The Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality announced it was awarded $5.3 million in government stimulus funding to serve as one of 32 Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers in the nation. OFMQ will provide technical assistance to more than 1,000 Oklahoma physicians to use electronic medical records to improve the quality, efficiency and value of health care services patients receive. The work is targeted to benefit Oklahomans in all areas of the state, particularly medically underserved populations.

“Being awarded the HITREC is a tremendous opportunity for OFMQ and for Oklahoma,” said Dale Bratzler, president and CEO of OFMQ. “We owe a great deal of credit and thanks to the many organizations that have worked with us to bring funding to Oklahoma, and we look forward to helping Oklahoma physicians take advantage of this federal program to improve health care quality.”

OFMQ is collaborating with state agencies, medical professional organizations, health plans, colleges and universities, and health care providers, including physicians and hospital systems, to carry out the work.

“Taking advantage of advancements in technology is important to furthering the capabilities of Oklahoma’s health care system,” said Terri White, state secretary of health and commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. “Health information technology will play a significant role in preventing and treating illness and improving system efficiencies.”

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the government recently authorized nearly $1 billion to advance the use of health information technology to improve the nation’s health care system and stimulate health care job growth. As the Regional Extension Center, OFMQ is designated to provide technical assistance to providers in the selection and use of EMRs to help achieve specific objectives set forth by the government.

 

Bratzler said OFMQ has been working with health care providers using EMRs for more than five years in Oklahoma.

“Having more efficient systems to keep up with patient medical records improves a physician’s ability to provide such things as appropriate diabetes care and cancer screens,” he said. “We can be more proactive about patients’ care and help avoid costly hospitalization. Being able to send prescription orders to a pharmacy and file insurance claims helps improve efficiency and convenience for patients and providers.”