0. Health IT and Rural Healthcare: Embracing Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges
Leila Samy, MPH
Rural Health IT Coordinator
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

1. Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Speakers have no real or apparent conflicts of interest to report.
Leila Samy
Bill Menner
Stephen M. Stewart
Thomas Klobucar
Leila Samy
HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Bill Menner
USDA
Rural Development
Stephen Stewart
CAH in
Henry County Iowa
Thomas Klobucar VA
Office of Rural Health
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

2. ONC Initiatives and partnerships to support Rural health IT
Leila Samy, Rural Health IT Coordinator
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
ONC Initiatives and partnerships to support Rural health IT
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

3. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Learning Objectives
Overall learning objectives
Describe unique challenges and opportunities related to financing, implementing and sustaining the use of health IT in rural communities
Summarize existing federal, state and private-sector programs, tools and best practices for rural providers
Evaluate experiences in participation and use of programs, tools and best practices for rural healthcare providers
Assess gaps in current programs and identify future needs in health IT programs and research for rural healthcare organizations
Session specific learning objectives
Describe ONC Programs for Health IT and their objectives, including collaborations with USDA and VA
Identify ONC resources and tools for rural health IT
Assess experiences with use of ONC programs and resources
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

4. However, rural hospitals are lagging behind the overall trend.
Rural Rates Compared to Overall Rates
for Providers and Hospitals Paid
by Medicare or Medicaid
Rural professionals are participating in the EHR Incentive Programs at roughly the same rate as the national trend.
However, rural hospitals are lagging behind the overall trend.
Where do we stand with Medicare & Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs?
Source: EHR Dashboard on HealthIT.gov as of 11/30/2013

5. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Percent of Small Rural and Critical Access Hospitals Paid
By State as of November 2013
A large majority of the Small Rural and Critical Access Hospitals had received an EHR Incentive Payment by November,
*Note: order changes when states are sorted by number instead of percent
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

6. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Percent of Rural Physicians, Physician’s Assistants and Nurse Practitioners Paid By State as of November 2013
Almost half of rural MDs, PAs, and NPs had received a Meaningful Use Incentive Payment by November 30, 2013.
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

7. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Percent of Rural Physicians, Physician’s Assistants, and Nurse Practitioners Paid
By State as of November 2013
July 2013
November 2013
46% of rural MDs, PAs, and NPs had received a Meaningful Use Incentive Payment by November 30, 2013.
July 31 – November 31: Biggest gains in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Utah, and North Dakota
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

8. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Hospital Progress Overtime Attesting to Meaningful Use Through November 2013, By Type and Size
Note: Large = 400+ staffed beds; Medium = staffed beds; small = <100 staffed beds. Rural = non-metropolitan; Urban = metropolitan. See Data Sources and Definitions slide for more details.
Note: Large = 400+ staffed beds; Medium = staffed beds; Small = <100 staffed beds. Rural = non-metropolitan; Urban = metropolitan.
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

9. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Location of Small Rural and Critical Access Hospitals By Attestation Status
Attested
Not Attested
Small Rural and Critical Access Hospitals that Attested to Meaningful Use Cover the Nation The small rural and CAHs that have achieved this milestone are well distributed across the country – success has not been limited to one region. The map below illustrates the nationwide distribution of the CAHs and small rural hospitals that attested to Meaningful Use.
As of November 31, 2013, about 82% of CAHs and other small, rural hospitals achieved Meaningful Use of certified Health IT.
The Road Ahead for Meaningful Use
As we look to the road ahead, we see that we – and the rural hospitals and providers – are just at the end of the beginning. There is still much work to do in our continued support for rural health care.  We are committed to helping those CAHs and rural hospitals and providers that have yet to achieve Meaningful Use; we are also committed to those that have already achieved Meaningful Use by helping them continue to make progress and use those tools meaningfully.
This figure—a map that shows CAHs and small, rural hospitals that attested to Meaningful Use as well as those that have not yet attested so you can see the success, but also the challenges ahead.
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

10. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Hospitals Attested By 2014 Edition Certification Status of Primary Vendor
Note: Primary EHR vendors are those whose products are certified to the most 2011 Edition certification criteria in the EHR system (in cases where a provider used certified products from multiple vendors to attest). Source: ONC Certified Health IT Product List (CHPL) 12/31/2013, CMS attestation data 11/30/2013.
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

11. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Hospitals Attested By 2014 Edition Certification Status of Primary Vendor
Healthland, Inc. 5%
Indian Health Service 1%
Prognosis Health Information Systems
QuadraMed Corporation
Other (43 vendors, <1% each) 4%
MEDHOST 1%
Health Care Systems, Inc.
Other (5 vendors, <1% each)
MEDITECH
21%
Cerner Corporation
14%
Epic Systems Corporation
CPSI (Computer Programs and Systems), Inc.
11%
McKesson
10%
Healthcare Management Systems, Inc. 6%
Allscripts 4%
Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc 5%
NextGen Healthcare 1%
GE Healthcare
<1%
Note: Primary EHR vendors are the vendors whose products are certified to the most 2011 Edition certification criteria in the provider’s EHR system (in cases where a provider used certified products from multiple vendors to attest).
Sources: ONC Certified HIT Products List (CHPL) (12/31/2013), CMS Attestation Data (11/30/2013).
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

12. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Hospitals Attested By Size, Type, Location and 2014 Edition Certification Status of Primary Vendor
Note: Primary EHR vendors are the vendors whose products are certified to the most 2011 Edition certification criteria in the provider’s EHR system (in cases where a provider used certified products from multiple vendors to attest).
Sources: ONC Certified HIT Products List (CHPL) (12/31/2013), CMS Attestation Data (11/30/2013).
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

13. Rural Health IT Tools and Resources
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

14. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
ONC Data Brief of Critical Access Hospital Survey
Challenges and Opportunities
A fifteen question survey was fielded by HIMSS Analytics as part of their ongoing data collection activities between November 21, 2012 and April 30, HIMSS surveys non-Federal hospitals in the United States annually, including CAHs. Follow up with non-respondents consisted of at least two s, a letter, and a phone call. The response rate was 59%, with 793 of 1,342 facilities responding. The respondents were representative of the total population of CAHs (1,342) in terms of region, profit status, and ownership.
The survey collected information regarding the experience of CAHs with EHR implementation, access to capital, information technology workforce, broadband, and internet access. In addition, data were collected regarding participation in
What have CAHs nationwide reported about their Challenges?
Challenges to adoption and use of health IT
Broadband: Cost, speed and availability
Current and future health IT plans and capabilities
Federal broadband assistance programs.
While EHR adoption was high overall, half of Critical Access Hospitals planned to upgrade or install a new EHR in 2013.
The majority of Critical Access Hospitals used an EHR (89%), and half planned to upgrade or install a new EHR by May 2014.
-Overall, 89% of CAHs reported that they currently used an EHR system, and 49% of CAHs planned to upgrade/install a new EHR within one year
-About one in four CAHs (27%) used a fully electronic health record system. Among these fully electronic CAHs, 19% planned to upgrade or install a new EHR system within one year.
-Almost two in three CAHs used both EHR and paper records (62%); of these, 55% planned to upgrade or install a new EHR within one year.
11% of CAHs were not currently using an EHR, and the majority of these non-adopters planned to install an EHR within one year (85%).
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

15. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
ONC Data Brief of Critical Access Hospital Survey
Challenges and Opportunities
Percent Reporting Severe Challenges: Funding, Broadband, Workforce, Technical
A fifteen question survey was fielded by HIMSS Analytics as part of their ongoing data collection activities between November 21, 2012 and April 30, HIMSS surveys non-Federal hospitals in the United States annually, including CAHs. Follow up with non-respondents consisted of at least two s, a letter, and a phone call. The response rate was 59%, with 793 of 1,342 facilities responding. The respondents were representative of the total population of CAHs (1,342) in terms of region, profit status, and ownership.
The survey collected information regarding the experience of CAHs with EHR implementation, access to capital, information technology workforce, broadband, and internet access. In addition, data were collected regarding participation in
What have CAHs nationwide reported about their Challenges?
Challenges to adoption and use of health IT
Broadband: Cost, speed and availability
Current and future health IT plans and capabilities
Federal broadband assistance programs.
While EHR adoption was high overall, half of Critical Access Hospitals planned to upgrade or install a new EHR in 2013.
The majority of Critical Access Hospitals used an EHR (89%), and half planned to upgrade or install a new EHR by May 2014.
-Overall, 89% of CAHs reported that they currently used an EHR system, and 49% of CAHs planned to upgrade/install a new EHR within one year
-About one in four CAHs (27%) used a fully electronic health record system. Among these fully electronic CAHs, 19% planned to upgrade or install a new EHR system within one year.
-Almost two in three CAHs used both EHR and paper records (62%); of these, 55% planned to upgrade or install a new EHR within one year.
11% of CAHs were not currently using an EHR, and the majority of these non-adopters planned to install an EHR within one year (85%).
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

16. Collaborating with and Leveraging Partners
White House Rural Council
Streamline programs serving rural America
Technical assistance
Funding , Broadband & Workforce
Serving Rural veterans
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

17. Expand Funding for Rural Health IT
ONC and USDA Rural Development launched an initiative to expand funding for CAHs and rural hospitals.
FY 2013 Pilots: Over $38 Million in funding to CAHs and rural hospitals across 4 states.
FY 2014: ONC and Rural Development are taking this initiative to scale in additional states.
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

18. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
ONC/VA Leveraging Health IT to Improve Care Coordination and Quality for Rural Veterans
Project “VICTORhie” The Veteran Initiated Coordination & Transformation of Rural Health Information Exchange
ONC and VA’s Office of Rural Health launched an initiative to leverage Blue Button technology and health information exchange to improve care coordination and quality for rural veterans and highly rural veterans that wish to seek care both within the VHA system as well as at their local rural clinic or hospital.
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

19. Data driven approach to pilot site selection
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

20. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

21. USDA programs and Partnership with HHS/ONC
Bill Menner, Iowa State Director, Rural Development
US Department of Agriculture
USDA programs and Partnership with HHS/ONC
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

22. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Value Steps Benefits
USDA Rural Development programs provide critical resources to rural hospitals and clinics
USDA Rural Development loans, grants and loan guarantees can assist in the purchase of equipment, network infrastructure, hardware and software for Health IT purposes
USDA Rural Development investments lead to improved health data reporting and quality measures reporting
USDA Rural Development involvement may allow hospitals to use their own resources in alternate ways thanks to resources and savings realized
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

23. USDA’s Role in Rural Health IT
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

24. Why is USDA Funding Rural Health IT?
USDA Rural Development is a small mission-area focused on helping create rural communities that are vibrant, self-sustaining and wealth-creating
The Agency has 40 programs that assist in all aspects of rural quality-of-life, from housing to small business to clean water to health care
Strong rural communities help to support American agriculture. Ag producers need small towns for public safety, education, businesses that provide off-farm income, retail and health care, among other things.
Rural residents deserve access to quality health care that does not require a sometimes lengthy trip to an urban center.
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

25. What Are the Challenges in Rural America?
Lower incomes/wages
Less educational attainment
Larger numbers of elderly
Declining populations
Job loss 11/ /2013 as urban areas gain
Access to capital
Access to high-speed broadband
Greater risk of losing primary care physicians to retirement
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

26. What Are the Opportunities in Rural America?
Productive US agriculture
Bioeconomy favors rural
Clean water
Work ethic
Service ethic
Quality of life
Excellent schools
High-performing hospitals and clinics
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

27. Shining the Light on Rural Health IT
President creates White House Rural Council
USDA and HHS secretaries sign MOU
Departments join forces to coordinate and collaborate
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

28. Iowa Jumps at the Chance!
Partners come together to identify new opportunities
Iowa State Office of Rural Health
USDA Rural Development
Iowa FLEX Program – FLEX funding and education
Iowa HIT Regional Extension Center – technical assistance
State Health Information Network - data exchange
Iowa Hospital Association – hospital relationships and support
Iowa Medicaid Enterprise – state incentive and resources
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

29. Consortium Targets and Educates
ID rural hospitals not progressing toward MU
ID rural hospitals citing financial difficulty for lack of progress
Determine capacity of leadership to move forward
ID local/regional partners
Connect REC, USDA local staff with hospital leadership
Find opportunities to leverage
Promote partnership to key stakeholders
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

30. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Immediate Results
Three hospitals began or expanded work toward Meaningful Use
Conversations with hospitals about funding/loans for equipment were initiated
Rural Health Clinics began stepping forward to EHR/MU
Hospitals & providers were informed and directed to attain incentives
Other discussions commence with USDA for non-Health IT discussions (ambulance, MRI, bricks-and-mortar)
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

31. USDA Programs to Consider
Community Facilities Loan/Grant (CF)
USDA is the lender. Term may be dictated by Useful Life of equipment.
Loan dollars can be 100% of project Grant dollars extremely limited. Population
limit 20,000 non-metro.
Rural Economic Development Loan/Grant (REDLG)
0% 10-year loan via local partner (rural electric coop, rural telephone coop,
eligible municipal utility. Up to $2 million per project. Population limit 50,000
non-metro.
Distance Learning-Telemedicine (DLT)
Very competitive program with grants $50, , % required
matching contribution. 20,000 non-metro population limit. Can fund
hardware, software and network equipment.
Business & Industry Loan Guarantees (B&I)
An option for for-profit hospitals.
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

32. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Iowa Case Studies
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

33. Henry County Health Center, Mount Pleasant, IA
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

34. Partnership with Rural Electric Coop
Community Size: 8,741
Total Project:  $998,134 including surgical suite
$195,791 will be used for servers, routers, switches, wireless controllers, docking stations and access points. 
USDA provides $798,000 to the local rural electric coop, which passes funds to hospital via ten-year, 0% loan.
Financing allows hospital to use its own reserves for additional health IT investments totaling $165,000
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

35. Iowa Specialty Hospital, Belmond, IA
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

36. USDA Grant Drives Completion
Community Size: 2,348
Total Project: $440,540     
USDA provides $100,000 Community Facilities grant for purchase and integration of software modules.
Unanticipated Phase Two: Additional hardware needs arise that were not anticipated when the project began. When the project was completed, hospital had spent $190,000 more than they originally planned. Rural Development grant was crucial to project completion. 
A very successful project. The hospital has achieved Meaningful Use  
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

37. Pocahontas Community Hospital, Pocahontas, IA
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

38. Hospital and Municipal Utility Unite
Community Size: 1,744
Total Project Cost: $1 million
USDA provides $300,000 to Municipal Utility, which passes funds (plus 20% match) to hospital at 0% over ten years.
Project: Implementing a full electronic medical record.  This required some additional hardware components also along with a few new servers. Fully electronic by next fall.
From the hospital administrator: “This would not have been possible without the financial support offered by USDA!”
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

39. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Value Steps Benefits
USDA Rural Development programs provide critical resources to rural hospitals and clinics
USDA Rural Development loans, grants and loan guarantees can assist in the purchase of equipment, network infrastructure, hardware and software for Health IT purposes
USDA Rural Development investments lead to improved health data reporting and quality measures reporting
USDA Rural Development involvement may allow hospitals to use their own resources in alternate ways thanks to resources and savings realized
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

40. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
The Big Challenge
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

41. Success Story: Iowa CAH gets USDA financing for Health IT
Stephen M. Stewart CHCIO, FCHIME, FHIMSS, FACHE
Chief Information Officer, Henry County Health Center
Success Story: Iowa CAH gets USDA financing for Health IT
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

42. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Learning Objectives
Explain what Henry County Health Center (HCHC) did to participate in this project
Partnership with Alliant Energy and USDA
Share the results we gained out of this project
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

43. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
The Benefits
HCHC received ~$800,000 interest free loans for “equipment”
We were constructing new surgery center
Have fully implemented EHR
We are a CAH for HITECH reimbursement is on a cost basis
For HCHC 55.23% Medicare Cost share
Plus 20% CAH
77.23% total reimbursement for CAH for qualifying EHR equipment
Surgery Center required infrastructure to attach to EHR
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

44. The USDA Grant and Loan Programs and Health IT
About Henry County Health Center
Critical Access Hospital-25 Acute beds
50 LTC beds on Campus
140 LTC Beds managed under contract
5 Dialysis Centers
5 Employed Physicians
5 Contract ER Physicians
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

45. The USDA Grant and Loan Program and Health IT
Demographics
Iowa Approximately 3 Million People
Henry County Approximately 20,000
Mt. Pleasant Approximately 9,000
Located SE corner of state
25 Miles to Illinois Border
50 Miles to Missouri Border
50 Miles from VA Medical Center Iowa City
60 Miles from VA Medical Center Knoxville
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

46. The USDA Grant and Loan Program and Health IT
HCHC sought in conjunction with Alliant Energy funding under:
REDL (Rural Economic Development Loan) Program
REDG (Rural Economic Development Grant) Program
RDL (Rural Development Loan) Program
Partnering with Alliant Energy and the USDA advanced HCHC HIT
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

47. The USDA Grant and Loan Program and Health IT
The results
$855,000 interest free funding for 10 years
HIT expenditures $261,205
Qualified stimulus reimbursement- $201,728
Net HIT Investment $59,477
Gross amount funded interest free for 10 years
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

48. The USDA Grant and Loan Program and Health IT
What did we acquired
Personal Computers
Printers
Network Fiber Switches
EHR Software Modules
EHR Integrated Central Monitoring System
EHR Integrated Nurse Call System
Wireless Voice communications integrated to EHR
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

49. The Benefits of this Health IT Project
Clearly in the Technology Step
Electronic Information/Data
Added tools we did not previously enjoy in our Surgery Center
At the end of the day the project enables
Better Care
Better Outcomes
Reduced costs
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

50. HHS/VA partnership: Leveraging Health IT To Serve Rural Veterans
Thomas Klobucar
Deputy Director, Office of Rural Health, Veterans Administration
HHS/VA partnership: Leveraging Health IT To Serve Rural Veterans
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

51. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
HHS/VA Partnership
Veterans Health System (VHA) Office of Rural Health (ORH)
Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) My HealtheVet Program Office
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

52. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Need for Interagency Efforts for Health Information Exchange and Health Care Coordination
90.5% of VA enrolled rural Veterans say they get at least some healthcare outside of the VA system—with no systematic way for their providers to exchange information to coordinate care
38% of Medicare-eligible Veterans who get meds from community pharmacies say they never discussed those medications with their VA providers
Community providers feel the need for HIE with the VA
“With VA, we get nothing…. [W]e need something we have to call the VA or have the patient acquire it…[N]othing is ever sent automatically from VA….And most of the time I don’t even know that they see the VA… I don’t know they’re a VA patient.”
“What would be really ideal, is if there were an interface, between, the community, and the VA system, where if a patient gets lab work done, at the VA, or, diagnostic studies done at the VA, or a colonoscopy done at the VA, right? Then, that stuff would come in, and integrate, with my system.”
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

53. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
The Program
HHS/ONC brings in the community providers through their grantees
VHA provides the training and information to Veteran patients on how to get the information to their community provider
Site Teams
VA Health Care Facility
HHS grantees
Rural healthcare providers and organizations
Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs)
Rural health clinics
Federally Qualified Health Care Centers (FQHCs)
Mental health clinics
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

54. Participating Locations
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

55. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Stephen M. Stewart CHCIO, FCHIME, FHIMSS, FACHE
Chief Information Officer, Henry County Health Center
Success Story: Iowa CAH participates in HHS/VA pilot to serve rural veterans
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

56. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Learning Objectives
Create an awareness of the projects intentions and the need
Describe what the project means to our Veterans
Detail the process steps we took
Describe the outcomes
Look to the next steps for the project
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

57. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
The Benefits
Our Veterans deserve this. It is the right work
Veteran’s Satisfaction with non VA services is enhanced
Veterans are better able to communicate with their community based providers
Community base providers satisfaction grows as they have better information than normal from the VA
Veteran Safety is enhanced with better information
Community based outcomes appear to be improving
The more veterans who get involved the stronger the program becomes
Gives great opportunity for a CAH to reach out in a proactive positive way to their community
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

58. The ONC/VA Rural Veteran Project: “VICTORhie”
About Henry County Health Center
Critical Access Hospital-25 Acute beds
50 LTC beds on Campus
140 LTC Beds managed under contract
5 Dialysis Centers
5 Employed Physicians
5 Contract ER Physicians
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

59. The ONC/VA Rural Veteran Project: “VICTORhie”
Demographics
Iowa Approximately 3 Million People
Henry County Approximately 20,000
Mt. Pleasant Approximately 9,000
Located SE corner of state
25 Miles to Illinois Border
50 Miles to Missouri Border
50 Miles from VA Medical Center Iowa City
60 Miles from VA Medical Center Knoxville
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

60. The ONC/VA Rural Veteran Project: “VICTORhie”
The Project
Co-Ordinate with VA In Iowa City
Plan and Execute Internal Process Flows
Set area for Vets to use Computers
Plan and Execute Vet Training Classes
Design and execute workflow to deliver CCD’s to HIM and appropriate Clinics
Engage the Physicians
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

61. The ONC/VA Blue Button Project: “VICTORhie”
The results
55 Vets in County with right My Health E Vet accounts
Conducted two training sessions in hospital training center
Received about 20 CCD’s to date
Largest Primary Care Group independent but on campus
Share CCD with the Clinics
Today that is a manual process, with printed document
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

62. The ONC/VA Blue Button Project: “VICTORhie”
The Vets
Great Positive feedback
The Clinicians
Info was hard to get from VA in the past
Great Step Forward
The Physicians
Love it
Got little from VA in the past
Positive impact on patient care
IT-Easy to execute, VA wonderfully co-operative
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

63. The Benefits of this Health IT Project
Satisfaction and Treatment/Clinical
Electronic exchange to come
Vets will benefit more from electronic exchange
Exposure to Direct Secure Messaging will be huge
Physicians can provide better care
Hospitals have more information to work with and provide better care
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

64. Recap of Learning Objectives
We described challenges and opportunities related to financing rural health IT:
Challenge: Covering up front costs of EHR adoption
Opportunities: Leverage USDA Rural Development grants, loans and loan guarantees
We assessed the extent to which one CAH benefitted from ONC, USDA and VA programs and joint initiatives
We identified a range of resources to support rural health IT. For more, please visit:
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

65. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Get involved
Contact:
Leila Samy, Rural Health IT Coordinator
Share:
Tools, resources and best practices
Review report card for
ONC efforts and collaborative initiatives in support of rural health IT:
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

66. Critical Access and Rural Hospital Champion Award
2012
2013
Barry Little
Bill Sonterre
Brock Slabach
Chuck Christian
Harry Wolin
Jac Davies
Joe Wivoda
Kay Gooding
Kevin Driesen
Louis Wenzlow
Lynette Dickson
Melissa Hungerford
Patricia Alafaireet
Patricia Dombrowski
Paul Kleeberg
Phil Deering
Randy McCleese
Roger Holloway
Sally Buck
Shanti Wilson
Tammy Flick
Terry Alexander
Terry Hill
Val Schott
Kathy Whitmire
Bill Menner
David Willis
Ed Gamache
Jessica Zufolo
Kendra Siler-Marsiglio
Mark Renfro
Marty Fattig
Norma Morganti
Rural Community of Practice Leaders, Experts from Across the Nation
I’d like to acknowledge those who received the Critical Access and Rural Hospital Champion Award from the National Coordinator for Health IT in 2012 and  This award recognizes the groundbreaking collaborative efforts these individuals  have taken with public and private sector partners to accelerate Meaningful Use among CAHs and small, rural hospitals nationwide. What we’re most delighted to note about this award is that it is also in recognition of continued collaborations since These awards are not simply for a single instance of dedicated effort. Many of these folks are speaking here today and are involved in the initiatives that we have discussed today: shout out to Patricia Alafaireet, Joe Wivoda, David Willis, Kendra Siler-Marsiglio, Bill Menner, Paul Kleeberg
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

67. Thank you!
Questions?