As most in health care know, health information technology is quickly becoming one of the most important aspects of the industry. There are grants for electronic health record systems, increased research on the benefits of CPOE (computerized physician order entry), and initiatives for health information exchanges among regions, hospitals, and states.
Another part of health IT that is getting a significant boost is education. Through the Health IT Workforce Program, the goverment will provide several funding opportunities for institutions of higher education to expand health IT by:
- focusing on curriculum development;
- creating education and training programs at community colleges;
- increasing the availability of individuals qualified to serve in specific health IT professional roles requiring university-level training;
- and supporting development and initial administration of a set of health IT competency exams (Health IT and Funding Opportunities)
One such institution to receive a piece of this pie is Johns Hopkins University. With a $3.75 million federal grant, a professor from itsSchool of Medicine will lead an initiative to develop a master's program in health IT, according to a report by Healthcare IT News.
Johns Hopkins will use the grant to further develop informatics courses already offered across its three schools and to offer partial funding to students.
The other eight universities awarded grants, which were announced on April 2, are:
- The Trustees of Columbia University, New York City - $3,786,677
- University of Colorado Denver College of Nursing, Denver, Colo. - $2,622,186
- Duke University, Durham, N.C. - $2,167,121
- George Washington University, District of Columbia - $4,612,313
- Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind. - $1,406,469
- University of Minnesota, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. - $5,145,705
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Ore.- $3,085,812
- Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas- $5,421,205
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