Indiana University students work with local health care clinic to solve information technology challenges

Orange County is a rural southern Indiana county comprising four incorporated towns and a number of unincorporated communities. Residents are intent on celebrating the county’s industrial roots, natural beauty, and historic architecture while embracing and preparing for the future. Local progress is driven in large part by “grassroots cooperative leadership” (Report, Pg. 4), while legal and medical non-profits provide essential communal services. This community-oriented mentality lends itself to innovative partnerships between various actors working towards common goals in areas like infrastructure, culture, tourism, and healthcare. 

An essential community health center needed an  information technology tune-up

Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) is a Federally Qualified Health Center located in Paoli, Orange County’s seat. A fixture in the Paoli community, SICHC provides residents with vital health services. The clinic relies on its digital databases in order to internally maintain and track patient health information and streamline quality care. When it came time to assess and improve SICHC’s information technology, the clinic reached out to students at Indiana University.

Students apply their IT knowledge for the benefit of the clinic

Seeking functional solutions, Doris Weaver of Southern Indiana Community Health Care partnered with the Sustaining Hoosier Communities (SHC) program at Indiana University. This partnership involved students in Matt Hottel’s Serve IT clinic in the School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering. Participating students were challenged to assess SICHC’s specific information technology needs, automate and streamline processes, and train clinic staff on new IT tools.

Improved technology and training helps health care run more smoothly

Indiana University IT students delivered valuable results for Southern Indiana Community Health Care. Participants evaluated the clinic’s existing IT system and identified and implemented improvements. They also conducted staff training which brought the clinic up to date with current best practices and enabled staff to focus on quality patient care.

Modern healthcare workers rely on up-to-date, organized data systems in the workplace. Participating students helped to make this essential community clinic’s information technology––and by extension, its overall operation––more effective and efficient to the benefit of both staff and patients. 

Sustaining Hoosier Communities Contact Info
Jane Rogan
Sustaining Hoosier Communities Director
jrogan@indiana.edu
(812) 855-0568
https://shc.indiana.edu

Read the full story of the partnership.

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.