Research and Projects: AHRQ THQIT and SRD Portfolio

Montana

Decreasing ADEs in Montana Frontier Critical Access Hospitals through HIT

Description:  Assesses opportunities to decrease adverse drug events and medication errors in frontier Montana Critical Access Hospitals; identifies appropriate, cost effective health IT solutions to challenges in medication use.

Abstract:  Broadwater Health Center, on behalf of members of the Montana Rural Healthcare Performance Improvement Network (PIN), is applying for AHRQ Information Technology Planning Grant funding in order to assess opportunities to decrease adverse drug events and medication errors in frontier Montana Critical Access Hospitals. This one-year planning process is designed to identify appropriate, cost effective Health Information Technology (HIT) solutions to medication use challenges in low-volume, resource-deficient frontier hospitals. This project will support the following AHRQ long-term HIT initiative goals: 1. Successfully deploy or enable the deployment of hospital HIT practices that reduce medical errors and improve overall patient safety. 2. Increase the identification and reporting of medical errors and adverse events. 3. Decrease in number the actual errors and adverse events. Outcomes of the planning process will identify HIT solutions which PIN members may pursue collaboratively or individually to provide clinical and organizational benefits to frontier CAHs, the priority populations they serve and the community-wide health infrastructure. Successful completion of the planning process will lead to securing an AHRQ Information Technology Implementation Grant next year for interested PIN participants.

Year 1 Funding:  $174,886

Estimated Total Funding:  $174,886

Principal Investigator:  Kipman Smith

Applicant Institution:  Townsend Health Systems, Inc.

City/Town:  Townsend, Montana

State:  Montana

Grant Number:  P20 HS14995

Category:  Planning Grants (THQIT)

Thesaurus Terms:  data management, health care service planning, patient safety /medical error, rural health, automated medical record system, drug adverse effect, behavioral /social science research tag, health services research tag

Project Start Date:  Sep 30, 2004

Project End Date:  Sep 29, 2005