CCST’s pHIT Task Force Moves Toward Project Expansion and Phase II Funding

CCST’s Personalized Healthcare Information Technology (pHIT) Task Force has completed a major component of the pHIT pilot study project, gathering all needed input from a four-member Ontology Panel assembled last Spring based on Panel member expertise in oncology, ontology and information technology.

The pHIT pilot study focuses on personalized oncology through development of a clinical support application for breast cancer patients and their health care providers. An objective of the pHIT pilot study, supported by the Ontology Panel of experts, is to retrospectively collect and evaluate de-identified breast cancer patient records from Anthem Blue Cross and genetic/genomic test results from Genomic Health, Inc. and Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc. The pHIT pilot study’s goal is to develop a scalable prototype healthcare decision support system designed to integrate anonymized patient records with genetic/genomic test results.

In December 2010, the pHIT Task Force received notice that a Letter of Intent submitted last October for supplemental pHIT pilot study funding for Phase II of the pilot study has been approved by the University of California Breast Cancer Research Program. A full proposal will be submitted soon.

The pHIT Task Force Letter of Intent for ONC funding was submitted as a collaborative proposal between CCST’s pHIT Task Force and the California Telehealth Network, along with numerous proposal partners. The pHIT Task Force is chaired by Ramesh Rao, director, UCSD Division, California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology. The project is being conducted in cooperation with California state agency partners including the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency; the Office of Health Information Integrity (CalOHII), Health and Human Services Agency; and CalPERS.