The Health Center has received a grant of $125,000 from the Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation for implementation of our updated health information technology (HIT) plan. We are honored to be recognized by this prestigious foundation, but it comes with one condition: we must raise the same amount in matching funds from other sources in the community.Please take a few minutes to read why this project is so important to CHC and our patients.
The objectives of the HIT plan are to (1) ensure the privacy and security of patient information, (2) improve operational efficiencies across all four sites, (3) improve communication with patients and educate them to navigate the health care system, and (4) prepare us for health reform at the state and federal levels.
While the project will bring about many improvements, we are especially excited about the enhancements that will enable patients to take an active role in their own care. For example, the CHC website will be modified to include a patient portal that will enable patients to access their medical record, schedule appointments, view test results, and communicate directly with their health care team, including their provider. This access will be available from patients’ home computers or from computer stations at CHC in Mashpee.
Other highlights of the project include:
· Improved network capacity, speed, security, and virus protection
· Consistent access to the electronic medical record at all sites
· Interface with Cape Cod Healthcare for lab test ordering and results reporting
· Phone system upgrade
· Compliance with new billing procedures and other health reform measures
Although the current network is stable and unplanned outages are rare, the hardware, operating systems, and virus protection software has not been updated in 3 ½ years. The updated HIT plan pertains to all four of our locations and the timing is particularly important as we organize our services in conjunction with the Mashpee expansion project. Total costs of the project are approximately $435,000.
You can help CHC take full advantage of the Tower Foundation challenge by designating a gift to the Building for the Future campaign for information technology. As always, if you have questions about this or any other aspect of the campaign, please call the Development office at 508-477-5990.
The Tower Foundation supports initiatives aimed at children’s, adolescents’, and young adults’ mental well-being as well as organizations’ capacity to respond to such needs in the community. It has assets of $72 million and distributes over $2.5 million in grants every year. Its geographic funding areas are Erie and Niagara Counties in New York State and Barnstable, Dukes, Essex and Nantucket Counties in Massachusetts.