NC Office of Health Information Technology

Health IT Initiatives Around North Carolina

NC OHIT Health IT Projects

NC Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program
The NC Medicaid EHR Incentive Program was created by the federal government as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The program encourages eligible providers to adopt, implement, or upgrade (AIU) to a certified EHR technology, and then to demonstrate meaningful use (MU) of that technology with the goal of improving patient care while also reducing health care costs. The NC Medicaid EHR Incentive Program issued its first payment in 2011 and eligible providers may attest through October 2021.

emPOWER
Thousands of NC Medicaid beneficiaries living at home rely on electricity-dependent durable medical equipment such as ventilators, electric wheelchairs, and infusion pumps. Natural or man-made incidents resulting in power outages can thrust these at-risk individuals into life-threatening situations. NC emPOWER uses Medicaid claims data to identify these populations for the NC DHHS Public Health Preparedness and Response Branch and their partners to support targeted emergency preparedness, response, and recovery activities. NC emPOWER provides a de-identified monthly summary report by ZIP Code and county to aid in planning for hospital surge and sheltering and evacuation needs and in case of emergency can securely provide patient-level reports by impacted geography to assist in rapidly identifying, locating, and voluntarily evacuating at-risk individuals and reconnecting them with their health care providers.

North Carolina State Medicaid Health Information Technology Plan
The State Medicaid Health Information Technology Plan (SMHP) provides an overview of HIT initiatives in North Carolina and outlines NCDHHS’ strategy through 2021 for implementing the NC Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. The SMHP also details various HIT initiatives that are in progress across the state and addresses the state’s HIT Roadmap, including goals and benchmarking activities.

COVID-19 Hospital Medical Surge Daily Survey  
On April 4, 2020, NC OHIT became a key contributor on the NCDHHS team responsible for tracking and reporting COVID-19 data in North Carolina. The NC OHIT team analyzed survey responses to mitigate human error in reporting, tracked response rates, conducted targeted outreach, and managed the help desk for the COVID-19 Hospital Medical Surge Daily Survey. NC OHIT’s role in maximizing completeness and accuracy of hospital data was crucial as it aided leaders in data-based decision making in North Carolina’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. NC OHIT’s last day working on this project was September 1, 2020, when the state transitioned from manual submission of data to an automated process.

NC Behavioral Health EHR Program
NC DHHS, NC OHIT, NC Medicaid, the NC Office of Rural Health (ORH) and the NC Health Information Exchange Authority (NC HIEA) launched the NC Behavioral Health EHR Program to assist behavioral health, mental health, and intellectual development and disability practices with purchasing EHR technology and establishing connectivity to NC HealthConnex. There was $2.5 million dollars in available funds. Applications had to be submitted by May 31, 2018 and were accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The program ended in November 2019, after all reimbursements had been distributed.

State of North Carolina organizations with health IT projects/initiatives

Please note, this is not an exhaustive list.

• NC Division of Public Health (NC DPH):
  • Central Cancer Registry (CCR) - a population-based reporting system that serves as the sole repository of complete cancer incidence data for the State of North Carolina.
  • Electronic Case Reporting (eCR) - the automated generation and transmission of reports of possible reportable conditions from a hospital’s EHR to NC DPH. 
  • Electronic Lab Reporting (ELR) - the automated messaging of laboratory reports sent to NC DPH using one or more electronic communication protocols.
  • Electronic Disease Surveillance System (EDSS) – a web-based health surveillance and reporting system.
  • North Carolina Immunization Registry (NCIR) - a secure, web-based clinical tool which is the official source for North Carolina immunization information.
  • NC Lead Surveillance System (NC LEAD) - provides direct access to clinical and environmental data and immediate notification to medical providers of children in need of clinical and environmental follow-up.
  • North Carolina Disease Event Tracking and Epidemiologic Collection Tool (NC DETECT) - North Carolina’s statewide syndromic surveillance system to address the need for early event detection and timely public health surveillance in North Carolina using a variety of secondary data sources, operated in conjunction with the North Carolina Health Information Exchange Authority (NC HIEA).
  • State Laboratory Information System for State Laboratory testing (StarLIMS) - the Primary software application used for Health Information Exchange by the State Laboratory.
  • Surveillance reporting databases – provide ongoing, systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of the who, what, where, when and how of disease case occurrence in a population.
  • Vital Records - responsible for recording vital events (births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, divorces) that take place in North Carolina.
• NC Division of Information Technology (NC DIT): 
  • NC Broadband Infrastructure Office (BroadbandIO) - serves as a statewide resource for broadband access, first-responder communications and classroom connectivity initiatives led by the state of North Carolina.
    • Broadband mapping data for NC - mapping data serves an integral role in identifying current broadband access and adoption in an effort to identify the pockets of unserved or underserved areas around the state.
• NC Health Information Exchange Authority (NC HIEA): 
  • NC DETECT - North Carolina’s statewide syndromic surveillance system to address the need for early event detection and timely public health surveillance in North Carolina using a variety of secondary data sources.
  • NC HealthConnex - North Carolina’s state-designated health information exchange providing a secure, standardized electronic system in which providers can share important patient health information.
  • NC*Notify - a subscription-based service that notifies providers as their patients receive services across the care continuum, spanning geography, health care systems and acute and ambulatory care settings.
  • Controlled Substance Reporting System (CSRS) - per the Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention (STOP) Act of 2017 (NCSL 2017-74), health care providers in North Carolina who prescribe controlled substances must access a patient report from the CSRS to verify a patient’s prescription-fill history of controlled substances prior to writing prescriptions for targeted controlled substances.
• NC Office of Rural Health (NC ORH):
  • Community Health Worker (CHW) Initiative and the CHW repository – an infrastructure for CHWs with standardized training and certifications. The data repository establishes and assesses the effectiveness of CHW training and the CHWs role in improving the health outcomes of Medicaid beneficiaries.  
  • NC Statewide Telepsychiatry Program (NC-STeP) – establishment and administration of a statewide telepsychiatry program.
• North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services (NC OEMS):
  • NC DETECT - North Carolina’s statewide syndromic surveillance system to address the need for early event detection and timely public health surveillance in North Carolina using a variety of secondary data sources.
  • Pre-Hospital Medical Information System (PreMIS) – the solution for NC EMS regulation that requires an electronic patient care report to be completed on each EMS patient contact.

Private/non-profit organizations in North Carolina with health IT services/initiatives

Please note, this is not an exhaustive list.

• Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA):
  • Indian Health Service’s personal health record (PHR) - assists patients to access some of their medical information via a web browser at home or on a mobile device.
• Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC): 
  • Pregnancy Medical Home (PMH) program - aimed at improving the quality of maternity care, improving maternal and infant outcomes, and reducing health care costs. 
• Microelectronics Center of North Carolina (MCNC):
  • North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN) - provides a strong foundation for improving the delivery of health care to citizens by supporting the North Carolina Telehealth Network.  
  • North Carolina Telehealth Network (NCTN) - supplies the critical broadband infrastructure health care providers need to ably deliver services.
• North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (AHEC):
  • The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Payment Program (QPP) - NC AHEC is helping small practices in North Carolina understand and successfully participate in the CMS’ QPP. This support for QPP is available at no cost to practices.
  • NC AHEC is an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) R18 Grant Recipient, working with the following North Carolina programs and associations: 
    • CCNC 
    • North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants (NCAPA) 
    • North Carolina Community Health Center Association 
    • North Carolina Nurses Association 
    • North Carolina Pediatric Society 
    • The NC Institute for Public Health 
    • The North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians 
    • The North Carolina Medical Society Foundation 
• NC Medicaid EHR Incentive Program - NC Medicaid contracts with NC AHEC to assist practices in meeting meaningful use and attesting for the EHR Incentive Program. 
• North Carolina Community Health Center Association (NCCHCA): 
  • Health Resources and Services Administration Health Center Controlled Network grantee - supports community health centers across NC working together to use HIT to improve operational and clinical practices.
  • Carolina Medical Home Network - Independent Practice Association - a network of 33 NC health centers striving towards clinical integration with the goal of leveraging size, scope and coordinated performance improvement in third-party payer negotiations.
  • Carolina Medical Home Network – Accountable Care Organization - a partnership between NCCHCA and four NC health centers that have entered into the Medicare Shared Savings Program (one-sided model).
  • Primary Care Association– represents federally qualified health centers that provide integrated medical, dental, pharmacy, behavioral health, and enabling services to nearly one-half million patients in North Carolina.
• North Carolina Healthcare Association (NCHA):
  • North Carolina Hospital Emergency Surveillance System (NCHESS) - a state-mandated program requiring hospitals with 24/7 emergency departments (ED) to submit 23 data elements at least twice per day for syndromic surveillance purposes.
  • State Health Plan (SHP) ADT Initiative - provides SHP with hospital inpatient and emergency department ADT data on a near real time basis using the NCHESS+ platform.
• North Carolina Healthcare Information & Communications Alliance (NCHICA):
  • Analytics Technology Roundtable - this roundtable’s focus is on the intersection of analytics and technology. This group focuses on the technologies needed to operate a successful analytics program including cloud technologies, AI, and NLP. The group also focuses on data quality, data governance and strategies to manage large data sets. 
  • Biomedical Device Security Taskforce - this team-oriented taskforce seeks to build collaboration between the diverse departments within a healthcare system that face the challenge of securing biomedical devices. 
  • Consumer and Pop Health Innovations Roundtable - this roundtable’s focus is on the intersection of technology and population health management.  The group explores consumer centric ideas around engagement, self-care and social determinants of health.  The group also focuses on the evolving complexities of data ownership and privacy compliance.
  • Senior Leadership Roundtable – this roundtable provides a forum for senior IT leaders from hospitals and health systems to network and discuss their top concerns. 

Health Information Exchanges in North Carolina

• Atrium Health CareConnect – an HIE that provides a secure method to share patient information between providers at participating facilities. To date, the portal is used and accessed by over 240 non-Atrium organizations. Click here for the list of partner connections and users’ organizations.
• Coastal Connect Health Information Exchange – was established in 2009 by provider stakeholders: Dosher Memorial, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Pender Memorial, Southeastern Health, Wilmington Health and most recently Onslow Memorial. The HIE technology, with 265 data contributors, creates the secure data sharing network for unaffiliated providers in southeastern North Carolina. Connected providers include Bladen County, Brunswick County, Columbus County, Cumberland County, Duplin County, Hoke County, New Hanover County, Onslow County, Pender County, Robeson County and Sampson County. 
• Mission Health Connect – serves as the Regional HIE for western North Carolina, serving the far western 18 counties of North Carolina. Mission Health Connect is integrated with external connections to other health systems/HIE connections and extends to 59 of the total 100 counties in NC.
• NC HIEA – operates NC HealthConnex, which is North Carolina’s state-designated HIE providing a secure, standardized electronic system in which providers can share important patient health information.

Health IT Resources

Please note, NC OHIT is sharing these websites only as a resource. NC OHIT is not a sponsor of these sites and does not have any responsibility over the posted content.

North Carolina Organizations

• The NC DHHS Technology Center was a sponsor of the 2019 NCHICA annual conference. Through its diverse members, NCHICA has created a way for North Carolina healthcare industry thought leaders to gather and discuss policy, health IT trends and day-to-day issues with the goal of advancing healthcare in our state. NCHICA hosts conferences, taskforces, and workgroups to drive innovation, policy change, and information sharing. While most of its website is catered to meet the needs of its members, non-members can access the NCHICA job board and past resources at no charge. To become a member of NCHICA or join a workgroup of interest, visit their website at https://nchica.org/. 

• The NC DHHS Technology Center is a 2020 corporate sponsor of the North Carolina Chapter of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (NCHIMSS). NCHIMSS develops educational programs, promotes networking opportunities, and hosts conferences and symposia to spark the conversation around improving healthcare information and technology in North Carolina. Their website links members and nonmembers to their calendar of events and industry resources. For more information, visit their website at https://www.nchimss.org/. 

National Organizations

• The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Health IT initiative is part of the Nation's strategy to put information technology to work in health care. By developing secure and private electronic health records for most Americans and making health information available electronically when and where it is needed, health IT can improve the quality of care, even as it makes health care more cost-effective.
• Healthcare Innovation is suitable for a broad audience and engages with thought leaders across the entire healthcare industry. The website features diverse topics including Population Health, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Finance/Revenue, HIEs, Clinical IT, and imaging. Information is shared through different mediums such as articles, blogs, webinars, and interviews. Healthcare Innovation also provides news coverage and brings to its readers events from the industry, industry-related summits and more. An annual subscription is free to qualified healthcare professionals. 
• HIMSS is a global advisor and thought leader supporting the transformation of health through the application of information and technology.
• Healthcare IT Connect provides free access to virtual Health IT education, conferences, and more. Visit http://www.healthcareitconnect.com/ to join the conversation with federal and state leaders as they discuss trends and lessons learned during their HIT strategic planning and implementation.
   

Government Organizations

• The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) is the administration’s leader in health IT efforts and is a resource to the entire health system to support the adoption of health information technology and the promotion of nationwide health information exchange to improve health care. 
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is the primary federal agency for improving health care to people who are geographically isolated, economically or medically vulnerable.
   

Funding Opportunities

Please click on the links below for federal funding opportunities in health IT.

• The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) provides supports research to improve the quality, effectiveness, accessibility, and cost effectiveness of health care. To learn more about AHRQ funding opportunities, click here.
• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has provided a centralized location for grant seekers to find and apply for federal funding opportunities, which can be found here: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=Medicare. The grants.gov program management office was established in 2002 and is managed by the Department of Health and Human Services. All discretionary grants offered by the 26-federal grant-making agencies can be found on grants.gov.
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is the largest grant-making agency in the US. Most HHS grants are provided directly to states, territories, tribes, and educational and community organizations, then given to people and organizations who are eligible to receive funding. To learn more about HHS funding, click here.
• The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) funding opportunities address needs related to the use of health IT in the United States. ONC contractors and grantees play a valuable role in helping promote better health care for Americans by encouraging the use of health IT. To learn more about ONC funding, click here.
   

Studying Health IT and Informatics in North Carolina

North Carolina is home to some of the most prestigious schools and universities in the nation. Click on the hyperlinks below to learn more about some of the Health IT and Informatics programs being offered in our state.

Please note, this list is not exhaustive of the institutions in North Carolina that offer degrees and certificates in health informatics and health IT. NC OHIT does not endorse or sponsor any of these programs.  

Certification Programs

Duke University: Certificate in Health Informatics 
Durham, NC. Courses and practicum may be completed online. This program is designed for those with an undergraduate or graduate degree in a clinical area who seek knowledge of Health Informatics principles, methods, and applications. This short introductory level program provides an overview of the field of Health Informatics and foundational information about how data, information, and knowledge are represented and used in health applications.

East Carolina University: Health Informatics Certificate 
Greenville, NC. Courses are offered in person in Greenville, online or through a hybrid of in-person and online. The Health Informatics (HI) graduate certificate equips students with the knowledge and skills needed for employment and success in the emerging field of HI. The program is designed for health care workers who do not have informatics training and for information technology workers who do not have health care experience and may wish to seek employment in health care as health informaticians.  The objective is to expand upon the student's current knowledge skills to make them more capable and well trained in the field of HI.

East Carolina University: Health Information Management Certificate 
Greenville, NC. Courses are offered in person, online or through a hybrid of in-person and online. The Health Information Management (HIM) graduate certificate provides students who already have a bachelor's degree the knowledge and skills needed in order to serve as a critical link between health care providers, payers and patients. The curriculum is designed to help students develop characteristics associated with an effective leader in health information management: critical thinking skills, problem solving abilities, communication and interpersonal skills, and ethical values. Graduates of the HIM certificate program are eligible to apply to take the RHIA registration examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

East Carolina University: MBA with Health Care Management Certificate 
Greenville, NC. Courses are offered in-person, online or through a hybrid of in-person and online. The HCM certificate program is an option for MBA students to further their knowledge and skills in managing health care organizations. Students are prepared for careers as managers in a variety of health care situations. The knowledge gained from this certificate can be applied to hospitals, ambulatory care centers, long term care facilities, health research and clinical trials firms, home health care agencies, and health insurance companies.

North Carolina Central University: Health Informatics Certificate 
Durham, NC. Courses are offered online. The Certificate in Health Informatics program at the NCCU School of Library and Information Science focuses on knowledge and skills used in health or biomedical informatics, including the use of digital or electronic health records and data.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte: Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics and Analytics
Charlotte, NC. Courses are offered in person. This program is a subset of UNCC’s MS curriculum and provides students with a foundation in health informatics that complements related professional degrees and allows students to seamlessly progress fully into the master’s program in health informatics and analytics if desired.
 

Associates Degree Programs

Brunswick Community College: Health Information Technology Program 
Bolivia, NC. Courses are offered in person. The Health Information Technology curriculum provides individuals with the knowledge and skills to process, analyze, abstract, compile, maintain, manage, and report health information. 

Forsyth Technical Community College: Health Information Technology Program 
Winston-Salem, NC. Courses are primarily offered online, except for general education courses and Professional Practice Experiences (PPE). The Health Information Technology program prepares students for a career working with health information in diverse roles in a variety of healthcare settings. 

Pitt Community College: Health Information Technology Program 
Winterville, NC. Courses are primarily offered online, but PPE courses are will occur near the student’s region. The HIT curriculum provides individuals with the knowledge and skills to process, analyze, abstract, compile, maintain, manage, and report health information. 
 

Undergraduate Degree Programs 

East Carolina University: Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
Greenville, NC. Courses are offered in person and online. The BS in Health Information Management (HIM) emphasizes the development of skills for managing health information and the systems that collect, store, retrieve, disseminate, and communicate said information to support organizational operations and clinical and business decision making.

East Carolina University: Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management 
Greenville, NC. Course are offered through a combination of in-person and online. The BS in Health Services Management provides health care practitioners and others with the skills and competencies to function as supervisors and managers in health care settings. Graduates will be prepared for mid-level management positions or for entrance into master's programs in allied health.
 

Graduate Degree Programs

Duke University: Master of Science in Nursing, Health Informatics major 
Durham, NC. Courses are offered in person and online. The health informatics major in our MSN Program prepares you to develop knowledge and skills in clinical information systems, strategic planning, project management, and a variety of technologies. Knowledge builds on concepts of data-information-knowledge meta-structures and incorporates systems lifecycle planning and expert clinical domain modeling. 

Duke University: Master of Management in Clinical Informatics 
Durham, NC. Courses are offered in person and online. The MMCi program prepares graduates for managerial and executive positions in health care. They will learn to operationalize, manage, and evaluate health IT in a variety of settings, including academia, government, and industry. Students will acquire the knowledge and skills to merge technology with research and patient care and help improve human health.

Duke University: Master in Interdisciplinary Data Science (MIDS), concentration in Biomedical Informatics 
Durham, NC. Courses are offered in person. This is a full-time two-year education program for students who want to work in biomedical informatics where strong data science skills are needed to address future biomedical informatics challenges. Students will be exposed to the interdisciplinary application of data science while developing skills applied to real-world problems in healthcare.

East Carolina University: Master of Science in Health Informatics and Information Management 
Greenville, NC. Courses are offered in person or online. As the only CAHIIM accredited master’s program in the state, this is an intensive, fast-paced program for anyone interested in working in the exciting field of health care with an interest in technology. Our program offers a unique and comprehensive curriculum that prepares students to take on leadership and technology roles in the design, development and management of enterprise level health information systems.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Master of Professional Science in Biomedical and Health Informatics 
Chapel Hill, NC. Courses are offered in-person or online. Graduates of the program will gain knowledge and skills in:

• Management of large-scale projects related to clinical and public health information systems,
• Development and evaluation of health information systems that impact clinical decision making and health care quality, and
• Analysis and management of health data for improvement in clinical practice, biomedical research and public health services.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte: Master of Science in Health Informatics and Analytics
Charlotte, NC. Courses are offered in person. This program is designed for working adults with a variety of professional backgrounds including health and computing, as well as those interested in transitioning into the field. The newly revised curriculum stresses hands-on, team-based learning. The professional internship and experiential capstone courses immerse students directly in the workplace and use real-world data sets to address current challenges.
 

Doctoral Degree Programs

Duke University: Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Philosophy with Specialty in Informatics  
Durham, NC. Courses are offered in person. Students seeking doctoral level training in Nursing may specialize in health informatics. While the foci of the DNP and PhD degrees differ, students pursuing either degree may elect health informatics as the topic of their doctoral research.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: PhD in Health Informatics 
Chapel Hill, NC. Courses are offered in person. The PhD in Health Informatics program at UNC Chapel Hill prepares graduate students to contribute to the field of biomedical and health informatics studies through research, teaching and exposure to practical biomedical and health informatics challenges. The program is structured to support interdisciplinary research training, gaining teaching experience, and administrative knowledge acquisition. It includes rigorous coursework prior to dissertation research and is designed to adapt to the diverse needs of program students.
 

Stay Connected

Click on the links below to subscribe to free HIT-related e-newsletters and listservs offered through the State of North Carolina and associated organizations, federal government and national organizations.

NC OHIT is not a sponsor of these sites and does not have any responsibility over the posted content.

NCDHHS’ free COVID-19 e-newsletter keeps readers up to date with the latest COVID-19 news, information and updates. Click here to subscribe. 

NC Division of Public Health (DPH) works to promote and contribute to the highest possible level of health for the people of North Carolina. Follow them on Twitter for the latest news and updates via @NCPublicHealth.

NC Health Information Exchange Authority’s (NC HIEA) free e-newsletter provides the latest on NC HIEA trainings, events and up-to-date information on NC HealthConnex. Click here to subscribe.

NC Medicaid (Division of Health Benefits) provides access to physical and behavioral health care and services to improve the health and well-being of over 2.1 million North Carolinians. To receive email alerts regarding upcoming events and the latest information from NC Medicaid, click here and scroll to the email alerts portion of the page and enter a valid email address.

NC Office of Rural Health (ORH) assists underserved communities by improving access, quality and cost-effectiveness of health care. To sign up and become a recipient of the newsletters, please click here to visit ORH’s home page, scroll to the bottom of the page, and follow the instructions under the section entitled 'Office of Rural Health Constant Contact Subscription Form'.

NCTracks is the multi-payer Medicaid Management Information System for NCDHHS. For NCTracks newsletters, NCTracks Communications and updates, click here to join the NCTracks email distribution list.

NC Area Health Education Centers (NC AHEC) provides information on professional development, training opportunities and more through their free e-newsletter. Click here, scroll to the bottom of the page and enter a valid email address to subscribe.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) offers a free email subscription service, which allows users to receive notifications by e-mail when new information is available. Get updated information automatically without having to return to the website and check for changes, click here to subscribe. 

Healthcare Innovation provides free e-newsletters on industry news, trends, best practices and thought leadership. Click here to subscribe. 

Health IT Analytics offers free e-newsletters focusing on the following six key industry areas: Analytics, AIU and Blockchain; EHR and Interoperability, Revenue Cycle and Finance, Patient Engagement, mHealth & Telehealth and/or Health IT Security and HIPPA. Click here, select the newsletter(s) of interest and enter a valid email address to subscribe.