0990-Clinical Laboratories_Attachment E - Brochure

[BACK PAGE]

Survey Supporters:

National Survey on Health
Information Exchange in Clinical
Laboratories

For additional information contact:
National Survey on Health Information Exchange in
Clinical Laboratories
1N State St,
Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60602-9925
Fax: 877-504-6296
Email: [email protected]
If you want to know more about this study, please
call toll free at 1-800-975-2754.

Sponsored by:
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health
Information Technology’s (ONC)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

[INSIDE PAGE 1]

[INSIDE PAGE 2]

Purpose of Survey

How does this survey work?

The National Survey on Health Information Exchange in Clinical Laboratories is
a new data collection effort that will provide a comprehensive understanding of
electronic laboratory information exchange capacity and activity at the state and
national level. Laboratory tests are a critical element in patient care significantly
influencing 70 to 80 percent of clinical decisions. Communication and the
subsequent exchange of information among provider offices and clinical
laboratories are integral to quality of patient care.

Enclosed in this mailing is a hard copy survey questionnaire that you are asked to
complete for your laboratory. A postage-paid envelope is provided in which you may
return the completed survey. The questionnaire includes basic questions on a variety of
topic areas such as:

This survey is sponsored by The Office of the National Coordinator for Health
Information Technology (ONC). Crucial information on laboratory information
exchange across the United States will be collected, including the volume of
laboratory information exchange, laboratory information exchange standards,
current systems and technical architecture, and barriers and facilitators of
laboratory information exchange.

Who?
This study will rely on data gathered from key informants such as, Laboratory
Managers or Directors and Laboratory Information System Specialists at the
sampled laboratories. About 14,000 hospital and independent laboratories have
been selected to participate. Your participation is very important to the success of
this survey.

Why was my lab selected?
Your lab has been selected from a listing of all laboratories in the United States.
The source of this listing is the Online Survey, Certification and Reporting
database maintained by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Your
lab was randomly selected from this list of laboratories and from across the
country. Your participation is crucial because no lab can replace yours.







General background information
Current lab and technical systems
Methodology used for lab results and exchange process
Lab exchange standards and barriers to exchange
Implementation of guidelines and regulations for electronic lab result submissions

After participation is complete, we will provide your laboratory with a summary report
of the survey findings.

Intended Uses of the Data
ONC will use these findings to develop a comprehensive understanding of the baseline
level of laboratory information exchange. This information will inform program
activities and policy efforts to promote laboratory information exchange and provide
more targeted assistance to states in developing their laboratory information exchange
strategies. Ultimately, the data and results will guide ONC and other federal agencies
on future policy for laboratory information exchange.

Confidentiality
Your responses will be kept private adhering to strict participant confidentiality. Under
Section 934(c) of the Public Health Service Act, 42 USC 299c-3(c), you will be told the
purposes for which the information is collected and that, in accordance with this
statute, any potentially identifiable information will not be used or disclosed for any
other purpose. Data will be collected in conformance with the Privacy Act of 1974. All
respondent materials sent to you at the sampled laboratory will advise you that the
information you provide on behalf of the laboratory will be kept confidential. During
data collection, our Federal contractor, NORC at the University of Chicago, will
incorporate numerous safeguards for your data. Participation in this survey is voluntary.