WASHINGTON —
U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today visited the Walker Mill Health Center in Capitol Heights to present a ceremonial check for $650,000 to the Community Health Integrated Partnership, Inc. (CHIP) to implement an Electronic Patient Record System (EPRS) at nine Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHC) in Maryland. The funding was included in the recently enacted omnibus appropriations bill.
U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today visited the Walker Mill Health Center in Capitol Heights to present a ceremonial check for $650,000 to the Community Health Integrated Partnership, Inc. (CHIP) to implement an Electronic Patient Record System (EPRS) at nine Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHC) in Maryland. The funding was included in the recently enacted omnibus appropriations bill.
“Our health care delivery system of the future will require that patient records be available electronically to ensure accurate and effective medical care without duplication of services,” said
Senator Cardin. “Health care reform also depends on expanding the Community Health Center system and these funds will ensure better patient care and outcomes.”
The Walker Mill Health Center is part of the Greater Baden Medical Services, Inc., which is one of the nine Maryland FQHCs that will be implementing the new electronic patient record system. The Walker Mill Health Center also will be receiving $400,000 under the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (
ARRA) to expand its facility. Currently, Walker Mill Health Center serves 3,000 patients annually, including those with HIV/AIDS. The expansion, which is expected to be completed by the summer of 2010, will allow the Center to substantially increase the number of patients it serves.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (
ARRA) to expand its facility. Currently, Walker Mill Health Center serves 3,000 patients annually, including those with HIV/AIDS. The expansion, which is expected to be completed by the summer of 2010, will allow the Center to substantially increase the number of patients it serves.
CHIP is in the process of deploying a new electronic patient record system in the 53 delivery sites of the nine participating Maryland health centers across the state. The new electronic patient record system will provide the health centers with the tools needed to effectively and efficiently manage our health center population, the majority of which are below 200 percent of poverty, have little access to comprehensive primary care, and have multiple chronic diseases including substance abuse, mental health disease and HIV/AIDS.
Maryland’s federally qualified health centers are the backbone of the state’s “safety net” health care system for the uninsured, Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries, the state’s poor, immigrant and minority populations.
The following nine FQHCs in Maryland will be participating in the new electronic patient record system:
- Community Clinic, Inc., which serves Montgomery, northern Prince Georges and southern Howard Counties;
- Greater Baden Medical Services, Inc., which serves southern Prince Georges, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties;
- Peoples Community Health Centers, Inc., which serves Baltimore City, Baltimore County and northern Anne Arundel County;
- Three Lower Counties Community Services, Inc., which serves Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset Counties;
- Owensville Primary Care, Inc., which serves southern Anne Arundel and northern Calvert Counties;
- Total Health Care, Inc., which serves Baltimore City;
- West Cecil Health Center, Inc. which serves Cecil and Harford Counties;
- Healthcare for the Homeless, which serves clients statewide; and,
- Mountain Laurel Medical Center, Inc., which serves Garrett County.
