PCDC CLOSES $750,000 FINANCING PACKAGE TO THE INSTITUTE FOR URBAN FAMILY HEALTH TO UPGRADE ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM
May 6, 2005—The Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC) has just closed on a $750,000 financing package to the Institute for Urban Family Health. The Institute is the first health center network in
New York City , and one of very few nationally, to have implemented a completely electronic health record (EHR) and practice management system. The funds will enable the Institute to move the system’s operations in-house, replacing its former outsourcing arrangement.
The Epic EHR system has been operating at the Institute for three years. In the year following its implementation, eye care referrals for diabetics increased by 55%, and the number of patients with high blood pressure returning for regular blood pressure checks increased by 74%. Neil Calman, MD, President and CEO of the Institute stated, “We are seeing dramatic improvements in patient care, including increased provider compliance with preventive and chronic care management guidelines, and a reduced risk of medical errors, such as harmful prescription drug interactions. Most importantly, the system promotes more effective communication between providers and patients, and gives patients clear information about their health, like printed health summaries with lab results and prescriptions at the end of each visit. In addition, the EHR has permitted a level of collaboration with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene that was previously not possible. We are working together to collect primary data to identify disease outbreaks and promote preventive care.”
In the last few years, there has been an increased focus on the use of technology to improve the quality of primary health care across the country. During his tenure, former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson released an outline of a ten-year plan to build a new healthcare infrastructure nationwide. In the coming years, health centers across the country will be responding to the federal government’s initiative by adapting to an electronic health information environment. PCDC’s financing will enable the Institute for Urban Family Health to remain in the forefront of this movement. “PCDC is proud to support the Institute’s efforts because we have seen the importance of providers having readily accessible clinical information to inform and monitor the delivery of high quality care,” said
Ronda Kotelchuck , Executive Director of PCDC.
The Institute, located at 16 East 16th Street, was founded in 1983 to provide primary health care to the residents of medically underserved communities. The Institute provides over 185,000 patient visits per year at seven federally funded community health centers, six centers affiliated with Continuum Health Partners, and nine part-time practices operated in collaboration with Care for the Homeless. In addition to health care, dental care and mental health services, the Institute provides health promotion and outreach programs, including a project to reduce racial disparities in health outcomes. The Institute also operates a family practice residency-training program, a faculty development program, and programs designed to increase the diversity of the health care workforce by providing medical and other health professional students with training opportunities.
