AHRQ Announces Grant Program for Healthcare IT Projects
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has announced a $41 million grant program called "Transforming Healthcare Through Information Technology." AHRQ is seeking applications for about 100 grants to plan, implement, and demonstrate the value of health information technology to improve patient safety and quality of care. A large proportion of the grants will be used to fund projects in rural and small communities. Applications will be accepted from public and private non-profit organizations, including universities, clinics, hospitals, faith-based organizations, and state and local government agencies. The announcement follows the release of an Institute of Medicine study calling for a greater investment in health information technology and the creation of a national health information technology infrastructure. The grant program is composed of three Request for Applications (RFAs), including $14 million in new implementation grants for small and rural hospitals; $7 million for planning to provide communities and organizations with the resources needed to develop their health information technology infrastructure; and $10 million to demonstrate the clinical, organizational or financial value of health information technology. Letters of intent are due beginning February 22, 2004, and completed applications are due April 22, 2004, for all RFAs. For more information, visit: http://www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2003/hitprojpr.htm
AHRQ will also award the Indian Health Service $2 million in fiscal year 2004 toward the enhancement of the IHS electronic health record, which will permit individual facilities flexibility in how they configure their electronic health record system. 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 the patient population.