Common Sense Tactics for a Succeful and Sustainable IG Program by Karen S. Knight, CCEP

Part II in the Big Picture Predictions and Perspectives Blog Series

Information Governance is an organization's coordinated, inter-disciplinary approach to satisfying information compliance requirements and managing information risks, while optimizing information value.* Information Governance (IG) is broader than and distinct from Records and Information Management (RIM) or Health Information Management (HIM), as IG encompasses disciplines such as information security, contract management, privacy and data protection, information integrity and data quality, and business continuity. Cohasset Associates further defines information governance as a comprehensive platform for managing the lifecycle of information.

Given the breadth of information governance as defined, it is unrealistic to quickly achieve a mature and effective program. In addition to taking time, it takes organizational commitment in the form of cross-disciplinary participation and engagement. A mature and effective program is one that adopts robust principles, policies and practices developed through strong interdisciplinary cooperation. Affiliations with and commitments from the following information disciplines are essential:

Privacy, Information Security and Data Breach Notification

Legal, Compliance and Risk Management

Information Management, Health Information Management, Informatics and Information Technology

Sponsorship and participation from both clinical leadership and administration are also critical for IG program success. Ongoing relationships create an environment conducive to the development and implementation of sustainable IG program strategies.

In an era of limited resources and a growing demand for trusted information, IG requires a comprehensive strategy that aligns with a healthcare organization's priorities and goals. An IG program strategy must emphasize achieving high priority organizational goals and mitigating the most significant risks.

A comprehensive and measured strategy that includes practical, common-sense tactics is essential for a successful and sustainable IG program deployment:

Examine the organization's transition readiness

Characterize the organization's culture

Assess the state of existing committees or programs

Identify the motivations for a cohesive IG structure

Define how an IG structure will better serve the organization

Outline the strategy mechanics

Chronicle a hypothesis and build a rationale

Gain executive sponsorship

Quantify the benefits and detail the potential challenges

Define the deployment processes

Identify the IG membership/disciplines

Establish an IG Council and Charter

Build the IG Program model

Sustain the momentum

Recognize and honor change management needs

Some leaps are big, some progress is slow and steady

Results are measured

IG is a strategic imperative. Organizational goals are advanced through the adoption of IG practices; the absence of IG will impede their achievement.

Join our Twitter Chat: Healthcare IG Predictions & Perspectives

On January 28th at 12:00 pm Eastern, @IronMtnHealth is hosting a Twitter chat using #InfoTalk to further the dialog. If you have been involved in governance-related projects, we'd love to have you join. What IG initiatives have shown success for you? How have you overcome any obstacles? What do you see as the future of IG? Keep the conversation going during our Healthcare IG Predictions & Perspectives #InfoTalk at 12pm Eastern on January 28th.

Hear more voices from the thought leaders of the healthcare industry by reading the rest of the blogs in this series: Big Picture Predictions and Perspectives.

* Source: Sedona Commentary on Information Governance

LINK:	http://blogs.ironmountain.com/2015/industry/healthcare-information-man...
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