The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has at its mission to improve the quality, safety efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. Information from AHRQ's research helps people make more informed decisions and improves the quality of health care services. AHRQ was formely know as the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.
The Partnership for Community Health applied for a competitive Health Information Technology (HIT) evaluation grant from the above mentioned agency in the spring of 2004. The date for the proposed period of the grant totaling $ 1,469,877 including in-kind contributions and indirect costs is from September of 2004 to August of 2007.
The purpose of this project is to increase our knowledge and understanding of the value of Health Information Technology (HIT) by assessing the value derived from the adoption and utilization of HIT in a diverse array of health care settings. We will assess issues such as the clinical, organizational, and financial effectiveness/efficiency of HIT with special emphasis on patient safety and quality. We will utilize the HIT projects implemented by the Central Savannah River Area Partnership for Community Health, Inc. as a model. This model includes community health centers (CHCs), a safety net hospital, the local health department, an academic medical center, a local branch of the state welfare agency, United Way of the CSRA, another community partnership, and a homeless taskforce, all within Richmond County.
The mission of the Office of Minority Health (OMH) is to improve and protect the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will eliminate health disparities.
The Partnership in collaboration with the Neighborhood Improvement Project and the 30901 Development Corporarion applied for a competitive Community Program grant to improve minority health status of targeted minorities in the Richmond County through health promotion and disease risk reduction intervention programs. The proposed period of the grant totaling $ 151,393 is from September of 2004 to August of 2005.
It is expected that the implementation of this program if funded will:
- Demonstrate the effectiveness of our community-based programs in developing, implementing, and conducting demonstration projects which integrate community-based educatinal screening and outreach services
- Include links and/or referrals for access and treatment to minorities in high-risk, low-income communities with Richmond County, Georgia
- Address sociocultural, linguistics, and other barriers to health care in Richmond County, Georgia