In January 2010, CRHC launched a new Health Information Technology (HIT) consortium, dubbed Technology for Healthcare Excellence (THE) Consortium. CRHC developed THE Consortium in 2009 to assist rural providers with the complex process of adopting technology. Federal HITECH Stimulus funds are available to providers and facilities who reach meaningful use of EHR beginning in 2011. Due to the short timeframe to adopt technology and be able to demonstrate “meaningful use”, the hospitals directed CRHC to develop economies of scale to support developing and maintaining infrastructure, planning, assessing, and adopting HIT through THE Consortium.

THE Consortium provides numerous services including reduced cost access to assessment and roadmapping assistance, vendor selection and contracting guidance, group purchasing options for hardware and software infrastructure needs, trusted standardized security policies and protocols, and more. Over 20 rural and CAH hospitals are currently participating in the consortium, and all rural and partner providers are welcome to participate. For more information, please visit www.coruralhealth.org/programs/hit or contact Cari Fouts at cf@coruralhealth.org.