyright owner(s), as long as the author and OJPHI are acknowledged in the copy and the copy is used for educational, not-for-profit purposes.

Peer Reviewed

1

Open Access

1

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