RIQI to receive over 11 million for HIT in ARRA grants
Rhode Island’s congressional delegation today announced that the Rhode Island Quality Institute (RIQI) will receive $11.28 million from two American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grants for health information technology (HIT). This federal funding will be used to improve the lives of Rhode Islanders by making our health care delivery system more efficient and responsive.
RIQI will receive two separate grants:
- Health Information Exchange Award - $5,280,000: this funding will assist RIQI in implementing a integrated information exchange to improve health outcomes, reduce medical errors, and make our health care delivery system more effective and efficient.
- Regional Extension Center Award - $6,000,000: much like agricultural extension services aid farmers in growing crops, HIT regional extension centers will assist health care providers in integrating effective HIT systems. This funding will allow RIQI to provide such vital technical assistance to doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers.
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This is GREAT. My biggest complaint, as an EHR user, is that none of our systems communicate well. In a small state like RI, where there are great groups like RIQI, we should be able to lead the way in interconnectivity. This will help further this effort.
Using an EHR? Yes - Athena
Disclosure: Own my own practice
This is very big news for everyone in RI thinking about jumpoing into the fray with an EHR. Basically, as I understand it, there's going to be expertise you can buy with Government $$ to assist you in the process of purchasing and implementing a system for your office. Stay tuned for more information from RIQI (the Quality Institute).
TB
Using an EHR? Yes - Caretracker/eClinicalWorks
Disclosure: No ownership or interest in any related business or association