ChildLINK
Linking
Information
NetworKs
for Children
What is ChildLINK?
ChildLINK is a large-scale informatics system bringing together information from
agencies and service providers in both the public and private sector. This
comprehensive information system helps ensure families and children receive
the services they need, leading to healthier development in children.
ChildLINK began as a University of Maine/Maine Center
for Disease Control and Prevention collaboration aimed at enhancing the
screening, diagnostic assessment, and service delivery for children identified
as at-risk for hearing impairments. As recognition of its potential has grown, ChildLINK has been rapidly expanding to incorporate other child-oriented
systems, such as the state birth defects registry and the
universal metabolic screen.
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The ChildLINK database is used by the Maine Center
for Disease Control and Prevention, and hospitals, health care, and service
providers across the state of Maine. Researchers will be
able to access anonymous, aggregate information for conducting policy–relevant
public health studies.
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What Services does ChildLINK Provide Hospitals and Health Care Providers?
The ChildLINK database serves as the backbone for the universal newborn hearing
program across the state of Maine.
ChildLINK serves as the core for the electronic birth
defects registry, and includes information on metabolic disorders.
ChildLINK helps the Maine Center for Disease
Control and Prevention assist families to ensure that they successfully navigate
the health care system from screening, to diagnostic testing, to referral and service delivery.
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It allows a far more comprehensive evaluation of services than is possible for
any individual program to perform on its own.
ChildLINK professionals create databases for agencies and service providers as a service to the community.
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The ChildLINK network is based on the latest Citrix technology. Citrix is a
HIPAA compliant, highly secure remote server environment that allows the
database to be housed on a single server residing behind a firewall at the
University of Maine. Using Citrix, participating programs can access the
ChildLINK database through secure, 128–bit encrypted Internet connections using
their current computer equipment. Remote computers can use any operating system and
require minimal additional software.
Depending on the user status, users will be able to compile reports and obtain
statistics from the database that are specific to an individual, a program, or
the entire state. For example, a state public health official overseeing the
state birth defects registry will be able to access information on all children
at all hospitals. However, individual hospitals can only see information they
specifically entered into ChildLINK. Furthermore, each user has specific
authorization privileges that determine whether they are able to (1) enter data,
but not see or change other records, (2) enter and see records, but not change
information, and (3) enter, see, and change records.
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Access is protected through log-on IDs and user-specific passwords. An
additional level of password protection is required for access to the database
itself. Each individual ID carries independent levels of privilege, limiting
access to relevant data. All IDs and passwords must be renewed quarterly.
Senior staff at each site will verify access and permissions for their staff. In
addition, an active, 24/7 intrusion detection system monitors all attempts to
log on to the servers and/or violate established protocols.
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A computer programmer is available to provide the
primary training and technical support to health care professionals around the
state. This programmer is also a licensed social worker with hospital experience
and is thus familiar with many of the issues that arise in health care settings.
Support and training can be provided over the phone or on-site. In addition, ChildLINK staff can use Citrix software to remotely access users’ computers.
In this way, staff can demonstrate procedures directly on a user's own screen.
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Updated on:
03/07/2008
