The Office of Health Information Technology (OHIT) and a team of executives from Google and Google Cloud will host a two-day workshop on Sept. 12-13 at Government House on St. Croix for leaders from the health information technology and human services sectors to share best practices, resources and solutions for workforce development, integration and interoperability to ultimately improve outcomes in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The workshop is a follow-up to discussions that took place during OHIT’s Digital Health Summit in July that was designed to foster innovative and transformative health information technology resources and solutions.
“Based on the energy and success of the summit, I am pleased to see the Office of Health Information Technology taking another step to put in place practices, programs and partnerships that can greatly enhance the quality of health care choices and resources available to Virgin Islanders,” Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said.
Many summit participants were eager to learn more about Google’s approach and resources, and Google expressed a commitment to investing resources in the USVI health ecosystem, according to OHIT Director Michelle Francis.
The mission of the Office of Health IT is to design and implement an integrated healthcare system that uses health information technology to improve the health and wellness of the territory’s residents.
A representative from the Google Cloud team expressed that they are grateful for the opportunity provided by the USVI Office of Health Information Technology to discuss Google’s investment in the healthcare industry. Through this workshop, there will be a discussion on how to expand Google’s partnerships within the USVI in workforce development, and ways to promote integration and interoperability across health systems to measurably improve healthcare outcomes for the residents.
The Office of Health Information Technology also continues to work with the Department of Human Services Medicaid Office to create and launch the USVI Health Information Exchange, which will enable a patient’s health record to follow them across providers in the territory and on the U.S. mainland. The exchange will also transform care coordination so providers can better communicate about a patient’s total care and see their records in one secure place.
OHIT also plans to host a number of smaller educational events between this event and next year’s Digital Health Summit, with the goal of equipping providers, healthcare professionals and the general public with the information, access to resources, and subject matter experts to navigate the evolving health IT landscape and make informed decisions.
For more information, visit the Office of Health Information Technology website at www.ohitusvi.com and Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ohitusvi for details, downloadable materials and to watch the Digital Health Summit22 sessions.
The Bryan-Roach Administration is investing in the Territory’s people, infrastructure and future through transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. Visit https://transparency.vi.gov
