The types of funding that is or will be flowing from the federal government is illustrated in an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Look for similar types of funding programs coming from the various health agencies under the federal health IT stimulus money.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently said it will fund real-world applications of health information technology (HIT) to evaluate efficiency in different care settings.
“The use of HIT has been demonstrated to improve healthcare in various large healthcare delivery systems. Yet, there has been limited diffusion and evaluation of the implementation and utility of HIT in ambulatory care settings and in transitions between care settings,” said AHRQ.
The grants will “support HIT demonstration projects that evaluate factors associated with successful implementation and utilization of health IT to improve the quality, safety, effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare in ambulatory settings and in the transitions between care settings,” said AHRQ.
Funding will be awarded to applicants who submit projects within the following research areas:
1) HIT to improve the quality and safety of medication management. This includes the utilization of medication management systems and technologies; ambulatory healthcare providers and out-patient pharmacists’ use of electronic prescribing systems and/or medication management technologies; integration of evidence-based decision support for priority conditions within electronic prescribing systems; and providing patients electronic tools to support medication self-management.
2) HIT to support patient-centered care. This includes a focus on the coordination of care across transitions in care settings and the use of electronic exchange of health information to improve quality of care. AHRQ defines patient-centered care as responsive to the needs and preferences of individual patients, provides patients and/or their caregivers with access to their medical information, facilitates communication between patients, caregivers and providers, and empowers patients to be active participants in care decisions and in the daily management of their health and illnesses.
3) HIT to improve health care decision making. This includes the development, implementation, and integration of health information tools, products or systems through the use of integrated data and knowledge management. AHRQ encourages research projects that propose use of HIT applications applying principles of evidence-based medicine including the use of the best available evidence, healthcare providers’ ability to execute their best judgment, and consideration of patients’ expressed treatment preferences.
Total funding available has not been determined, but each applicant is eligible for a maximum of $1.2 million over three years and not to exceed total costs of $500,000 per year. Applications asking or budgeting for more than the allotted amount will not be reviewed, AHRQ noted.
Eligible applicants are public or non private institution; a university or college; faith-based or community-based organization; local or state government; specific federal agencies; and Native- American tribal government. AHRQ will not fund for-profit organizations for this project.
The deadline for this particular program was May 7, 2009. But the idea is to stay on top of these kinds of opportunities.
Address: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850; (301) 427-1364, www.ahrq.gov.
