IT extended the capabilities of OpenELIS beyond environmental testing with the roll out of the clinical testing and associated Electronic Data Messaging modules. Versions of OpenELIS operate in three U.S. public health laboratories, in Haiti, Vietnam and The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).
The Office of Information and Technology supports a complex set of networks providing comprehensive IT services to the three Hygienic Laboratory locations. IT supports around-the-clock laboratory operations, including testing in clinical care, environmental and emergency preparedness. As part of the state of Iowa’s continuity of operation plans, the Hygienic Laboratory maintains redundant enterprise infrastructure equipment and services at the Coralville and Ankeny facilities.
The Hygienic Laboratory is regulated by many national and state agencies, each with their own data security and confidentiality requirements. These include Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, EPA and CDC. To be compliant with mandated rules and regulations from such agencies, IT operates a rigorous set of security protocols, including firewalls, encryption, controlled access and monitored surveillance systems.
This office leads several efforts at the state and national level to improve the way information flows through automated electronic data exchanges.
- Integrated disease testing into the Hygienic Laboratory’s Enterprise Laboratory Information Management System called OpenELIS. The new system provides significant improvements with laboratory workflow including instrument interfacing, electronic result reporting to hospitals and automated disease surveillance connectivity with the Iowa Department of Public Health. In the near future, with the integration of newborn screening, all testing conducted by the Hygienic Laboratory will be integrated into OpenELIS which will lead to an increase in efficiency for the lab and its clients.
- Designed additional features in OpenELIS to manage state monitoring and reporting requirements for samples covered by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The new enhancement allows OpenELIS to automatically resend collection kits when samples have positive results; to electronically notify the Iowa Department of Natural Resources when results are elevated; and to manage additional public water supply identification information for compliance monitoring. This project was supported by a two-year EPA Exchange Network grant.