BSHS 375: Interoperability In Human Services
Interoperability Paper Douglass Richardson Sr.
BSHS/375
November 11th 2014
Donna Zeh
Interoperability Paper
Interoperability is the new direction for information systems of all kinds. In Human Services, interoperability and how efficient it is will define the quality and depth of services. Interoperability enhances the significance for information technology to make the networks and integrations work. The term is most widely used in product enhancement and networking. Compatibility is a significant term when defining interoperability. In human services most providers define interoperability as the ability to communicate with other systems and services seamlessly with better results in service delivery to clients.
Delancey …show more content…
Street Foundation is a leading self-help organization for substance abusers, ex-convicts, homeless and others who are in need of corrective social services. According to "The Delancey Street Foundation" (2007), the average resident has been a hard-core drug addict for sixteen years, abusing alcohol and multiple drugs and has dropped out of school at the 7th grade and has been institutionalized several times. Many have been gang members; most have been trapped in poverty for several generations. Delancey Streets innovative model of allowing residents to learn how to develop positive habits and strengths, and helping one another can greatly be enhanced with any of the three models of interoperability examined, or possibly in concert to one another. According to Schoech (2010) Interoperability is one of the most critical concepts facing the adoption and implementation of enhanced electronic information technologies into the health and human services. Interoperability is defined as the aptitude of one system to perform work in integration with other systems without working hard, and effortless on the part of the user. As Interoperability evolves in the human services, models of interoperability may change through improvements, or possibly altogether new models may be developed. For now the three models of interoperability, discussed are the Loosely Linked Network Model the best example of this model is a cloud computing and smart phone app example where according to Schoech (2010) “Agencies acquire apps and tools that (a) reside and run locally on their agency system, (b) reside and run only on the Internet, or (c) reside locally and exchange information with multiple applications running on the internet” this model doesn’t require dramatic organizational changes to be effective, and is the easiest to be implemented. But this model does suffer from a need of a coordinating entity to be effective for the long run. The Delancey Street Foundation can benefit from this model by not having to invest heavily into system infrastructure and relying on applications to process information and data gathering. A disadvantage of this model for the Delancey Street Foundation can be found in its simplicity. With Delancey Street being a large national organization it may necessitate a model that can accommodate its needs nationally.
The Network Model is the second Interoperability model that is used. This model according to Schoech (2010) is much like the travel industry were “Each agency screens clients in or out of its particular services rather than into a service delivery system that is integrated to meet client needs. No human service IT (information technology) applications analyze the client’s problem and preferences and use the results to find several good service options. No applications exist to optimize an agency’s goals by screening clients in or out based on the matching of client needs and worker expertise, the number of services the agency has available, or client outcome expectations.” Out of the three models examined, the Network Model appears to be most advantages for a national organization like Delancey Street. A model that encompasses the totality of a client’s issues in one place will put the residents’ of Delancey Streets’ problems at the fore front of being resolved quickly.
Interoperability through the third Top-Down Model has three components of the IGHI according to Schoech (2010) will be: “(a) local agencies (e.g., a local Red Cross agency), (b) affiliations of local agencies (such as a group of community agencies providing Red Cross type services that are interested in sharing information), and (c) a global consortium for accumulating knowledge and developing protocols (e.g., the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and its designated U.S.
affiliate the American Red Cross)”. With no organizational or service structure the three components constitute an information-sharing infrastructure for an organization like Delancey Street. Other than having a solid information-sharing infrastructure, at this time this model doesn’t appear to be as much as an advantage as the Network Model. Delancey Street isn’t currently in need of a global consortium for accumulating knowledge and developing protocols; although there will be a time as residential treatment progresses that global information sharing will be of greater …show more content…
urgency.
The Delancey Street Foundation is known as a significant organization that provides human services.
Delancey Street supports the economic and social well-being of its targeted group and their children, families, communities, and peers through offering many state of the art proven programs. Delancey Streets human services provide an extensive range of groups, and counseling consisting of individuals and families. With there being many benefits of interoperability, it is wise for organizations to move towards this trend. Interoperability is significant in linking health and human services residents may need. It enhances the client’s experience by caring for the whole person with enhanced and advanced care coordination, enhanced timely contact to getting critical information for decision making, preventing illnesses, reducing exacerbating conditions, decrease hospital reentries and helping residents to build their self-esteem and self-sufficiency ("The Delancey Street Foundation", 2007). Interoperability helps in providing the Delancey Street foundation with timely and accurate information to provide a more compatible enrollment process. The system will also enhance the access of information. The system helps circulate a wide range of data from every human service organization to link the clients to many important services. The speed, accuracy, and cost reduction through interoperability programs will also enhance the capability of systems to reduce fraud, waste and
abuse.
Fragmented information and storage systems have worked together to put a drag on Human service delivery. With interoperability organizations can streamline their services and the way they are delivered, as well as sharing all the information on programs, clients, trends, and rules that guide the human service profession.
References
The Delancey Street Foundation. (2007).Retrieved from http://www.delanceystreetfoundation.org/
Burke, L., & Weill, B. (2013). Information technology for the health professions (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Rainer, R. K., Jr., & Cegielski, C. G. (2012). Introduction to information systems: Supporting and transforming business. (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.
Schoech, D. (2010). Interoperability and the future of human services.. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 28(1/2), 7-22.
BSHS/375
November 11th 2014
Donna Zeh
Interoperability Paper
Interoperability is the new direction for information systems of all kinds. In Human Services, interoperability and how efficient it is will define the quality and depth of services. Interoperability enhances the significance for information technology to make the networks and integrations work. The term is most widely used in product enhancement and networking. Compatibility is a significant term when defining interoperability. In human services most providers define interoperability as the ability to communicate with other systems and services seamlessly with better results in service delivery to clients.
Delancey …show more content…
Street Foundation is a leading self-help organization for substance abusers, ex-convicts, homeless and others who are in need of corrective social services. According to "The Delancey Street Foundation" (2007), the average resident has been a hard-core drug addict for sixteen years, abusing alcohol and multiple drugs and has dropped out of school at the 7th grade and has been institutionalized several times. Many have been gang members; most have been trapped in poverty for several generations. Delancey Streets innovative model of allowing residents to learn how to develop positive habits and strengths, and helping one another can greatly be enhanced with any of the three models of interoperability examined, or possibly in concert to one another. According to Schoech (2010) Interoperability is one of the most critical concepts facing the adoption and implementation of enhanced electronic information technologies into the health and human services. Interoperability is defined as the aptitude of one system to perform work in integration with other systems without working hard, and effortless on the part of the user. As Interoperability evolves in the human services, models of interoperability may change through improvements, or possibly altogether new models may be developed. For now the three models of interoperability, discussed are the Loosely Linked Network Model the best example of this model is a cloud computing and smart phone app example where according to Schoech (2010) “Agencies acquire apps and tools that (a) reside and run locally on their agency system, (b) reside and run only on the Internet, or (c) reside locally and exchange information with multiple applications running on the internet” this model doesn’t require dramatic organizational changes to be effective, and is the easiest to be implemented. But this model does suffer from a need of a coordinating entity to be effective for the long run. The Delancey Street Foundation can benefit from this model by not having to invest heavily into system infrastructure and relying on applications to process information and data gathering. A disadvantage of this model for the Delancey Street Foundation can be found in its simplicity. With Delancey Street being a large national organization it may necessitate a model that can accommodate its needs nationally.
The Network Model is the second Interoperability model that is used. This model according to Schoech (2010) is much like the travel industry were “Each agency screens clients in or out of its particular services rather than into a service delivery system that is integrated to meet client needs. No human service IT (information technology) applications analyze the client’s problem and preferences and use the results to find several good service options. No applications exist to optimize an agency’s goals by screening clients in or out based on the matching of client needs and worker expertise, the number of services the agency has available, or client outcome expectations.” Out of the three models examined, the Network Model appears to be most advantages for a national organization like Delancey Street. A model that encompasses the totality of a client’s issues in one place will put the residents’ of Delancey Streets’ problems at the fore front of being resolved quickly.
Interoperability through the third Top-Down Model has three components of the IGHI according to Schoech (2010) will be: “(a) local agencies (e.g., a local Red Cross agency), (b) affiliations of local agencies (such as a group of community agencies providing Red Cross type services that are interested in sharing information), and (c) a global consortium for accumulating knowledge and developing protocols (e.g., the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and its designated U.S.
affiliate the American Red Cross)”. With no organizational or service structure the three components constitute an information-sharing infrastructure for an organization like Delancey Street. Other than having a solid information-sharing infrastructure, at this time this model doesn’t appear to be as much as an advantage as the Network Model. Delancey Street isn’t currently in need of a global consortium for accumulating knowledge and developing protocols; although there will be a time as residential treatment progresses that global information sharing will be of greater …show more content…
urgency.
The Delancey Street Foundation is known as a significant organization that provides human services.
Delancey Street supports the economic and social well-being of its targeted group and their children, families, communities, and peers through offering many state of the art proven programs. Delancey Streets human services provide an extensive range of groups, and counseling consisting of individuals and families. With there being many benefits of interoperability, it is wise for organizations to move towards this trend. Interoperability is significant in linking health and human services residents may need. It enhances the client’s experience by caring for the whole person with enhanced and advanced care coordination, enhanced timely contact to getting critical information for decision making, preventing illnesses, reducing exacerbating conditions, decrease hospital reentries and helping residents to build their self-esteem and self-sufficiency ("The Delancey Street Foundation", 2007). Interoperability helps in providing the Delancey Street foundation with timely and accurate information to provide a more compatible enrollment process. The system will also enhance the access of information. The system helps circulate a wide range of data from every human service organization to link the clients to many important services. The speed, accuracy, and cost reduction through interoperability programs will also enhance the capability of systems to reduce fraud, waste and
abuse.
Fragmented information and storage systems have worked together to put a drag on Human service delivery. With interoperability organizations can streamline their services and the way they are delivered, as well as sharing all the information on programs, clients, trends, and rules that guide the human service profession.
References
The Delancey Street Foundation. (2007).Retrieved from http://www.delanceystreetfoundation.org/
Burke, L., & Weill, B. (2013). Information technology for the health professions (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Rainer, R. K., Jr., & Cegielski, C. G. (2012). Introduction to information systems: Supporting and transforming business. (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.
Schoech, D. (2010). Interoperability and the future of human services.. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 28(1/2), 7-22.