Rural Spotlight

National Coordinator for Health IT Announces New Health IT Workforce Grants

National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, David Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P., recently issued a message announcing the availability of two additional grant programs to support the training and development of the skilled workforce required to support broad adoption and use of health information technology (health IT).  These programs are titled Information Technology Professionals in Health Care: Program of Assistance for University-Based Training Programs (University-Based Training Program) and Information Technology Professionals in Health Care: Competency Examination for Individuals (Competency Examination Program).
Authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the grants will work to help strengthen and support the health IT workforce. The new grant programs will award $32 million to establish university-based certificate and advanced degree health IT training programs and $6 million dollars to develop a health IT competency examination program. These awards, together with the previous announced $80 million in workforce program grants (Community College Consortia on Nov. 24, 2009, and Curriculum Development Centers on Dec. 15, 2009), recognize the critical importance of developing a well-trained health IT workforce to support the adoption and meaningful use of health IT.
Applications are due by Jan. 25, 2010, with final awards expected in March 2010.
Learn more about the grants here.

Defining ‘Meaningful Use’ and Setting Standards for Electronic Health Record Incentive Program

The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) encourage public comment on two regulations that lay a foundation for improving quality, efficiency and safety through meaningful use of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology. The regulations will help implement the EHR incentive programs enacted under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).

A proposed rule issued by CMS outlines proposed provisions governing the EHR incentive programs, including defining the central concept of “meaningful use” of EHR technology. An interim final regulation (IFR) issued by ONC sets initial standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for EHR technology.  Both regulations are open to public comment.
Read more about it by clicking here.

View the CMS rule by clicking here.

To view the ONC Standards and Certification final rule, click here.

Health Literacy Missouri (HLM) Launches Website

On December 15 in St. Louis, the Health Literacy Missouri (HLM) opened for business; its the first statewide center devoted solely to increasing health literacy.  The non-profit private corporation will operate on a $2.4 million annual budget funded by the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFFH).  The mission of HLM is to improve the health of all Missourians and become a national leader in health literacy.  For complete details, click here.

Safety Training for Hospital Personnel

We wanted to pass this information along to you (even though we're not endorsing the product). 

Emergency Film Group is offering a series called Hospital First Receiver.  It's a four-module DVD series with over two hours of video that prepares First Receivers to recognize the signs of contamination and initiate actions to protect themselves, patients, and the facility. The training meets the Joint Commission's accreditation standards for decontamination and emergency planning.

Friday Fun