National Interoperability Collaborative to Focus on Multi-Sector Data Sharing

The Stewards of Change Institute (SOCI) and AcademyHealth have partnered to create the National Interoperability Collaborative (NIC), a “network of networks” that will advance the use of interoperability and data-sharing in healthcare, human services and related fields.

With a $1.2 million grant from the Kresge Foundation, NIC’s efforts will include building information-sharing partnerships that specifically benefit the most vulnerable and underserved individuals, families and communities in our country.

As a first step, the initiative will aggregate existing guidance on data sharing.

NIC will synthesize and build on this collective knowledge to provide guidance, facilitate standards and promote the effective use of cross-sector interoperability and information sharing. An initial demonstration project under consideration is to pilot a new initiative – called the Health Emergency Linkages and Preparedness (HELP) model – for better addressing public health-related crises such as the opioid/heroin epidemic, the water crisis in Flint, Mich., or natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. HELP, which is being planned by SOCI and HIMSS, will be the centerpiece of a Guidance Document and Action Plan that the two organizations are currently preparing for publication.

 “So much knowledge and so many tools already exist to deliver far better care than we’re currently doing,” said SOCI President Daniel Stein, in a prepared statement. “But most systems still operate in silos, so we’re not learning from each other or optimizing the use of existing resources. We’re very grateful to The Kresge Foundation for providing us with the wherewithal to start reshaping that reality.”