Enhancing research on a clinical decision support and geographic information system: getting involved as informationists

Abstract

In 2012, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) funded its first ever administrative supplement for informationists. The purpose of these grants is to enhance multidisciplinary basic and clinical research by integrating information specialists (informationists) on research teams in order to improve the capture, organization, and management of biomedical research data. Three informationists at the Indiana University School of Medicine were awarded one of these supplements to work on the Child Health Improvement through Computer Automation (CHICA) system. CHICA is a computer decision support system that interfaces with existing electronic medical record systems (EMRS) and delivers "just in time" patient-relevant guidelines to physicians during the clinical encounter. CHICA-GIS integrates a geographic information system (GIS) with CHICA to refer pediatricians and parents to relevant health services (as needed, for physical activity, dental care, or tutoring) near the patient's neighborhood. The informationists are enhancing the CHICA-GIS system by: improving the accuracy and accessibility of information, managing and mapping the knowledge which undergirds the CHICA-GIS decision support tool, supporting community engagement and consumer health information outreach, and facilitating the dissemination of new CHICA-GIS research results and services. This paper describes the initial process for approaching and collaborating with researchers, writing the grant and getting funded, and progress on the project goals to date.