Health Center Controlled Network - Project Title: Utah Technology Exchange for Community Health (UTECH); Organization: Association for Utah Community Health (AUCH); Address: 860 East 4500 South, Suite 206, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84107-3014; Project Director: Alan Pruhs, 801.716.4601, alan@auch.org; Website: www.auch.org; Funds Requested: $705,000 through HRSA-25-018 per project period. AUCH, requests $705,000 each year of the 3-year Health Center Controlled Network (HCCN) Cooperative Agreement to continue the Utah Technology Exchange for Community Health (UTECH). AUCH is adding a new health center this next project period to bring total participating health centers (PHCs) from 12 to 13 of Utah’s Section 330 Health Center Program awardees. All PHCs use certified electronic health records (EHRs) to manage patient data, 12/13 implemented Azara Healthcare as the population health management tool. UTECH will provide training and technical assistance (TTA) with Data Management and Analytics, Interoperability and Data Sharing, UDS+ Implementation, Digital Health Tools, and Cybersecurity. In preparation for this opportunity, AUCH surveyed the 13 PHCs to prioritize needs, identified the following activities for each objective. Data Management and Analytics: UTECH will offer Azara TTA and Data Strategy TTA to improve clinical, operational, and financial performance improvement. Interoperability and Data Sharing: UTECH will offer Data Integration TTA (e.g., HIE Transitions of Care data, payer integrations, dental integration, etc.) and structured data TTA into the EHR or PMS to improve interoperability. UDS+ Implementation: UTECH will participate in the UDS+ Test Collaborative and share pertinent updates to PHCs and provide UDS+ TTA including submission, integration from multiple sources, and validation to support successful submission. Digital Health Tools: UTECH will provide TTA with the selection, implementation, and or proficiency in the use of digital tools (e.g., AI, text messaging, RPM, portals, SDoH collection, etc.) and TTA with EHRs to increase patient utilization. Cybersecurity Support: UTECH will provide offer security risk analysis to PHCs, develop a UTECH supported data governance plan, and offer cybersecurity TTA to protect patient information. AUCH leverages partnerships with the University of Utah's Informatics Department, Huntsman Cancer Institute Center for HOPE, Mountain Pacific Quality, Athena and eCW Sandbox, HITEQ, and Azara Healthcare to better meet the needs of PHCs. AUCH is overseen by the AUCH Board of Directors, and UTECH is overseen by an Advisory Committee comprised of one voting representative from each PHC. AUCH provides administrative and executive support to UTECH with direct allocation of program staff per the AUCH Distinction Document. AUCH annually surveys PHC needs to better understand the unique health IT needs and capacity across the 13 PHCs and adjusts activities as needed. UTECH works concurrently with PHCs to develop and maintain individualized work plans based on those needs and partnerships.
