Washington

Health Information Collaborative 

                                                                                    

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2008 Grant Awards

2007 Grant Awards

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About WHIC

 

WHIC SPONSORS



Click on each logo for more information about the organizations listed above.

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NEW:  $1 Million Awarded to Clinics and Hospitals for Health Information Technology Grants

For 2008, more than 40 physician practices, health clinics and hospitals in the Pacific Northwest have been selected to receive grants to improve patient care through information technology.  Read more...

2008 Award Recipients

Total of $250,000 In Community Grants Awarded to Promote Use of Health Information Technology

As part of WHIC, the Washington State Health Care Authority has awarded additional grants of about $50,000 each to five organizations to spur community-wide provider engagement and connectivity efforts. Read more...

 

The Washington Health Information Collaborative (WHIC) is a public-private partnership providing funding to medical clinics and small hospitals to help them acquire, implement and expand their use of health information technology.

Why the Interest in Health Information Technology?


What Types of Projects Are Eligible for Funding?

Map of Award Recipients in Washington State

Map of Award Recipients in All States

Past WHIC Award Cycles

Why The Growing Interest in Health Information Technology?

Health information technology (IT) can include electronic medical records (EMRs) and patient registries. Each are important tools used by a growing number of physicians and other health professionals to more effectively manage the care they provide to their patients.

How often do your patients have to write their health information on yet another set of paper forms? Or wait for lab results to be sent to you as their doctor? Or hand-carry X-rays from one office to another to make sure that you have the information you need to provide patients with top quality care?

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, electronic medical records and other health information technology saves everyone time and money. They reduce the chance of medical error. When information can be shared electronically, it can improve every step in the health care process. Interest in promoting greater use of health information technology is coming from private and public sector leaders across region, the state and the nation. Locally, this interest is what spurred the creation of WHIC.

 

What Type of Health IT Projects Are Eligible for Funding?

The awards to smaller primary care and speciality practices, as well as critical access hospitals fund partial costs of acquisition and expansion of health IT systems. Funding is also being provided for community-wide connectivity projects and for development of systems that enable patients to be able to access to their own health information. 

Specifically, funding is awarded for projects that address the following:

  • Initial practice or facility health IT acquisition and implementation support (e.g., technology, infrastructure, consulting, workflow redesign)
  • Increased functionality of health IT already in operation:
    • Purchase and/or implementation of additional modules (including decision support tools, computerized physician order entry, clinician feedback mechanisms, and chronic disease registry functions)
    • Data analysis and reporting capabilities
  • Connectivity efforts in a given community (e.g., infrastructure upgrades, primary care/hospital data integration/interfacing, ancillary communication)
  • Expanded patient access to their own medical information (personal health record features) and increased patient engagement in their care.  

If you are interested, there are many things that you and your organization can do now to get ready. Learn more about selecting your system.

 

Map of 2005-2007 Recipient Locations: Washington State

Yellow dot = funded by First Choice Health (2007)

Purple dot = funded by WA State Health Care Authority (2007)

Green dot = funded by WA State Health Care Authority (2006)

Dark blue dot = funded by First Choice Health (2006)

Light blue dot = funded by First Choice Health (2005)

Map of 2005-2007 Recipient Locations: All States

Yellow dot = funded by First Choice Health (2007)

Purple dot = funded by WA State Health Care Authority (2007)

Green dot = funded by WA State Health Care Authority (2006)

Dark blue dot = funded by First Choice Health (2006)

Light blue dot = funded by First Choice Health (2005)

 

Past WHIC Award Cycles


List of 2006 WHIC Award Recipients

Overview of 2006 Award Process

© 2007 Washington Health Information Collaborative