General IAIMS context: The long-term goal of NLM's IAIMS program is a comprehensive and convenient information management system, one that brings useful, usable knowledge to action settings in health care, education and research. Particular emphasis is placed on organization-wide and trans-organizational mechanisms that enable the easy flow of information between arenas of action, such as between health care and education, or between health-related organizations, such as from a community clinic to a hospital or public health department.
Fundamental Activity Areas: Bind knowledge to effective action
- CONTEXT-APPROPRIATE INFORMATION: Each organization must implement approaches that select the right subset of information from the available sources, and present it in the way most effective for a given problem and person.
- STANDARDS-BASED INFORMATION MANAGEMENT: Health organizations must use common vocabularies and adopt information standards that support the integration and exchange of health information.
- DIGITAL LIBRARIES: Organizations must implement approaches that facilitate the use of information acquired in one arena of action, such as clinical care, by people in another arena, such as research.
- INFORMATION MANAGEMENT: Work in any fundamental IAIMS activity area requires the adoption of efficient, effective strategies for information management.
IAIMS Planning grant: required result is a written plan for action in one or more of the fundamental IAIMS activity areas (i.e., context-appropriate information, standards-based information management, digital libraries). An IAIMS planning process should involve an appropriate set of stakeholders in a comprehensive analysis of the stated information problem. Planning should include a review of existing information resources and systems, pertinent information management policies, costs and benefits, and other organizational issues.
IAIMS PLANNING GRANT application should cover the following points:
- Describe programs or activities that will benefit from a solution to the stated problem
- Describe the relevant information management issues and how they will be addressed
- Involve appropriate stakeholders in the planning
- Explain how the proposed planning approach will lead to desired outcomes
- Describe the approach for obtaining appropriate leadership support for the proposed solution.
The final written IAIMS plan must include the following elements:
- A description of the chosen approach for addressing the problem;
- A timetable showing how the solution will be implemented;
- An estimate of resources required;
- Evidence of support by appropriate key leaders for implementing the planned approach.
The grant application should explain how these elements will be produced or achieved.
REVIEW CRITERIA
- Responsiveness to one of the stated IAIMS fundamental activity areas;
- Institutional readiness for IAIMS as indicated by current information management environment;
- Rationale for the chosen planning approach;
- Incorporation of insights gained from earlier activities in this area, at the applicant organization or among other IAIMS institutions.
HIGHLY DESIRABLE ELEMENTS (NOT REQUIRED)
- Substantial involvement of more than one organization;
- Collaboration with a smaller, less-financially-endowed organization, particularly in an urban-underserved or rural area;
- Information services to a new audience, e.g., consumers and patients, or researchers.
BUDGET
- Up to $150,000 per year for up to two years with optional infrastructure supplement
- Only direct costs are covered.
- Consortium/subcontractual costs will be considered direct costs to the parent grant and, therefore, must fall within the total direct cost cap established for this program. Like the parent grant, consortium costs cannot include funds for facilities and administration.
- All IAIMS Planning grants support direct costs for salary, consultants, equipment and software costs, training costs, travel, supplies and other expenses appropriate to the project. Facilities and administration costs are not provided.
- It uses the non-modular budgeting format
- With proper justification, organizations that need to bring existing information infrastructure up to standards may use part of the year-two planning funds to purchase equipment or request up to $100,000 in year two (staff decision based on needs assessment)
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