National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal announced on Dec. 18 a new $60 million grant program designed to support innovative health IT research projects. HHS will make the funds available though the Strategic Health IT Advanced Research Projects program, or SHARP, with funding coming from the federal economic stimulus package. Officials said the program will target four key areas where research breakthroughs could help break down barriers to health IT adoption and meaningful use:
- Health IT security and risk mitigation
- Patient-centered cognitive support and clinical decision support
- Platforms for health data exchange and networks
- Secondary use of electronic health record data for research purposes.
Grant recipients will be expected to develop a plan that addresses the short-term and long-term challenges of their focus area. The researchers also will be expected to work with other stakeholders in order to integrate their findings into new health IT practices and products. Applications for the program are due on Jan. 25, 2010 and officials expect to award the four-year grants beginning in March.
In related news, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT announced a new grant that will form part of its health IT work force training initiative. The Competency Examination for Individuals Completing Non-Degree Training program will provide $6 million to help higher education institutions run health IT competency exams.