Three Illinois not-for-profit organizations were awarded $1.3 million in federal funding, announced Governor Pat Quinn Saturday.
The money will help the organizations upgrade health information technology services in underserved areas of Illinois, according to a press release.
The grants were made possible by the Illinois Office of Health Information Technology (OHIT) as part of its White Space Grant Program. The OHIT anticipates the grants will allow providers to serve hundreds of thousands of patients every year, said the press release.
“Upgrading our health information technology network is a critical part of our efforts to transform our healthcare system into one that focuses on wellness and keeping people healthy through better preventive care,” Governor Quinn said in a press release. “Improving communication among providers is a key to this transformation. These grants are another important step in the direction of a fully connected Illinois and better patient care.”
Heartland Health Outreach, The Alliance of Community Health Services and the Chicago Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center in Chicago were awarded a $500,000 grant.
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The Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network in Princeton was awarded a $495,120 grant and Southern Illinois Healthcare in Carbondale was awarded a $338,600 grant.
In 2010, Illinois was awarded with $18.8 million in federal funding under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act as part of the HIE Cooperative Agreement Program, making the funding for these grants possible.
