A core feature of HRSA's strategy to encourage health IT adoption among health centers and other safety net providers is collaboration. Several health center networks have successfully begun planning and implementation efforts around health IT and have demonstrated a "proof in concept" that collaboration in implementing health IT can result in economies of scale. This is particularly true with respect to finding executive leadership to manage and direct health IT implementations. Strong health IT entrepreneurs who work with safety net providers are few and far between and working in consortium represents a highly effective approach for a wider group of health centers to leverage these individuals. Of course, collaboration also comes with its share of difficulties and challenges, so care should be taken in identifying partners to start a new consortium or in selecting an existing consortium to join.
Developed by the Health Resources and Services Administration as a resource for health centers and other safety net and ambulatory care providers who are seeking to implement health IT.
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