BUILDING BLOCKS STATE CASE STUDY #7: Test Results and Value Coding

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

BACKGROUND

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Newborn Screening (NBS) program has been moving toward the goal to implement HL7 messaging for orders and results for several years. Over the last 18 months, we have dedicated additional staff time to the HL7 NBS project. As a part of the implementation, we launched a tremendous effort to map data points for the 53 disorders screened in Michigan from the HL7 build to an associated Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC).

PROBLEM

The NBS HL7 project took a long time to gain momentum. At the beginning of the HL7 NBS project, we underestimated the amount of work needed to complete such an endeavor. Additionally, due to competing priorities, we struggled to identify staff with the appropriate level of expertise. We later realized that we needed a person knowledgeable in NBS disorders who also had a working knowledge of the laboratory information management system (LIMS) to perform the data mapping.

SOLUTION

We employed a laboratory scientist who was cross-trained in all MI NBS test areas to work on the HL7 project. After assigning an individual with the appropriate level of expertise, the project was back on track.