In November 2005, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator announced an agreement with SGA and four Gulf Coast states (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas) to plan for an infrastructure that supports interoperable health care data exchange in the Gulf Coast regions affected by hurricanes. Central to this agreement was the formation of the Gulf Coast Health Information Technology Task Force.  The primary purpose of the Task Force was to promote more efficient, effective and consumer-focused health care by creating a plan for the “utility” infrastructure required for the effective use of computer systems in doctors offices, pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, home health care, clinics and even homes that can then be used on an interstate basis under specific circumstances.

Over the past two years, SGA has worked through the task force and the individual governors’ offices to explore the various aspects that could support the long-term development of an interoperable, health information exchange (HIE) that will improve health care delivery throughout the Gulf Coast region.  For more information about the status of the Task Force, please contact us