As part of a larger initiative to support investments in information technology in the Nation's health care delivery system, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is seeking applications for approximately 100 grants to plan, implement, and demonstrate the value of health information technology to improve patient safety and quality of care. These grants will be part of a $50 million portfolio of grants, contracts, and other activities to demonstrate the role of health information technology in improving patient safety and the quality of care.
The $41 million grant program, "Transforming Healthcare Through Information Technology," includes grants for planning and implementation of health information technology in communities as well as grants to examine the value of health information technology. The awards, which will support over 100 new research and demonstration projects, will make up the core of AHRQ's Health Information Technology portfolio. Applications will be accepted from public and private nonprofit organizations, including universities, clinics, and hospitals; for-profit organizations (for implementation grants only); faith-based organizations; and State and local government agencies throughout the United States.
The Agency expects to award up to $24 million to fund as many as 48 new implementation grants under the first Request for Applications, with up to $14 million going to small and rural hospitals and communities. The RFA emphasizes the importance of community partnerships. AHRQ will provide up to 50 percent of the total costs in matching funds, not to exceed $500,000 per year, for each project. Letters of intent are due February 6, 2004, and applications are due April 22, 2004.
For more information, go to the NIH Guide at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HS-04-011.html.
AHRQ expects to award as much as $7 million under the second RFA to fund up to 35 new planning grants to provide communities and organizations with the resources needed to develop their health information technology infrastructure and compete for future implementation grants. At least $5 million is expected to be used to support applicants from rural and small communities. Projects can last up to 1 year, and applicants may request a budget of up to $200,000 in total costs. Letters of intent are due February 6, 2004, and applications are due April 22, 2004.
For details, go to the NIH Guide at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HS-04-010.html.
Demonstrating the value derived from the adoption, diffusion, and use of health information technology will be the focus of the third RFA, under which AHRQ will award approximately $10 million to up to 20 new grantees. The objective of these projects will be to provide health care facilities and providers with the information they need to make informed clinical and purchasing decisions about using health information technology. Applicants may request a budget of up to $500,000 per year in total costs. Letters of intent are due February 6, 2004, and applications are due April 22, 2004.
For further information, go to the NIH Guide at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HS-04-012.html.
The remainder of the $50 million portfolio will be spent on other activities, including the creation of a Health Information Technology Resource Center to aid grantees by providing technical assistance, provide a focus for collaboration, serve as a repository for best practices, and disseminate needed tools to help providers explore the adoption and use of health information technology to improve patient safety and quality of care.
AHRQ also will provide $2 million in fiscal year 2004 to the Indian Health Service toward the enhancement of the IHS electronic health record. This will give individual facilities flexibility in how they configure their electronic health record systems. The creation of an IHS electronic health record is consistent with tribal leaders' identification of the need for a user-friendly data system that can provide community-specific health care data and track the health status of patients. This need has been identified as one of seven top tribal priorities during HHS tribal consultation.