Office of Rural Health: Accelerating Performance Improvement through Enhanced Connectivity

The Nebraska Office of Rural Health was awarded a grant through the FLEX Critical Access Hospital Health Information Technology Network Implementation Grant program.  The Accelerating Performance Improvement through Enhanced Connectivity project will focus on developing and implementing a sustainable interoperable system which will improve the flow of clinical information along the continuum of care in order to provide a seamless process of health care delivery for patients and providers. This system will improve the quality of care by creating an electronic linkage which will allow each provider to make more informed treatment decisions based upon current patient data and information.

In order to develop an interoperable clinical information system, the project will focus on a circle of local partners that includes a 19-bed critical access hospital, five rural health clinics, a home health agency, a nursing home and an assisted living facility, several EMS units, a hospital-owned retail pharmacy and an independent retail pharmacy, and a network tertiary hospital. Wherever the patient enters the health care system along this continuum of care, the intent is to have current information accessible for all of these providers.

This project will address the identified needs for better coordination of patient care, improved access to current patient data, reduction in medication and medical errors, reduction in medical complications, and better management of patients with chronic diseases. It will also address the need for more effective communication as a key patient safety initiative.

The proposed services include: implementation of electronic prescribing for medical providers, electronic transmission of transfer/discharge forms, implementation of bedside charting for staff, access at the bedside for medical providers to consult with specialists, computerized medication administration forms, electronic access for EMTs of appropriate patient information in the field, and access to mental health providers for acute and long term care. It will also be an opportunity to explore the benefits of an electronic personal health record so that consumers can communicate electronically with their providers.    

The target population is located in Thayer County/Hebron, Nebraska, and surrounding communities in Nebraska and Kansas.
 

Links

A list of awards is available at http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/funding/flexpurpose.htm. 

eHealth Clearinghouse Home