New health information technology RFAs support improved patient safety and quality of care

New health information technology RFAs support improved patient safety and quality of care

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently released three new Requests for Applications (RFAs) with funds set aside to support approximately 100 grants. The $41 million grant program, "Transforming Healthcare Through Information Technology" (HIT), will be part of a $50 million portfolio of grants, contracts, and other activities to demonstrate the role of health information technology to improve patient safety and the quality of care.

The HIT RFAs emphasize the importance of partnerships with rural communities and with small and rural hospitals. To read the AHRQ press release announcing the HIT program on Nov. 21, select www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2003/hitprojpr.htm. To obtain the full text of the RFAS, go to www.ahrq.gov/fund/grantix.htm and look for:
RFA-HS-04-012 Demonstrating the Value of Health Information Technology
RFA-HS-04-011 Transforming Healthcare Quality Through Information Technology (THQIT)—Implementation Grants
RFA-HS-04-010 Transforming Healthcare Quality Through Information Technology (THQIT)—Planning Grants

Source: AHRQ Electronic Newsletter, November 21, 2003, Issue #116