Misys Healthcare Systems has selected the New Haven, Conn., area out of 65 applicants to receive the first grant for its Misys Connect electronic health record software, the New Haven Register reports (Higgins, New Haven Register, 1/16).
Misys in June 2006 created the Center for Community Health Leadership to promote EHR adoption, the Triangle Business Journal reports. The CCHL grant program accepted applications through the end of 2006 from interested areas and regional health care organizations across the country. New Haven will receive $3 million worth of EHR software to support the construction of a communitywide network of medical organizations (Triangle Business Journal, 1/16).
Leigh Burchell, director of CCHL, said the center selected New Haven as its first grant recipient because of its reputation for health care excellence, providers' commitment to data sharing and the area's interest in electronically connecting care settings.
Dr. John Drury -- chief medical information officer at the Hospital of Saint Raphael, which led New Haven's grant application -- said that installing an EHR system costs an average of $35,000 per physician, and an additional $12,000 annually per physician to operate and maintain it. He added that he thinks the grant program will reduce the cost by up to 60%.
Health care providers in the New Haven area now must submit individual applications to Misys, and EHR installations will start in the spring, the Register reports. Misys will distribute a total of $10 million in grants nationwide (New Haven Register, 1/16).