Oregon Receives $21 Million in Health Technology Grants

February 24, 2010 -- Oregon will jumpstart another key element of health care reform – increasing the use and effectiveness of electronic health record technologies – thanks to two federal grants announced this month.

Through the Federal Recovery Act, Oregon will receive more than $21 million over the next four years to develop a system of statewide health information exchange between hospitals, doctors’ offices, pharmacies and other health care providers and help health providers develop electronic health record systems. The development of electronic infrastructure for secure transmittal of relevant patient information will help lower Oregon’s health care costs and ensure the most effective and efficient care in every setting.

Oregon providers use electronic records at a higher rate than most states. Approximately 66 percent of Oregon clinicians (physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants) work in practices or clinics with access to electronic health records, compared to 44 percent nationally. However, without a statewide electronic health record system, health care providers often lack critical parts of patients’ health history such as allergies or medication interactions.

To address the need for an integrated statewide electronic health records system, the Oregon Legislature specifically created a Health Information Technology Oversight Council within the Oregon Health Authority established by House Bill 2009. The council will coordinate Oregon's public and private statewide efforts in electronic health records adoption and develop a statewide system for health information exchange.

Through statewide health information exchange, health care providers will have secure and instant access to medical history, prescriptions, allergies, and all the information necessary to provide health care, whether or not a person has been previously treated at that site. The technology will help consumers avoid unnecessary and invasive tests and ensure that medications don’t conflict with other prescriptions. Insurance claims and billing information will also be handled electronically, saving time and money across the health care system.

“Electronic health records are an important step forward,” says Dr. Bruce Goldberg, director designee of the Oregon Health Authority. “Having access to complete and accurate information will help providers improve care and reduce costs.”

The $21 million will be allocated through two grants. The Office for Oregon Health Policy and Research will receive $8.58 million to administer for the Health Information Technology Oversight Council. This group is charged with developing plans for secure statewide health information exchange (HIE) between providers and across jurisdictions.

The second grant, for $13.2 million, went to OCHIN Inc. and Oregon Health & Sciences University, as partners in Oregon’s designated Regional Extension Center (REC). The organizations will provide technical assistance to health care providers to purchase, upgrade and implement their electronic health record systems. Oregon’s center is one of dozens set up across the country for this purpose. “The center is here to help providers learn effective ways to use technology with the ultimate goal of improving individual and population-based health outcomes,” says Abby Sears, OCHIN chief executive officer. The centers, modeled on the national agricultural extension center system, will also be central places to share information and best practices. OCHN is planning an informational open house to launch the Oregon center. For more information, go to www.OCHIN.org.

For more information about Oregon’s Health Information Technology Oversight Council, click here.

Review all DHS News releases.