The Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Center has announced that the Blue Cross Blue Shield Rural HIT Grant Program has $375,000 available in grant funding with five to seven awards ranging from $40,000 to $65,000.
The BCBSND seeks projects that demonstrate collaborative efforts involving rural healthcare facilities where measurable outcomes will improve access, safety, quality, effectiveness, and provide efficient health services to the rural population in the state. Proposed grants must address the high priority health needs of a rural population through the planning and implementation of an HIT infrastructure.
Special consideration will be given to programs that:
• Work collaboratively with other healthcare facilities
• Demonstrate a solid planning process for implementation and adoption of HIT
• Help patients transition between healthcare settings
• Reduce duplicative and unnecessary testing and services
• Impart evidenced-based best practice guidelines to providers and patients
• Develop and implement a program with an emphasis on e-prescribing
Projects should place emphasis on the development of systems that improve the exchange of health information along the continuum of care. Such HIT systems can involve provider-to-provider and/or provider-to-patient relationships.
Eligibility can include single healthcare entities or a network (public or private, for-profit or non-profit) involving a variety of organizations but not necessarily limited to hospitals, clinics, medical and nursing providers, nursing facilities, public health units, mental health providers, dental clinics, tribal health providers, home health agencies, pharmacies, EMS units, academic centers, other community and health organizations, plus economic development organizations.
The grant process begins with submission of a Letter of Intent which must be received no later than 5 pm CDT on Thursday July 15th. Proposals must be received by 5 pm CDT on Monday August 30th.
For more information on RFP#187-2010, go to http://ruralhealth.und.edu/news or contact Lynette Dickson Program Director, Center for Rural Health by email ldickson@medicine.nodak.edu or call (701) 777-6049
