Interoperable Heath Information Technology Part of Redesign

The battered health care system of Louisiana was the focus of a comprehensive redesign effort by state and local officials formalized Monday. The Louisiana Health Care Redesign Collaborative, made up of Louisiana public health officials, members of the state legislature and health care associations, representatives of area hospitals and other health care organizations, was created by the Louisiana Legislature during its 2006 session.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt encouraged establishment of the collaborative and agreed to support its efforts by removing impediments to progress and rapidly reviewing the proposals it develops. "We are supporting the collaborative's work to build a system that meets the needs and embraces the challenges of the 21st Century; the opportunity to transform a storm-wrecked system into a shining model of care," Leavitt said.

According to the charter of the collaborative, opportunities will be taken to effectively share electronic health information through system-wide use of interoperable health information technology. The collaborative, which will initially focus on the greater New Orleans area, is committed to developing a blueprint for the redesign of the state's health care system, to be submitted to the HHS by October 20.