Transformative Grant to Target Underserved Sectors
Transitions of Care A Focus for DHIN
In September 2015, Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN) received the exciting news that, after a rigorous application process, it was one of a dozen organizations nationwide selected to receive funding from the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology*. The funds, available beginning this fall, are being furnished to support the:
- Expansion of the adoption of health information exchange technology, tools and services
- Facilitation and enabling of “send,” “receive,” “find” and similar capabilities of health information across organizational, vendor and geographic boundaries
- Increase the integration of health information in interoperable health IT to support care processes and decision-making
“This ONC funding will be transformative; it will speed our always evolving efforts to build Delaware’s Community Health Record,” said Jan Lee, MD, DHIN CEO, “At its core, the funds will help us improve the critical sharing of healthcare data among previously unreached sectors of the population: the long-term post-acute care and behavioral health facilities.”
The two-year grant uses federal and matching funds and is performance-based. Specifically, DHIN will use the grant to:
- Develop and promote better uses of technology in transitions of care to long-term post-acute care and behavioral health facilities
- Expand the Electronic Notification System, alerting healthcare teams of patient admissions, discharges and transfers from DHIN participating hospitals
- Automate the entry of continuity of care documentation into the Community Health Record across a wide population of DHIN-enrolled practices
- Develop and market consumer-based tools to facilitate better access to their personal health information in the Community Health Record
By making the Community Health Record available across the continuum of care, DHIN continues its mission to help Delaware achieve the triple aim of enhancing the patient experience, reducing healthcare costs and improving healthcare. Look for more details about these exciting initiatives in the coming months.
*Department of Health and Human Services grant number 90IX0001/01-00
