Pennsylvania to use nearly $10M in federal grant funds to improve quality of health care for children

Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced Pennsylvania will use nearly $10 million in federal grant funds to improve the quality of health care for children while reducing the cost of services through the use of pediatric electronic health records.

"For many children, clinical information collected may not be readily transferable across the continuum of care, especially as they move between different health care settings and social agencies," said Governor Rendell. "The effective use of electronic health records makes the transfer of this vital information possible and improves the quality and coordination of their care."

The grant funds will allow the departments of Insurance and Public Welfare to create QUICKSTEPS – Quality Improvement and Care for Kids through Electronic Programs. Over the course of the five-year grant, QUICKSTEPS will improve health outcomes for almost one million children in the Medical Assistance and CHIP programs through the use of pediatric electronic health records that have pre-visit screening capabilities and a referral linkage system.

In developing QUICKSTEPS, the departments will partner with seven health systems essential to Medical Assistance and CHIP, including:

• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• Geisinger Health System
• St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
• Penn State Hershey Medical Center
• PinnacleHealth System
• Pocono Health System
• West Penn Allegheny Health System

Over the next five years, these health systems will implement testing and reporting on pediatric core measures of quality, promote the use of health information technology in children's health care delivery while demonstrating the impact of the pediatric electronic health record.

"Our collective work will help to establish an integrated system of quality health care for children receiving services through CHIP and Medical Assistance," said Governor Rendell.  "These new pediatric health records have the potential to quickly transform the delivery of health care through improved communication between health care providers, organization and patients by making care more accessible, efficient and cost-effective."

The federal grant is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, or CHIPRA.