Virginia health care stakeholders collaborate on statewide HIT programs

3 September 2009

Last week, the federal government announced plans and timelines for two major health information technology (HIT) grant programs: one to support state efforts that advance health care information exchange and the other to fund state or regional extension centers that assist primary care providers in adoption and “meaningful use” of electronic health records.

Working under the auspices of Secretary of Health and Human Services Marilyn Tavenner’s Health Information Technology Interoperability Advisory Committee (HITIAC), two teams of stakeholders are developing applications for each grant. The Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) and the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) are co-chairing the work group putting together Virginia’s preliminary grant application – due by September 8 – for a Regional Extension Center in Virginia. As envisioned, this statewide extension center will deliver efficient and effective outreach, education and technical assistance that will help providers select and make meaningful use of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology. The goal of the extension center effort is to have 20 percent of targeted primary care providers making meaningful use of EHR systems by 2015.

Michael Matthews of Central Virginia Health Network is chairing the work group applying for the state information exchange grant that supports state and/or state-designated entities in fostering health information exchange among hospitals and providers. MSV representatives are also participating in this workgroup.

Applying for the grants collaboratively will assist all providers in the Commonwealth in developing and implementing EHR systems while focusing on significant regional activity around the state. We will continue to keep you up-to-date on HIT developments and encourage you to visit MSV’s Web site for additional information on health information technology (http://www.msv.org/HIT)