IT Upgrades Get a $1 Million Boost

Hospitals and other medical facilities across the state of Washington will receive $1 million in grant money allocated for implementing and upgrading their information technology. The Washington Health Information Collaborative, a public-private partnership based in Seattle, is awarding grants of up to $20,000 to 49 small hospitals, community clinics and physician practices to spend on electronic health records and other computerized patient management systems.

The Washington Health Information Collaborative promotes the use of health information technology to improve the quality of patient care and reduce the cost of care.

It is funded by two $500,000 donations from the Washington Health Care Authority and First Choice Health, a provider-owned PPO based in Seattle.