Measuring the adoption of health information technology in the United States to reduce health care disparities and improve health care quality: 2005

The purpose of this project is to produce an annual report on the dissemination and use of health information technology (HIT) in the United States. HIT has the potential to advance health care quality through, among other things, facilitating the measurement of provider performance, reducing disparities in treatment and reducing medical errors. Nevertheless, dissemination of HIT has not occurred rapidly or easily. Barriers to adoption include physicians' reluctance to adopt new information technologies, as well as the cost of HIT in upfront capital investment, maintenance and short-term loss of productivity. These and other barriers may pose particular difficulties for institutions that serve vulnerable populations, including racial and ethnic groups affected by health care disparities. Uneven adoption of HIT could increase disparities in health care. This grant supports the production of the first two annual reports on the dissemination and use of HIT in the United States. An expert consensus panel (ECP) composed of key stakeholders and experts on HIT will prepare the reports. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology located in the Department of Health and Human Services will convene the panel. Each year the reports will synthesize available information on HIT dissemination and implementation, and highlight policy options for promoting equitable access to the benefits of HIT. The Institute for Health Policy at Massachusetts General Hospital will support ECP in the development of the reports, and the Foundation will provide advice and review the development of the reports. The Institute for Health Policy will disseminate the reports, working with the Foundation's communications team.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $681,453.00

Awarded on: 12/22/2005

Time frame: 1/1/2006 - 3/31/2008

Grant Number: 51912