Difference between revisions of "CONNECTICUT"

Revision as of 12:11, 24 November 2010

eHealthConnecticut: Connecticut's HITREC

In April 2010, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT announced that eHealthConnecticut, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in January 2006, would become the State of Connecticut’s Health IT Regional Extension Center (REC) through a $5,749,309 grant (No. 90RC0053) and cooperative agreement[1]. The organization entered into an agreement with ONC to provide assistance to Connecticut’s providers to help them select, implement, and achieve meaningful use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems in order to enhance health care quality, safety and efficiency. [2]

According to the organizations’ website[2], the mission of the eHealthConnecticut Regional Extension Center is to:

"Help Connecticut's providers select, implement, and achieve meaningful use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems in order to enhance health care quality, safety and efficiency."

Its goal is to serve at least 2,300 of the state’s 8,000 practicing physicians during the next four years. The organization has set a long term goal of having 80% of Connecticut’s providers live with electronic health record (EHR) systems. Short term goals for the first two years include serving at least 1,338 “priority” providers, or those in small practices or caring for under served patient populations.

As the organization is largely volunteered based to date, they are in process of hiring an executive director. They are working with Independent Physician Practices, physician hospital organizations, the primary care association, and various medical societies to assist with recruiting physician customers. They have also partnered with other providers to provide a variety of services to assist eHealthConnecticut with its performance of its HIT Extension Center grant. Currently it has engaged 9 direct assistance contractors and is seeking applications from a third round of applicants. It has also contracted with the University of Connecticut Health Center to provide education, training, and outreach services.

The eHealthCT REC administers services through a Core Team, receives referrals and commitments of providers from various physician organizations called “Channel Partners” and contracts with a number of pre-selected Direct Assistance Contractors who are deployed to provide technical assistance to help the REC’s customers achieve the milestones of EHR selection, EHR implementation and achievement of meaningful use. The organization is encouraging providers and small practices to sign up and register to receive its services.

Kick Off Event

On September 29, 2010 eHealthConnecticut held its kickoff event and summit on Meaningful Use in Trumbull, CT.[3] The event included a vendor expo, presentations by ONC, the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health, eHealthConnecticut, and several physicians. Though the number of attendees is unknown, estimates have suggested approximately 300 individuals participated. Discussions were focused on the tremendous number of resources and the value proposition being offer by eHealthConnecticut REC, the support oversight being provided by the ONC-HIT to the REC, and first hand experiences of local primary care physicians that have been early adopters, sharing their motivations, challenges they encountered, and lessons-learned.

References:

1. Health Information Technology Extension Program – Available at http://healthit.hhs.gov/portal/server.pt/community/healthit_hhs_gov__rec_program/1495 [1]

2. eHealthConnecticut website – Available at http://www.ehealthconnecticut.org [2]

3. Oravecz WT. CT REC MU Summit: HIT me with your best shot. 2010 Available: http://www.hitechanswers.net/ct-rec-mu-summit/

Submitted by Matthew J. Cook, MPH