GEORGIA HIGHLANDS MEDICAL SERVICE INC
Grant: $656,210 - Health Resources and Services Administration - Jun. 25, 2009
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Award Description: Georgia Highlands is requesting $656,210 in one-time CIP funding to address our needs. Support for construction with internal changes and the acquisition of health information technology will not only improve access to health services for underserved populations, but will improve efficiencies in operations, reduce medical and administrative errors, and create new health center and construction related jobs. CIP funds and a $100,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente for electronic health records will support two separate projects. The expansion project will add approximately 1,700 square feet of space to our main facility. The space will be utilized as a training/multi-purpose room and will not require a change in scope. The training room will accommodate 75 to 80 individuals and will be dedicated to staff training, continuing medical education, in-service workshops, community service organizational meetings and monthly Board meetings. Internal changes will improve patient flow and address patient privacy issues. A better use of current space will enhance the efficiency of operations in checking in patients, requesting confidential patient information at intake, and checking out patients. Changes will include separating and enclosing the current waiting room area, adding a patient bathroom, adding two intake offices, installing a noise absorbing ceiling, and expanding the kitchen area to accommodate all employees. The renovation will also include three new heating and air conditioning units to replace three old units. The certified EHR project will provide our organization with the tools needed to facilitate patient tracking and management of our health care system. Our patients will benefit from fewer medical and prescribing errors, more timely and accurate reporting and analysis, and sharing of needed medical information amongst medical specialities. The EHR project will be completed by 12/31/2009 with the construction project scheduled for 07/2010.
Project Description: During the first quarter of our CIP project, Georgia Highlands Medical Services, Inc. began to respond to the grant conditions that were placed on the Notice of Grant Award. On September 1, 2009, we received notice that David Spurlock, Public Health Analyst, HRSA, would be our CIP Program Contact. Then on September 18, 2009 we received a new notice of grant award that removed grant conditions specific to the EHR project within our CIP award. We have not received a new notice of grant award removing grant conditions for the renovation/construction proposed in our grant, but we are moving ahead with out EHR project. Georgia Highlands has contracted with eClinical Works, a certified system, to begin implementation of electronic health records. The electronic health records system includes electronic prescribing and the electronic exchange of health information to improve the quality of health care and the submission of clinical quality measures. The implementation schedule is expected to be completed by December 20, 2009. We will continue to work with Mr. Spurlock to remove conditions pertaining to our renovation/construction project prior to beginning that portion of our award.
Jobs Summary: We estimate there will be 15 construction worker jobs created with this project. (Total jobs reported: 0)
Project Status: Less Than 50% Completed
This award's data was last updated on Jun. 25, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.
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