Corporate News and Events

HHS Awards Nearly $3.2 Million in Federal IT Grants to Trinity Health Hospitals

Novi, Michigan (October 14, 2004) - Trinity Health, Novi, Mich., working in consortium with its member organizations and their partners, today announced the receipt of three federal grants totaling nearly $3.2 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The grants were part of $139 million in grants and contracts released through the HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Trinity Health will utilize its grants to advance its system-wide implementation of common core computer systems, called Project Genesis, either directly or by supporting related initiatives. Project Genesis is a major system integration initiative supporting patient safety, clinical quality and financial performance through information technology.

“We see these implementation grants as exciting opportunities to transform health care in the areas of electronic health records and new computerized tools for nurses," Judy Pelham, President and CEO, Trinity Health, said. "The funded projects will help us reach our ultimate goal of ensuring that every person receives the highest quality and safest care available."

Trinity Health has committed more than $200 million over five years to equip its member organizations with adverse drug event (ADE) alert systems, computer physician order entry (CPOE), electronic health records (EHR) and supporting revenue management and supply chain management systems.

“Increased adoption of information technology will speed the transformation of health care services in this nation,” HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. “Technology can help to efficiently and effectively deliver the information caregivers need to take better care of their patients.”

The $3.2 million in grants will be used in the following ways:

Rural Iowa redesign of care delivery with EHR function
Nearly $1.5 million over three years
The partners of a comprehensive integrated, electronic health record (EHR) system will use uniform data standards, computerized provider order entry, and clinical decision support tools in rural North Iowa inpatient, ambulatory care, primary care, specialty clinics and hospice care services. The project partners are Trinity Health, Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa (a member of Trinity Health, Novi Mich.), Hospice of North Iowa, the Mason City Clinic, Mercy Medical Center – Clinton (Trinity Health, Novi, Mich.), and the Department of Health Management and Policy.

IT support for safe nursing care
$1.5 million over three years
Awarded to the University of Michigan, Trinity Health and other organizations, the grant will fund studies of an automated system for planning and coordinating patient care. The work will be pivotal in improving the quality and content of computerized documentation and communication among nurses and other personnel. St. Joseph Mercy Health System – Ann Arbor (Trinity Health, Novi, Mich.) will be the main site for the study.

Transforming health care quality through IT
$200,000 for one year
Hancock County Memorial Hospital in partnership with nine rural facilities, including Mercy Medical Center–New Hampton (Trinity Health), will plan an integrated EHR system in collaboration with Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa (Trinity Health, Novi, Mich.) to help ensure compatibility with Project Genesis.

In addition, a $1.2 million, three-year grant was awarded to Munson Healthcare, Traverse City, Mich., a partner of Trinity Health. The funding will provide Trinity Health-owned member hospitals Mercy Hospital Cadillac and Mercy Hospital Grayling with bar-coded medications. Bedside bar codes have been proven to help prevent errors in drug delivery.

President Bush has called for electronic health records for most Americans within 10 years.

“I view these awards as a building block to advance the adoption of electronic health records,” said David J. Brailer, MD, PhD, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. “These projects will encourage real world laboratories for innovation and provide models for other organizations as we move forward in developing an electronic health record.”