The Hawaii Department of Human Services has received a two-year, $3.18 million HHS grant to create an electronic health record system and train rural community health clinics and independent physicians to use the system, the Pacific Business News reports.
The grant specifically targets clinics that treat native Hawaiians and Medicaid beneficiaries. The University of Hawaii Telecommunications and Information Policy Group will create and manage the EHR system.
The system will allow physicians to securely access via the Internet health records, preventive-care reminders and patient medication data. The system also is expected to include electronic prescription capabilities to reduce the cost of filling prescriptions at pharmacies, the Pacific Business News reports.
The project is a combined effort involving the state DHS, the Hawaii Department of Health, the University of Hawaii Telecommunications and Information Policy group, and the University of Hawaii John Burns School of Medicine. Four clinics in Oahu and two clinics in Kauai will be the first to use the EHR system, according to the Hawaii DHS (Pacific Business News, 2/1).