Use of Qualitative Methods and User-Centered Design to Develop Customized Health Information Technology Tools Within Federally Qualified Health Centers to Keep Children Insured

Abstract

Lack of health insurance negatively impacts children's health. Despite federal initiatives to expand children's coverage and accelerate state outreach efforts, millions of US children remain uninsured or experience frequent gaps in coverage. Most current efforts to enroll and retain eligible children in public insurance programs take place outside of the health care system. This study is a partnership between patients' families, medical informaticists, federally qualified health center (FQHC) staff, and researchers to build and test information technology tools to help FQHCs reach uninsured children and those at risk for losing coverage.

Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to Identify Communities in Need of Health Insurance Outreach: An OCHIN Practice-based Research Network (PBRN) Report

“…These tools, designed by the OCHIN PBRN and clinic end users, were created to support outreach to patients who may be eligible for health insurance programs and are currently being pilot tested. 10 More information regarding this project will become available once the tools are implemented throughout the clinics and their utility studied (Figure 3).…”

“…9 Practice-based research networks (PBRNs) are an ideal setting in which to develop and test the effectiveness of tools to monitor patients' insurance status 8 and to facilitate communications to patients about new health insurance programs. 10 To investigate ways to address this important issue, our PBRN developed and is currently testing tools to identify patients without health insurance and conduct outreach to assist them in gaining appropriate coverage. 10 The OCHIN PBRN is made up largely of community health centers (CHCs) that have historically cared for patients regardless of health insurance status.…”

“…10 To investigate ways to address this important issue, our PBRN developed and is currently testing tools to identify patients without health insurance and conduct outreach to assist them in gaining appropriate coverage. 10 The OCHIN PBRN is made up largely of community health centers (CHCs) that have historically cared for patients regardless of health insurance status. Thus, many of the patients at these CHCs will benefit from new ACA health insurance programs.…”

Predictors of Children’s Health Insurance Coverage Discontinuity in 1998 Versus 2009: Parental Coverage Continuity Plays a Major Role

“…express lane eligibility and enrollment) could make it easier to enroll and stay enrolled in coverage. Another possibility is for health care providers to devise systems to help their patients obtain and maintain coverage, as is being done within the OCHIN practice-based research network in Oregon through electronic health record tools [42,43].…”

Designing Health Information Technology Tools to Prevent Gaps in Public Health Insurance

“…CHCs seeking to provide support for families navigating the insurance application process might benefit greatly from health information technology (health IT) tools designed to track and manage patients’ insurance and application information 17 , 18. Electronic health records (EHRs) have the potential to automate and support such tools.…”