By Mike Miliard, Healthcare IT News
Purdue University has been given $12 million to help set up a regional extension center to help train doctors and hospital staff on the best methods and uses for incorporating health IT into their practices.
Awarded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the money is part of a pool of funds disbursed to 32 non-profit organizations to set up a system of health IT training and education facilities based on the model of the Agriculture Department's extension centers.
The four-year program gets under way in April.?
"Electronic health records technology has heretofore only been affordable by large practices and healthcare systems, but through the federal initiative, new options are being developed to enable adoption by practices of all sizes," said Dave McKinnis, director of the university's Technical Assistance Program (TAP), which offers resources to Indiana business, industry and government to help implement new technologies.
"Purdue's expertise in health information technology puts us in a great position to help healthcare providers engage and utilize these new resources and ultimately boost the health of patients throughout Indiana."?
Purdue's regional extension center will offer advice and resources to doctors, nurses, and clinicians at small practices across the Hoosier State, especially those offering care to underserved populations.
"With this funding, we will help them select products and provide training on how to use the technology to its fullest potential to improve patient care," said Mary Ann Sloan, the director of Purdue's Healthcare Technical Assistance Program (HealthcareTAP).?
Steve Witz, director of the university's Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, said the initiative is crucial to effective adoption of healthcare IT.
"Success requires much more than just getting the software to the healthcare providers," he said. "Training the physicians, nurses, physician's assistants and staff of the practice is critical to reaping the rewards of the new technology. We need to be sure it is being used to the extent that it significantly improves patient care."
