789: PH Perfect for Veterans, New Rule Standardizes EHRs

SUMMER JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Tuesday, November 12, 2024. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

TERESA EHNERT: 

Well, my military service actually started with the Air National Guard in 1978 when I was still in high school, actually.

JOHNSON: 

This week, we're honoring our veterans and taking time to spotlight those who transitioned from military service to public health. Teresa Ehnert is now the federal affairs liaison with the Arizona Department of Health, but for 27 years she was in the Air Force and retired as a chief master sergeant.

EHNERT: 

I was actually the first female chief in my unit and you know, that was just a privilege and an honor, and I didn't take the responsibility lightly. It's something I aspired to be when I first joined and it came to fruition.

JOHNSON: 

Ehnert says when she originally was asked to transition to public health, she admits she didn't even know what public health truly was, but once she made the jump, she realized the similarities.

EHNERT: 

The whole 'teamwork makes the dream work' is true, and there's no superstar within public health that isn't supported by a bunch of members to make not only them successful, but to ensure that we are on the right path to protect and save lives.

JOHNSON: 

Ehnert also adds that public health is the perfect place for any former military members.

EHNERT: 

I was amazed at the number of veterans that were already employed when I was hired on and it really is a sense of comfort because they really understand that sense of duty, the compassion, and the driven force behind wanting to do a great job.

SUMMER JOHNSON: 

Learn more about Ehnert by clicking the link in the show notes.

Earlier this year, the HHS Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy proposed a new rule named HTI-2. ASTHO's Lillian Colasurdo says the rule is supposed to improve the exchange of data.

LILLIAN COLASURDO: 

This rule was proposed to really greatly expand data-sharing standards that were already in place and process, and extend many of them to public health, or at least for the benefit of public health.

JOHNSON: 

Colasurdo tells us that the HTI-2 rule builds on the HTI-1 rule, which is the standardization of the way electronic health records are designed.

COLASURDO: 

Specifically, to require that they support HL-7 Clinical Document Architecture, which is just the data architecture that's most commonly used in public health reporting. It also paved the way to move forward with FHIR, which is Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources [...] data-sharing.

JOHNSON: 

Colasurdo believes this is a great step forward for public health.

COLASURDO: 

The broad scale adoption of electronic health records in the healthcare system should have made it much easier for providers to report to health departments, but they initially lacked any type of standardization. So, these rules are significant steps forward in trying to fix that issue.

JOHNSON: 

An ASTHO blog article discusses the new rule. You can use the link in the show notes to read it.

Also today, did you know the Public Health Infrastructure Grant has its own newsletter? Important information like deadlines, events, resources, and opportunities are all included. Sign up today and everything PHIG will be in your inbox.

Finally, this morning, applications are now open for ASTHO's Over-the-Counter Contraception Academy. The academy will allow your team and partners to develop the skills to engage in policy-related work around OTC contraception. You'll gain hands-on experience using policy development frameworks. Applications are due by January 10. There's a link in the show notes to apply.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Summer Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.