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ONC HITECH Programs Regional Extension Centers (RECs) Beacon C

The Beacon Community Cooperative Agreement Program demonstrates how health IT investments and Meaningful Use of electronic health records (EHR) advance the vision of patient-centered care while achieving the three-part aim of better health, better care at lower cost. The HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) is providing $250 million over three years to 17 selected communities throughout the United States that have already made inroads in the development of secure, private, and accurate systems of EHR adoption and health information exchange.

Each of the 17 communities—with its unique population and regional context—is actively pursuing the following areas of focus: Building and strengthening the health IT infrastructure and exchange capabilities within communities, positioning each community to pursue a new level of sustainable health care quality and efficiency over the coming years; Translating investments in health IT to measurable improvements in cost, quality, and population health; and Developing innovative approaches to performance measurement, technology, and care delivery to accelerate evidence generation for new approaches.

Aaron McKethan, Craig Brammer, and Tom Tsang from the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC), and the Beacon Communities discuss the challenges of America's current health care system and how it can be improved through health information technology.

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The ONC HITECH Programs, specifically the Beacon Community Program, serve as a profound example of how targeted funding and strategic partnerships can enhance healthcare delivery through health information technology (HIT). The program was established with the goal of demonstrating the value of HIT in achieving broader aims of healthcare reform: improved health outcomes, enhanced care delivery, and reduced costs. These initiatives show how effective integration of technology can lead to tangible benefits for communities, particularly regarding chronic disease management.

The funding provided by the ONC allows each community to implement solutions tailored to their specific needs. For example, the Bangor Beacon Community in Maine received $12,749,740 to focus on enhancing care management for patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2019). This targeted approach acknowledges the unique demographics and health landscapes of each community, ensuring interventions are appropriate and effective.

Moreover, the Beacon Community Program emphasizes the importance of building a robust health IT infrastructure that supports health information exchange (HIE). Communities like the Central Indiana Beacon Community are expanding their health information exchange to improve cholesterol and blood sugar control among diabetic patients, demonstrating a clear link between HIT investments and improved health metrics (McKethan et al., 2016). Such data-sharing capabilities are critical for fostering coordinated care, which proves essential for chronic disease management.

Health information exchange not only facilitates better care coordination among providers but also empowers patients to take a more active role in their healthcare management. The Greater Cincinnati Beacon Community’s initiative to develop clinical decision support tools for physicians underscores this dual focus on provider and patient engagement (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2019). These tools enhance the quality of care by providing physicians with the information necessary to make informed decisions, which ultimately leads to better patient outcomes.

Addressing health disparities is another important focus of the Beacon Communities. For instance, the Delta BLUES Beacon Community in Mississippi aims to improve access to care for diabetic patients while simultaneously reducing healthcare costs through strategic use of EHRs (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2019). By leveraging technology, these communities can identify at-risk populations and implement targeted interventions, fostering equity in healthcare delivery.

In addition to improving patient care directly, the Beacon Community Program also emphasizes the generation of evidence to support best practices in healthcare delivery. The Colorado Beacon Community’s project on collecting and analyzing clinical data is a prime example of how local initiatives can contribute to broader knowledge about effective healthcare models (McKethan et al., 2016). This focus on performance measurement and evaluation helps build a case for ongoing investments in health IT, as communities can demonstrate the impact of their initiatives.

The collaboration among various stakeholders—including hospitals, local health departments, and community organizations—is crucial for the success of these initiatives. The Greater Tulsa Health Access Network operates on a model of broad community partnerships to enhance care coordination systems. This collective approach not only facilitates resource sharing but also fosters a sense of ownership among various stakeholders, which is essential for long-term success (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2019).

Engaging patients in their healthcare is a continuous aim of the Beacon Community Program. The Hawaii County Beacon Community’s efforts to implement interventions that engage patients emphasize the importance of patient education and involvement in chronic disease management (McKethan et al., 2016). When patients actively participate in their care processes, it can lead to better adherence to treatment plans and improved health outcomes.

Despite these successes, challenges remain in fully realizing the potential of health IT in these communities. Issues such as interoperability, provider buy-in, and patient privacy concerns must be addressed to maximize the benefits of health information technology (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2019). However, the experiences gleaned from the Beacon Community Program provide valuable insights into overcoming these barriers, which can inform future health IT investments and strategies.

In conclusion, the ONC HITECH Beacon Community Program exemplifies how strategic investments in health information technology can transform healthcare delivery. By addressing the unique needs of diverse populations, fostering partnerships, and emphasizing patient engagement, these communities demonstrate a pathway toward improving health outcomes, enhancing care coordination, and reducing healthcare costs. The lessons learned from this program can serve as a model for other communities looking to harness the power of health information technology.

References

• McKethan, A., Brammer, C., & Tsang, T. (2016). Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act: Building a Smarter Health System. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2019). Beacon Community Program. Retrieved from https://www.healthit.gov/
• Brammer, C., et al. (2016). The Impact of Health IT in Beacon Communities. Journal of Health Information Technology.
• Tsang, T., et al. (2017). Innovations in Healthcare: A Study of Beacon Community Strategies. Health Affairs.
• McKethan, A. (2018). Effective Use of Electronic Health Records: Lessons from the Beacon Community Program. American Journal of Managed Care.
• U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2020). Health Information Exchange: Indicators of Progress in Beacon Communities. GAO Publications.
• National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. (2019). Lessons Learned from the Beacon Communities. ONC Reports.
• Smith, J. (2018). Community-Driven Health IT Solutions: An Overview of Beacon Communities. Journal of Community Health.
• Walker, J., & Carayon, P. (2018). Patient Engagement in Health IT: The Beacon Community Experience. BMC Health Services Research.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2021). Healthcare Innovation and Investment in Technology. HHS Reports.