Transforming Healthcare Quality Through Information Technology (THQIT) - Planning Grants

Designed a system-wide patient-centered planning process and an EHR implementation plan that securely exchanged patient information within and across diverse health care settings for the Hancock County Memorial Hospital, in addition to 21 affiliated physician health organization clinics.

Developed an implementation plan for an ambulatory EMR in a medically underserved region that electronically connects physician offices, the regional hospital, ancillary services, and other community health services. The project work identified indicators that track measurable improvements in patient safety, quality of care, clinician and patient satisfaction, and operational efficiency.

Designed a county-wide health information system that allowed health information sharing and permitted real-time order placement by hospitals, health departments, private physicians' offices, clinics, and long-term care facilities.

Developed approaches to share data on patient clinical and diagnostic information across systems and created an implementation plan for systems integration.

Developed a detailed plan for the implementation and support of informatics tools in regional health centers including the creation of informatics tools to manage institutional surgical care information, creation of a multi-institutional partnership to manage both the informatics and surgical quality improvement programs, and the development of an economic model related to the business and safety benefits.

Developed new systems and a high level of integration and cooperation in four significant areas: medication management, patient discharge, high-level integration of information, and the development of a new paradigm for evaluating, selecting, and implementing new technologies.

Developed, implemented, and evaluated a cooperative effort for using health IT to facilitate a continuum of appropriate medical and developmental care, from the time infants are admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), through the transition process to community-based health care services for infants most at-risk for long-term neurodevelopmental problems.