Utilizing Health Information Technology (IT) to Improve Health Care Quality (R18)

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Purpose. The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to support health information technology (IT) demonstration projects that evaluate factors associated with successful implementation and utilization of health IT in order to improve the quality, safety, effectiveness and efficiency of health care in ambulatory settings and in the transitions between care settings. The use of health IT has been demonstrated to improve health care in various large health care delivery systems. Yet, there has been limited diffusion and evaluation of the implementation and utility of health IT in ambulatory care settings and in transitions between care settings. This FOA supports real world demonstration projects that evaluate factors (facilitators and barriers) associated with successful health IT implementation and use and ultimately improve health care outcomes. As appropriate, facilitators and barriers to health IT implementation may include adequacy of engagement and training of health care staff, patients, and family in the use of health IT; characteristics of the health care setting; organizational processes and practices; workflow; adequacy of health IT implementation plan; nature of technical support of health IT; integration of new health IT with pre-existing health IT, and other factors. Applications responding to this FOA must seek to evaluate and demonstrate how to optimize functionality of existing health IT; implement health IT in new settings or with new providers and patient populations; or, demonstrate sustainability of health IT.

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