HRSA Awards $18.9 Million to Expand Use of Health Information Technology at Health Centers

	U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration HRSA NEWS ROOM http://newsroom.hrsa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 10, 2008

CONTACT: HRSA PRESS OFFICE
301-443-3376

HRSA Awards $18.9 Million to Expand Use of
Health Information Technology at Health Centers

HRSA Administrator Elizabeth M. Duke today announced almost $18.9 million in grants to health center-controlled networks and large multi-site health centers to adopt and implement Electronic Health Records (EHR) and other health information technology (HIT) innovations.
EHRs are widely considered to be essential in improving the safety and quality of health care delivery and cutting waste and duplication of care.

“These funds continue our efforts to help health center grantees access and use the latest technology to improve the care they deliver,” HRSA Administrator Elizabeth M. Duke said. “Health information technology has the potential to transform care for underserved communities and its expansion is a priority for all Americans.”

Twelve grants totaling more than $14.3 million will support the implementation of EHRs. Grants worth almost $3.8 million will help 10 other grantees implement other HIT innovations, including electronic prescribing, health information exchanges, data warehouses, and interoperability with outside partners such as state immunization registries and hospitals. Another six grants totaling over $700,000 will support planning activities to prepare health centers to adopt an EHR or other HIT innovation.

HRSA’s Office of Health Information Technology, created in 2005, is charged with promoting HIT adoption and the effective use of HIT through grants and technical assistance that benefits safety-net providers and responds to the needs of the uninsured, underserved and special-needs populations. HRSA’s effort supports the broader federal strategic goal of improving the quality and efficiency of health care by expanding the use EHRs among most Americans by 2014.

The list of grant recipients follows:

Electronic Health Record Implementation Initiative Grants, FY 2008
Organization	City	State	Amount
Alliance for Rural Community Health	Ukiah	Calif.	$624,475.43
Barrio Comprehensive Family Health Care Center, Inc	San Antonio	Texas	$736,897.50
Total:			$1,361,372.93

High Impact - Electronic Health Record Implementation Initiative Grants, FY 2008
Organization	City	State	Amount
Clinica Adelante, Inc	Surprise	Ariz.	$786,628.00
Alta Med Health Services Corporation	Los Angeles	Calif.	$1,375,542.00
Community Health Centers Alliance	St. Petersburg	Fla.	$1,375,542.00
Near North Health Service Corporation	Chicago	Ill.	$1,374,022.03
Illinois Primary Care Association	Springfield	Ill.	$1,270,364.00
Yellowstone City County Health Department	Billings	Mont.	$1,375,542.00
Newark Community Health Centers	Newark	N.J.	$1,375,542.00
Presbyterian Medical Services	Santa Fe	N.M.	$1,375,542.00
OCHIN	Portland	Ore.	$1,375,542.00
West Virginia Primary Care Network, Inc.	Scott Depot	W.Va.	$1,326,415.50
Total:			$13,010,681.53

Health Information Technology Innovation Initiative Grants, FY 2008
Organization	City	State	Award
Maine Primary Care Association	Augusta	Maine	$294,759.00
Michigan Primary Care Association	Lansing	Mich.	$294,202.89
St. Louis Integrated Health Network	St. Louis	Mo.	$98,253.00
Community Health Access Network, Inc.	Newmarket	N.H.	$284,168.31
Total:			$971,383.20

High Impact – Innovation Implementation Initiative Grants, FY 2008
Organization	City	State	Award
Council of Community Clinics	San Diego	Calif.	$545,304.15
Family Health Centers of San Diego	San Diego	Calif.	$493,452.11
Health Choice Network, Inc.	Miami	Fla.	$347,488.44
Georgia Association for Primary Health Care	Decatur	Ga.	$545,304.15
Maine Primary Care Association	Augusta	Maine	$324,093.42
Boston HealthNet	Boston	Mass.	$543,535.60
Total:			$2,799,177.87

Health Information Technology Planning Grants, FY 2008
Organization	City	State	Amount
Clinica Adelante, Inc	Surprise	Ariz.	$122,816.25
Chicago Family Health Center, Inc	Chicago	Ill.	$122,816.25
Near North Health Service Corporation	Chicago	Ill.	$124,650.00
Sacopee Valley Health Center	Parsonsfield	Maine	$122,816.25
Community Health Net	Erie	Pa.	$123,850.00
Barceloneta Primary Hlth. Care Svcs. Inc	Barceloneta	P.R.	$122,816.25
Total:			$739,765.00
Total of all grants:			$18,882,380.53

The Health Resources and Services Administration ( HRSA), part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. Under a 70-year-old congressional mandate, HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau works to safeguard the health of the nation's women, children and families. For more information about HRSA and its programs, visit www.hrsa.gov.