Health Center Partners, a consortium of community health centers in San Diego, Riverside and Imperial counties, won a $1.5 million federal grant to improve adoption of health information technology at member health centers.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will provide $500,000 annually over three years to help HCP continue to improve IT at its 12 member centers.
HHS is funding similar projects at 50 “health center controlled networks” in 41 states and Puerto Rico.
“Health center controlled networks are a key tool in providing quality primary care to medically underserved communities,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell.
“By using these networks, individual health centers can work together to share resources, leverage buying power, and improve access to health information technology, leading to a better care experience for vulnerable populations.”
Health Center Partners plans to use the money to optimize electronic health record technology; enhance data collection, analysis and reporting; and meet requirements of the Medicare and Medicaid electronic health records incentive programs, among other things.
— City News Service