WASHINGTON – Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has awarded grants totaling $27.8 million to health center-controlled networks and large multi-site health centers to implement electronic health records and other health information technology.

“The increased use of health information technology is a key focus of our reform efforts because it will help to improve the safety and quality of healthcare generally while also cutting waste out of the system,” she said.

The funds are part of the $2 billion allotted to HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to expand healthcare services to low-income and uninsured individuals through its health center program.

“These funds to expand and upgrade electronic health records systems will make a huge difference for health centers struggling to provide healthcare to the growing number of people in need,” said HRSA Administrator Mary Wakefield.

Eighteen grants totaling more than $22.6 million will support EHR implementation, and another $2.6 million will help four grantees implement a variety of  health IT innovations. This includes the creation of health information exchanges and the incorporation of health IT at dental delivery sites. Another five grants, totalling more than $2.5 million, will help health centers devise plans to use existing EHRs to improve patient health outcomes.

“Broad use of health information technology has the potential to improve healthcare quality, prevent medical errors and increase the efficiency of care provision,” said David Blumenthal, the national coordinator for health information technology. “This program supports the department’s overall efforts to assist physicians and hospitals in adopting and becoming meaningful users of health information technology.”