SAN FRANCISCO – The California Regional Health Information Organization, known as CalRHIO, launched the second phase of a $1 million grant from the Blue Shield of California Foundation.

The insurer developed the  grant  to help  healthcare organizations that care for underserved populations participate in building a statewide electronic health care information exchange.

CalRHIO is a collaborative initiative to improve the safety, quality and efficiency of healthcare through the use of IT and the secure exchange of health information, according to the organization.

The grant, which totals $670,000, will fund up to four $50,000 awards to communities that have moved through the steps necessary to securely exchange data electronically and meet criteria developed by an advisory group of leaders representing safety-net organizations.

“Community” may be defined either geographically or by common interest, such as a community of public hospitals or clinics.

The goal of the grants, according to Blue Shield officials, is to help move safety net providers and their communities through the steps necessary to plan and launch health information exchange projects,” said Lisa Payne Simon, the Blue Shield of California Foundation’s director for health and technology.

Safety net providers include public and rural hospitals, community clinics and public health departments.

“Some activities funded under the grant will benefit all safety net providers by providing tools, templates, assessments, and building consensus,” said Donald L. Holmquest, MD, president and CEO of CalRHIO.  

“Others will help to advance the work of specific safety net organizations that are ready to connect to data,” Holmquist said.