Thursday, April 25, 2024
4/25/2024
Key Health Alliance (KHA)???a partnership of Stratis Health, the Rural Health Resource Center, and The College of St. Scholastica???proposes to serve as the Regional Extension Assistance Center for Health Information Technology (REACH) in Minnesota and North Dakota. REACH will work with providers to improve the quality and value of care they deliver through adopting and meaningfully using health information technology (HIT), specifically electronic health records (EHR), with an emphasis in rural practice needs and small urban practices serving medically underserved patients and areas. Over 30% of Minnesotans and North Dakotans live in rural areas. A significant percentage of the population is uninsured, underinsured, and medically underserved. REACH will accelerate and expand the work KHA is already deeply engaged. The organizations have successful track records in HIT education, training, and technical assistance, on their own and in coordination with many other collaborators. Collectively, KHA has served thousands of providers and organizations in HIT, reflecting readiness to be a Regional Center. REACH???s goals are to provide assistance to providers for implementation and meaningful use of EHRs, through broad participation of providers, industry, universities, and state governments. REACH will help meet national HIT Extension Center (HITRC) goals by providing technical assistance services and support to 5,100 priority primary care providers (PPCPs) over the next 4 years, with 3,600 PPCPs targeted in the first 2 years. KHA has letters of commitment from 4,628 providers representing 417 practices in Minnesota and North Dakota. KHA will lead and manage change, help providers utilize HIT as a tool for improved quality and performance, and provide education that can be operationalized. The service area will be served by field staff assigned to geographic areas within the region. They will provide individualized technical assistance to PPCPs in their area. PPCPs focused on similar HIT goals will participate in facilitated education groups to work together to learn, test tools, and develop a network of colleagues. Remaining unbiased, KHA will leverage EHR vendors to help address technical issues. KHA will disseminate to providers best practices and research. Existing online resources for HIT implementation and distance learning capabilities will be utilized. KHA will further embed HIT into practice by implementing a leadership training program for senior administrative and clinical leaders. Among other topics, technical assistance and education will cover provider readiness and leadership commitment, workflow redesign, EHR functionality, identifying and selecting a vendor, meaningful use, protecting privacy and security of patient information, developing vendor relationships, and preparing for and participating in health information exchange. Targeted providers are represented by a variety of associations and networks that have committed to work with KHA in this effort. KHA will coordinate closely with the state agencies and other organizations leading related ARRA efforts, as well as with the University of Minnesota and the University of North Dakota, in planning and implementing REACH.
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).
