This project will implement an ambulatory Electronic Medical Record (EMR) across multiple and varied healthcare settings in a medically underserved region of east central Illinois. Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center (SBLHC), a not-for-profitcommunity healthcare corporation, will serve as the fiscal agent and lead organization for a collaborative partnership to deploy an ambulatory EMRwhich improves patient safety and patient attitudes toward health information technology (HIT) by 1) providing shared accessto patient records across hospital services,home health, hospice, and employed and independent physician practice settings and 2) integrating electronictools for prescription orders and management of medications. Project partners include two private practice organizations, K.A. Fehrenbacher, M.D., Ltd.(family practice) and Urology Associates (urology practice of Roger Rives, M.D. and David D. DiDomenico, M.D., D.O.); and the Health Services Division of Eastern Illinois University (EIU), a regional, residential university with a current total enrollment of 11,522. Project evaluation will monitor measurable improvements in provider access and utilization of HIT, patient safety realized through the utilization of electronic prescriptions, and change in patient attitudes toward HIT. Project relevance:The project will lead to three significant changes in the utilization of healthcare information in the community: 1) timely availability of a comprehensive list of the patient's medications and known allergies, 2) utilization of better tools for improved clinical charting, and 3) integration of a consistent record across multiple settings.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Type
NIH Challenge Grants and Partnerships Program - Phase II-Coop.Agreement (UC1)
Project #
5UC1HS016128-03
Application #
7269330
Study Section
Health Care Technology and Decision Science (HTDS)
Program Officer
Nunley, Angela
Project Start
2005-09-30
Project End
2009-09-29
Budget Start
2007-09-30
Budget End
2009-09-29
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
071429054
City
Mattoon
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
61938