OLYMPIA, WA – Three Washington communities will receive $1.7 million in grants for pilot projects that will test consumer managed health records.

The grants were awarded by the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) to Spokane-based Inland Northwest Health Services, Cashmere-based Community Choice Healthcare Network, and Bellingham-based St. Joseph Hospital Foundation and The Critical Junctures Institute.

Each health record bank pilot project is a public-private partnership that will help test the feasibility and usefulness of online health record bank accounts to see if they offer a useful way for consumers to maintain, track and use their personal health information.

The grants will be used to explore patients accessing online health information using community-based solutions in conjunction with Microsoft HealthVault and Google Health.

"The state Legislature charged HCA in 2005 and 2007 with the responsibility to improve information sharing for Washington's healthcare communities," said Steve Hill, administrator of the Health Care Authority. "Today, no one has access to their complete health information - parts of which are stored at multiple locations where care is provided. It is difficult for patients or medical personnel to easily see the entirety of a patient's medical information; clearly this is needed to provide the best care."

The pilot project awards are:

• Inland Northwest Health Services in Spokane, $583,377 in conjunction with Google Health
• Community Choice Healthcare Network in Cashmere, $551,448 in conjunction with Microsoft HealthVault
• St. Joseph Hospital Foundation and the Critical Junctures Institute in Bellingham, $598,352, in conjunction with Microsoft HealthVault

The grant program is administered by the HCA in collaboration with the Health Information Infrastructure Advisory Board - a statewide board that advises HCA on strategy for adoption and use of electronic health information and electronic medical records in the state's healthcare community.

"We need these pilots to learn more about the benefits and any possible pitfalls from this consumer-enabling approach. This is an opportunity to strengthen the partnership between patient and physician," said Marc Pierson, MD, regional vice president of clinical information at St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham.

Tom Fritz, chief executive officer of Inland Northwest Health Services, added,  "Making health information available online to patients, families, caregivers and health consumers is a critical step toward a more streamlined healthcare system."

The projects will begin work immediately, and are expected to be operational starting in February 2009.

Is access to complete health information using personal health records the best way to provide care? E-mail Associate Editor Molly Merrill at molly.merrill@medtechpublishing.com