Health Information Grant (HIG)

1. Health Information Grant (HIG) Project Certification Committee August 27, 2008

2. This 2007 project created a grant program in the broad area of health information. The department awarded three grants in the following areas: for implementation of electronic medical records (EMR) at rural private practices for implementation of electronic medical records at clinics funded by the Rural Primary Health Care Act for the expansion of the health information exchange (HIE) collaborative. This project not an IT project per se but a grant program managed by the DOH ITSD to administer state funds. Establishment of EMR’s in 36 communities Implemented EMR’s for 122 practitioners Expanded the HIE to include 4 additional partners Handling over 2 million messages in an average month Developed a business plan and sustainable model for HIE HIG Project Scope Major Accomplishments Key Lessons Learned • The contracting process was cumbersome, in part, because this was the first time such a grant program had been created. • The matching dollar requirement was effective in ensuring that the funds were only used with entities already committed to electronic medical records and health information exchange.

3. $ Requested this phase: -0- Project Phase cert request: Close-out Project Start Date: 9/1/08 Projected End Date: 6/30/08 Total Project Value ‘and’ expended to date: $500,000 HIG Project Certification Information