SGIA Award Winning Projects- 2014

*Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Health Information Technology and e-Health: Minnesota e-Health Initiative

The Minnesota e-Health Initiative is a public-private collaborative established in 2004 to advance the adoption and effective use of electronic health records (EHRs) and other health information technology (HIT). The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) started the Initiative to engage and convene health care providers, public health practitioners, consumers, and policymakers in a systematic, coordinated way to advance “e-health” in Minnesota in order to improve healthcare coordination, increase patient safety, and improve health outcomes by ensuring that providers and patients have access to relevant health information when needed across the continuum of care.

 

*Minnesota Department of Revenue: Saying it Simply- Plain Language at the Minnesota Department of Revenue

We launched a plain language initiative to provide information to all taxpayers that is easy to find, understand, and use. That means creating materials readers understand the first time they read them. We use common terms and clean design, keep our key message clear, and only write what’s needed. We focus on the needs of our audience. They are busy and they just want to know what to do to follow the law. By writing in plain language, we provide better customer service and more efficient government.

 

*MN DNR--Division of Enforcement: Zebra Mussel Detection Dogs

In the spring of 2013 the Enforcement Division launched a unique effort to help prevent the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) by deploying two specially trained Zebra Mussel Detection Canines. The dogs attended a three-week (105-hour) course taught by a certified United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) Instructor.  At the end of the course the dogs and their handlers passed an independent testing process and were certified by the USPCA as Wildlife Detection Dogs, specializing in Zebra Mussel Detection.

 

Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities: Telling Your Story: An App for Policymaking

Telling Your Story is a free App, available for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire devices, developed by the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities as an innovation that expands and enhances easier access to public policy leaders for people with developmental disabilities. Telling Your Story is the first app that has been designed specifically for the developmental disability community; it removes technology barriers for individuals who desire to share their stories and express their concerns to those who determine and set public policy. While developed in Minnesota, it is available to anyone, anywhere, and its community of users is growing to include others needing easier accessibility throughout the United States and other countries.

 

Metropolitan Council: MetroGIS Free and Open Geospatial Data Initiative

MetroGIS – an inter-governmental geospatial data sharing collaborative sponsored by the Metropolitan Council – focused on how to make county-produced geospatial data freely and openly available to the public. MetroGIS’s project worked with stakeholders to make data freely available to all without cost or license.  This represents a significant change in data sharing policy for Minnesota counties. The community served by this initiative includes governments, businesses, non-profits and citizens who can now make use of a wealth of county geospatial data like parcels, address points and foreclosure data to be more effective at what they do and more engaged with our community.

 

Department of Human Services (DHS): Nursing Facility Performance-based Incentive Payment Program (PIPP)

Over 90,000 Minnesotans use nursing facility services every year.  The Nursing Facility (NF) PIPP has been instrumental in improving quality of care and incenting innovative service delivery.  PIPP is a unique model of shared responsibility and collaboration between government and providers.  It promotes implementation of evidence-based practices, encourages risk-taking, fosters collaboration and shared learning.  This voluntary program uses a competitive application process to fund NF provider-initiated projects that achieve higher quality, greater efficiency and better access to services in the right place.  Projects involve a wide range of interventions, such as reduction of falls, restorative sleep, exercise, pain management, person-centered care and transitions to the community.   Approximately 2/3 of MN NFs have participated in PIPP.

 

Minnesota Department of Education (MDE): Regional Centers of Excellence

Minnesota’s Regional Centers for Excellence and Statewide Systems of Support are a key part of the state’s efforts to offer a comprehensive system of support to struggling districts and schools across the state. Efforts are focused on maximizing resources, building capacity, and promoting sustainability of reform efforts. Through a combination of professional development, on-site technical assistance and ongoing support, the Regional Centers of Excellence help school leaders create and implement plans to narrow the achievement gap, improve students' progress and growth toward career and college readiness, and increase student graduation rates.

 

Minnesota Judicial Branch, State Court Administrator’s Office: eCourtMN – Move to Fully Electronic Case Records

In 2011, the Minnesota Judicial Branch initiated the most complex transformation in its 150-year history. The eCourtMN Initiative will improve the efficiency of Minnesota’s courts by replacing paper-based court files with an electronic information environment that will allow electronic filing, service and transfer of court documents. This Initiative will eliminate the time-consuming courtroom paper shuffle, reduce the risk of lost files, and allow on-demand access to court information. By automating many routine functions, eCourtMN will leave more time and resources for the administration of justice. The efficiencies and access created by the Initiative will benefit court officers and staff, litigants, state and local governments, and everyone who interacts with the Judicial Branch.

 

Minnesota Department of Human Services, Health Care Administration: Integrated Health Partnerships (IHP)

The Integrated Health Partnerships (IHP) demonstration strives to deliver higher quality and lower costs through innovative approaches to health care delivery and payment.
Under a contract with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), provider organizations are held accountable for the total cost of care and quality targets for their Medicaid patients using innovative delivery approaches and better coordinating care. These organizations will share in savings achieved and some share the risk for financial losses as well.
DHS first contracted with six provider organizations covering 100,000 attributed recipients and has expanded to nine IHPs and 145,000 enrollees in the first two years of the demonstration. DHS is beginning contract negotiations with a third round of IHPs for 2015.

 

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU): Veterans Education Transfer System (VETS)

MnSCU institutions award academic credit to service members and veterans based on military training and recommendations from the American Council on Education. To support this effort, MnSCU has developed a web-based, transparent search tool to assist current and former service members in finding programs that award academic credit for their military occupation. This tool, the Veterans Education Transfer System (VETS) provides a search feature to display programs granting academic credits and the number of credits applicable to that program at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.  This tool significantly simplifies the former process and provides potential students with accurate, easily accessible and personalized information prior to application or admission. 

* Indicates Video Award Winner, videos to the right of project descriptions