Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) joined Chautauqua County hospital leaders and members of the Chautauqua County Health Network (CCHN) to announce a new $300,000 federal grant for the area. The funds, provided through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Rural Health Policy, Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement program will support a new initiative by CCHN. “The health care partners that make up Chautauqua County Health Network are leading the way in health innovation,” Higgins said. “With the integration of health information technology and the use of collaborative medicine leaders here are lowering costs and delivering better outcomes for the residents in this great community.” Over the next three years, Chautauqua County Health Network will utilize 14 primary care practice teams, led by 35 physicians to implement diabetes and cardiovascular disease quality improvement initiatives. This project is aimed at reducing complications for 6,000 diabetics and 7,000 heart disease patients in Chautauqua County. Health care providers will implement Chronic Disease Self Management Programs for patients, use learning collaboratives to advance care and employ a common Electronic Patient Registry to track and report specific health indicators toward the goal of improving health outcomes among the population. In addition to the health benefits to local residents, shared technology and more efficient service delivery are expected to reduce costs for local health care providers. This grant will complement CCHN’s ongoing involvement with HEALTHeLINK and the P2 Collaborative to improve the quality of care patients in Chautauqua County receive through the implementation of health information technology into all practice settings. The Recovery Act provided for over $19 billion in funding for health IT infrastructure improvements for hospitals and doctors.