NEW YORK, March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Partnering with the New York State Department of Health, the New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC) today announced the formation and membership of the Statewide Health Information Network of New York (SHINY-NY) Policy Committee. The committee is tasked with updating and creating policy measures to protect personal health information while expanding the state's ability to share electronic health records between the various healthcare providers, and with consumers and other community resources.

Similar to the way an individual's financial information is kept safe while allowing him or her better access to funds via ATMs and online banking, the committee aims to make health information both accessible and secure. Following a public solicitation for members, the new SHIN-NY Policy Committee was formed by the NYeC Board of Directors on March 20, 2012 and is comprised of individuals from across the state with expertise in policy: public officials, healthcare providers, attorneys, public advocates, RHIOs, hospital leadership, and other policy specialists.

Who are they? What will they do?
Protecting the privacy and security of healthcare information is an essential task of NYeC. To this end, NYeC continually works with stakeholders from across the state and from a wide variety of interest groups to develop common policies, procedures, and technical approaches through an open and transparent process.

NYeC's privacy and security policy work during 2010 and 2011 focused mainly on reviewing the state's existing policy guidance on health IT, which directed the regional work of Regional Health Information Exchange Organizations (RHIOs). Now that regional data is being tied together to provide for statewide exchange of healthcare data, the new committee will review and modify existing policy and potentially explore the creation of new policy as needed to meet the needs of interoperability while protecting patient information. New policy and policy amendments will be in alignment with federal requirements.

"The success of this model rests in part on our ability to adapt to changes in the environment that shape public health and health care operations. I am grateful for the significant contributions that our stakeholders have made to ensure the continued success of this approach to governance," said Rachel Block, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Health Information Technology Transformation at the NYS Department of Health and Co-Chair of the SHIN-NY Policy Committee.

"It's essential for the success of this electronic health information enterprise that it be transparent and that all stakeholders have a meaningful voice in its governance. This committee's diverse membership reflects that principle," noted Art Levin, Director of the Center for Medical Consumers, member of the NYeC Board of Directors, and Co-Chair of the SHIN-NY Policy Committee with Rachel Block.

For a list of committee members, visit http://nyehealth.org/index.php/programs/statewide-collaboration-process/2012-policy-committee

The New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC) is a not-for-profit organization, working to improve healthcare for all New Yorkers through health information technology (health IT). Founded in 2006 by healthcare leaders, NYeC is designated by both the state and federal government to advance health IT throughout the State of New York. NYeC works to develop policies and standards, to assist healthcare providers in making the shift to electronic health records, and to coordinate the creation of a network to connect healthcare providers statewide. The goal of NYeC is that no patient, wherever they may need treatment within the State of New York, is ever without fast, secure, accurate, and accessible information. For more information visit www.nyehealth.org.

SOURCE New York eHealth Collaborative