INDIANAPOLIS -- Regenstrief Institute and partners have developed a data dashboard to support COVID-19 tracking and response in the state of Indiana. The dashboard augments the state's existing information by providing data on patients' course of care through healthcare systems in Indiana.
Data on hospitalizations and intensive care unit stays gives state leaders a more comprehensive picture of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on Hoosiers and the healthcare system, as well as perspective to anticipate emerging hot spots and surges.
Partners in this effort are the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), Indiana Family Social Services Administration (FSSA), Indiana Management Performance Hub (MPH), Regenstrief Institute, Indiana Health Information Exchange (IHIE), Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health and Indiana University School of Medicine.
The partnership makes possible access to data from the majority of Indiana's health systems and laboratories. Access to these data during this emergency, and to the experts who help with interpretation, allows public health professionals to identify significant patterns and predict how to best respond as COVID-19 cases spread across the state.
"This data is a key component to helping state leaders make critical decisions at crucial times during this crisis. The expertise and resources of our partners brought this concept to fruition," said Connor Norwood, PhD, chief data officer for FSSA and data leader for the state's COVID-19 response team. "We appreciate the contributions of Regenstrief, IHIE, IU Fairbanks School of Public Health and IU School of Medicine as we work to keep Hoosiers healthy."
Among the capabilities that the state has leveraged are those provided by Regenstrief Institute, an international leader in informatics and health information technology, and IHIE, which manages the Indiana Network for Patient Care, the nation's largest interorganizational clinical data repository.
"These critical data visualizations and tools were developed thanks to the extensive data assets, connectivity, expertise and longstanding collaborations we have in Indiana," said Peter Embí, M.D., Regenstrief president and chief executive officer and professor and associate dean for informatics and health services research at IU School of Medicine.
"Collaborative efforts like this across the public and private sectors are especially crucial in times of crisis, and we are proud of the dedication and tireless work of our teams to create and maintain this resource that will help our public health officials make critical data-driven decisions for the well-being of our residents."
Teams of individuals across these organizations continue to develop, deploy and maintain data services to combat the crisis. Key contributors to this effort include: Shaun Grannis, M.D., M.S., of the IU School of Medicine and Regenstrief Institute; Brian Dixon, PhD, and Nir Menachemi, PhD, MPH of the Fairbanks School of Public Health and Regenstrief; Shandy Dearth, MPH, Thomas Duszynski, MPH, and Paul Halverson, DrPH from the Fairbanks School of Public Health; and many other professionals across multiple teams.
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About The Regenstrief Institute
Founded in 1969 in Indianapolis, the Regenstrief Institute is a local, national and global leader dedicated to a world where better information empowers people to end disease and realize true health. A key research partner to Indiana University, Regenstrief and its researchers are responsible for a growing number of major healthcare innovations and studies. Examples range from the development of global health information technology standards that enable the use and interoperability of electronic health records to improving patient-physician communications, to creating models of care that inform practice and improve the lives of patients around the globe.
Regenstrief Institute is celebrating 50 years of healthcare innovation. Sam Regenstrief, a successful entrepreneur from Connersville, Indiana, founded the institute with the goal of making healthcare more efficient and accessible for everyone. His vision continues to guide the institute's research mission.
About the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI
Located on Indiana's premier research and health sciences campus, the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI is committed to advancing the public's health and well-being through education, innovation and leadership. The Fairbanks School of Public Health is known for its expertise in biostatistics, epidemiology, cancer research, community health, environmental public health, global health, health policy and health services administration.
About Indiana Health Information Exchange (IHIE)
IHIE was founded in 2004 as a non-profit health information exchange that enables hospitals, physicians, laboratories, payers, and other health service providers to avoid redundancy and deliver faster, more efficient, higher quality healthcare to patients in Indiana. Today, by making information available to approximately 50,000 healthcare providers in Indiana and neighboring states, IHIE delivers services that make a real difference in health and healthcare.
About IU School of Medicine
IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.
About Peter Embí, M.D., M.S.
In addition to serving as the president and CEO of Regenstrief Institute, Dr. Embí is the Leonard Betley Professor of Medicine and associate dean for informatics and health services research at IU School of Medicine, associate director of informatics with Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute and vice president for Learning Health Systems with Indiana University Health.