Seattle, WA – The states of Idaho and Washington will soon benefit from the award of $12,846,482 in federal funds to establish a Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) led by Qualis Health. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced grant awards to a select group of RECs across the nation. Each center will offer technical assistance, guidance, and information on best practices to help healthcare providers advance the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology. The consistent, nationwide adoption and use of secure electronic health records (EHRs) will ultimately enhance the quality and value of healthcare.
The center at Qualis Health is among the first to be funded, and it will provide an integrated, comprehensive suite of services to priority providers across Idaho and Washington.
“We are very pleased to have put together a consortium of premier health IT adoption organizations to provide technical services in our region,” said Jonathan Sugarman, MD, MPH, Qualis Health's President and CEO. Qualis Health forged a coalition among community organizations across the two-state region in support of a single, collaborative, region-wide application. In addition to Qualis Health, the REC partners – Inland Northwest Health Services (INHS), Community Choice Health Network, PTSO of Washington, North Idaho Health Network, and Idaho Health Data Exchange – each bring a broad base of technical capacity and existing provider relationships that assure effective implementation of this work.
“The Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) is pleased to once again be working with Qualis Health on the Regional Extension Center project. Their leadership on this initiative will play a key role on our shared vision to provide health IT services to more Washington residents,” said Richard Onizuka, PhD, Washington State Health IT Coordinator and Director of Health Care Policy for the HCA. “Qualis Health has been a major partner in our efforts to expand health IT throughout Washington. Based on their proven track record, we are confident in the success of this project.”
The regional centers selected by DHHS will provide intensive technical assistance to primary care clinicians, with a particular emphasis on individual and small group practices. Clinicians in such practices deliver the majority of primary care, but have the lowest rates of adoption of EHR systems, and the least access to resources to help them implement, use and maintain such systems. Centers will also focus intensive technical assistance on clinicians providing primary care in public and critical access hospitals, community health centers, and in other settings that predominantly serve uninsured, underinsured, and medically underserved populations.
“Qualis Health has had long and productive relationships with Idaho healthcare providers and the Division of Medicaid to improve quality of care for patients,” said Idaho Medicaid Administrator Leslie M. Clement. “We have complete confidence that Qualis Health has the stakeholder relationships, on-the-ground technical skills, and program management that will make the organization a successful Regional Center.”
For more information, see
www.wirecQH.org and
http://healthit.hhs.gov/extensionprogram.
