Saturday, April 20, 2024
4/20/2024
Project Title: SCHIEx: Transforming HIT in the Palmetto State States included in the application: South Carolina Applicant Name: South Carolina Department of Health & Human Services Address: 1801 Main Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201 Contact Name: Emma Forkner, Director Contact Phone Numbers (Voice, Fax): Phone: (803) 898-2504; Fax: (803) 898-8338 E-Mail Address: forkner@scdhhs.gov Web Site Address, if applicable: www.scdhhs.gov Congressional districts within your service area: 1st ,2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Congressional Districts of South Carolina Brief explanation of where the state is in achieving statewide HIE among healthcare providers: South Carolina will leverage an existing HIE called SCHIEx as a statewide public utility. Based on a limited environmental scan, we find low to medium levels of EMR use among providers. The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will work with other state agencies and partners to scale the state???s existing health information exchange (HIE), called the South Carolina Health Information Exchange (SCHIEx), to be the statewide HIE. Providers and hospitals will connect electronic health records (EHRs) to SCHIEx, allowing for the secure exchange of health information. By becoming meaningful users of EHRs and submitting corresponding reports, providers will qualify for the incentive payments established under ARRA. This four-year project has the following objectives: 1) Set up a governance structure for the exchange of health information; 2) Move SCHIEx to a statewide hosting environment; 3) Scale SCHIEx for statewide use; 4) Connect SCHIEx to the state immunization and disease registries; 5) Inform providers and other stakeholders about HIT adoption and meaningful use; and 6) Work with partners to remove barriers to meaningful use. Project outcomes are: 1) Providers will adopt and use EHRs to improve patient care; and 2) SCHIEx will become a self-sustaining operation. Meaningful use of EHRs will improve health outcomes for all South Carolinians. When this project is complete, South Carolina will have a statewide HIE and can contribute quantitative and evaluative data to the national dialogue about health information exchange.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
