In 2007, a new ‘Office of Health Information Technology Transformation’ was created within the New York State Department of Health to lead in developing a Statewide Health Information Network of New York or SHIN-NY (pronounced ‘shinny’). The state’s investment in health information technology is part of the Health Care Efficiency Affordability Law (HEAL) that provides funds for projects to reform and reconfigure health care delivery. In 2006, $50 million in seed funds was awarded in 36 sites statewide to begin to develop health information exchanges. An additional $105 million is being awarded in 2008 to fund exchange projects in 8 to 9 regions. The state’s investment in clinical information technology is the highest in the nation.

Along with state grants, the Office of Health Information Transformation is spearheading work to develop policies on patient privacy, to support public education, to create a certification body for regional health information exchanges (RHIOs), and to develop a sustainability plan for the SHIN-NY system overall.

More information on the state’s program is available at: http://www.health.state.ny.us/technology/

A public/private collaborative has also been formed to support and oversee the State’s work in information technology -- the New York eHealth Collaborative or NYeC (pronounced ‘nice’). An organizational chart for NYeC and its working committees and partner initiatives is available at this link. 

Additional information on NYeC is available at: http://nyehealth.org/