By Mike Miliard, Healthcare IT News
HealthBridge, a not-for-profit health information exchange serving the greater Cincinnai tri-state area, has launched the Tri-State Regional Extension Center, which will help more than 1,700 physicians and other medical professionals switch from paper to electronic health records.
"This program is fundamentally about improving patient care," said David Groves, executive director of the Tri-State REC, who said the Center, "will be a vital source of information for physicians and other healthcare professionals who are interested in using technology to provide high quality, cost-effective care."
The launch of the new initiative -- backed by $9.7 million in federal funding -- was part of a meaningful use conference hosted by HealthBridge that provided information to physicians and practice staff about new funding under the economic stimulus bill for doctors who use health IT. Overall federal incentive payments could bring in as much as $75 million in additional federal funding for the tri-state region, officials said.
The Tri-State REC serves southwestern Ohio, northern and northeastern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana. HealthBridge, one of the nation's largest HIEs, will partner with other health information technology leaders to implement the program.
The kickoff was attended by state and regional leaders who supported bringing the initiative to the tri-state area, including state officials from the Ohio Governor's office, Kentucky's heath and family services agencies and Indiana's Social Services Administration.
"This new program is another example of our region's national leadership in the use of health information technology and exchange," said Robert Steffel, president and CEO of HealthBridge.
