$5.3m Boost to Oklahoma for Health Care Quality Improvement
Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality Earns Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center Status

(February 12, 2010, Oklahoma City, Ok) -- Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality (OFMQ) announces it was awarded $5.3 million in government stimulus funding to serve as one of 32 Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers (HITREC) in the nation. OFMQ will provide technical assistance to over 1000 Oklahoma physicians to use electronic medical records (EMR) to improve the quality, efficiency and value of health care services patients receive. The work is targeted to benefit Oklahomans in all areas of the state, particularly medically underserved populations.

“Being awarded the HITREC is a tremendous opportunity for OFMQ and for Oklahoma,” said Dale Bratzler, DO, MPH, president and CEO of OFMQ. “We owe a great deal of credit and thanks to the many organizations that have worked with us to bring funding to Oklahoma, and we look forward to helping Oklahoma physicians take advantage of this federal program to improve health care quality,” he said.

OFMQ is collaborating with state agencies, medical professional organizations, health plans, colleges and universities, and health care providers, including physicians and hospital systems to carry out the work. Terri White, Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and State Secretary of Health, indicated that state health officials are pleased these resources are available.

“Taking advantage of advancements in technology is important to furthering the capabilities of Oklahoma’s health care system,” said White. “Health information technology will play a significant role in preventing and treating illness and improving system efficiencies.”

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the government recently authorized nearly $1 billion to advance the use of health information technology to improve the nation’s healthcare system and stimulate healthcare job growth. As the Regional Extension Center, OFMQ is designated to provide technical assistance to providers in the selection and use of EMRs to help achieve specific objectives set forth by the government.

Objectives for EMR use include:
• reducing health disparities,
• improving access to patient health data and information to help reduce medical errors,
• improving providers’ ability to offer timely preventive care through reminders and care instructions, engaging patients and families in health care decisions,
• improving care coordination between providers,
• reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and
• ensuring adequate privacy and security protections for personal health information.

“OFMQ has been working with healthcare providers using EMRs for over five years in Oklahoma,” Bratzler said. “Having more efficient systems to keep up with patient medical records improves a physician’s ability to provide such things as appropriate diabetes care and cancer screens. We can be more proactive about patients’ care and help avoid costly hospitalization. Being able to send prescription orders to a pharmacy and file insurance claims helps improve efficiency and convenience for patients and providers,” he added.

Find the Department of Health & Human Services Announcement here: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/02/20100212a.html