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: