Research and Projects

Nebraska

Health Information Exchange: A Frontier Model

Description:  Establishes a Web-based electronic medical record system for 10 small rural hospitals to connect them to the area's regional medical center. The project's ultimate goal is to quickly give alImplements a regional health information exchange among an established collaborative of hospitals, clinics, and providers across Nebraska's remote 14,000-square-mile western panhandle; also helps participating providers acquire the equipment and other resources necessary to share laboratory and pharmaceutical data, as well as electronic medical records. The long-term goal is to create a model applicable to small hospitals nationwide and to deliver quality care.

Abstract:  DESCRIPTION (PROVIDED BY APPLICANT): This project will implement regional health information exchange within an established collaborative of rural hospitals, clinics, public health providers, behavioral health providers, and others across a 14,000 square mile remote area. The project will demonstrate phased health information exchange mechanisms among partners who have committed over $1 million annually. The exchange will accommodate partners with substantial, standards-compliant existing assets and will equip partners with little or no assets to develop capacities (with an emphasis on economies that are achievable through collaborative purchasing, training, and support). Upon completion of the three-year project: 1) Electronic medical records will be established and integrated with other functional systems (decision support systems, CPOE/e-Prescribing, results management, laboratory) in all Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Health Clinics through a common process and shared resources in order to enhance local and regional capacity development toward health information exchange; 2) Health information exchange systems will be established that will provide current information, from all hospitals and rural health clinics, at the point of care; and 3) An operational entity and incorporated RHIO will provide the sustainable infrastructure necessary to support regional health information exchange and common developments in the Electronic Health Records. The plan will model a solution applicable to small hospitals across the nation, because the plan will accommodate the wide variability in technological capacity and readiness represented by the partnering organizations. Project partners include all the area's hospitals, the public health entity, a membership organization of nearly all health and human services providers, and the University of Nebraska.

Year 1 Funding:  $499,779

Estimated Total Funding:  $1,498,623

Principal Investigator:  Nancy Shank

Applicant Institution:  Chadron Community Hospital

City/Town:  Chadron, Nebraska

State:  Nebraska

Grant Number:  UC1HS016143-01

Category:  Implementation Grants (THQIT)

Thesaurus Terms:  

Project Start Date:  Sep 30, 2005

Project End Date:  Sep 29, 2008