Rural Health Technology Gets Financial Boost From U.S. Health and Human Services

"We need health information technology to bring our health care system into the 21st century," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced in early September. "These funds will help safety net providers acquire state-of-the-art health information technology systems to ensure the delivery of quality care to some of the most remote areas of our country."

HHS has granted nearly $12 million to rural health networks to encourage adoption of Health Information Technology (HIT) and certified Electronic Health Records (EHR). The grantees range throughout rural America and include such facilities as the Panhandle Mental Health Center, Scottsbluff, Nebraska; the Western Washington Rural Health Care Collaborative of Forks, Washington; the Tanana Chiefs Conference of Fairbanks, Alaska.

A pilot program of the Rural Health Initiative, the new grants will total about $300,000 distributed to 40 organizations "to purchase equipment, install broadband networks and provide training for staff."

The grants are in line with President Obama's recently announced Jobs Initiatives for Rural America. Under Expanding Health Information Technology (IT) in Rural America, the administration admitted that "Under current conditions, rural health care providers face challenges in harnessing the benefits of HIT due to limited access to capital and workforce challenges." The new grants are a step toward a national solution.

HHS announces $11.9 million to implement health information technology in rural areas (US Department of Health and Human Services)

Health Resources and Services Administration: Rural Health

President Announces New Jobs Initiatives for Rural America (White House)