Around the state of Connecticut, 25 doctor’s offices will obtain assistance with further implementing EMR technology. The $100,000 grant for EMR deployment will help the physician’s offices qualify for national accreditation as patient-centered medical homes. This announcement was made by the Connecticut State Medical Society.
The medical society’s grant was received from The Physician’s Foundation. The Physician’s Foundation is a national organization that will also administer funds from the grant. A press release from the medical society has indicated that the 25 doctor’s offices will, by and large, be primary care givers. The medical society has also reported that the 25 doctor’s offices have yet to be chosen.
The grant is designed to help those physicians, who are currently using EMR technology, achieve recognition for the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The project, itself, is being coordinated with the Connecticut Quality Improvement Organization and the Connecticut State Medical Society Independent Practice Association.
The goal of the grant is to fund assistance for a program designed to lower costs while increasing the overall quality of health care. Others benefit expected to be derived from the program are a reduction in ethnic and racial disparities when it comes to heath care availability and overall access. This grant is also in response to a study that was released earlier by the medical society. That study illustrated the disadvantages incurred by smaller medical practices when trying to fully integrate EMR technology.
Lou Goodman, president of the Physician’s Foundation, stated that the Foundation has recognized the EMR technology is critical to the improvement of health care quality in the coming years. He also stated that the Foundation is interested in finding practical solutions that can be used repeatedly to eliminate barriers to EMR adoption. Additionally, standards need to be instituted and methods developed in order to ensure compliance.
It should be noted that the Connecticut State Medical Society is the largest physician organization in the state. Its members exceed seven thousand doctors and medical students.
Dr. David S. Katz, president of the society, has pointed out that medical care in Connecticut is predominantly given by doctors in small or solo office practices. He has also said that it is up to the Society to provide support and training that will be needed to be a part of the Connecticut’s medical model of care. If this is accomplished, it may pave the way for assisting small practices across the nation.