Ohio garners $804K in health IT grants

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) announced $804,000 in new federal funds last week to help Ohio's critical access and rural healthcare facilities utilize health IT.

The funds, provided by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, are aimed at improving medical care and reducing health costs by helping critical access and rural hospital facilities convert from paper-based medical records to certified EHR technology.

Cincinnati-based HealthBridge and Ohio Health Information Partnership (OHIP), the state-designated entity for Ohio's statewide HIE, will receive $288,000 and $516,000, respectively.

HealthBridge provides connectivity for more than 28 hospitals, 5,500 physician users, 17 local health departments, 700 physician offices and clinics, as well as nursing homes, independent labs, radiology centers and others in southwest Ohio.

OHIP is a nonprofit entity funded through a combination of state and federal grants aimed at assisting physicians and other providers with implementation and adoption of health IT throughout Ohio.

"This is good news for Ohio's rural medical facilities and the Ohio patients they serve," Brown said. "By ensuring that healthcare facilities--as well as the doctors and nurses who work there--have the technology necessary to more quickly and safely consult with one another, we will continue to improve the delivery of medical care offered across our state."

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