Oct 5, 2009 Deadline for HIT Workforce Training Proposals
Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration will be granting $125 million towards healthcare training in Health Information Technology, Nursing, Allied Health, and Long Term Care from applications due October 5, 2009. This program is part of $250 million ARRA Recovery program for the Health Care Sector and Other High Growth and Emerging Industries.
The Federal Register Solicitation of Grant annnouncement (pdf) of July 22, 2009 described the HIT sector and its needs: “Health Information Technology (HIT) refers to the juncture of information management, medical practice, and the complex business of health care delivery. HIT leverages information management training and resources to improve quality and efficiency standards in the health care industry. According to HHS, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), ensuring the secure use of personal health information will improve the coordination of care, as well as prevent medical errors through data sharing.
“The transition from traditional, paperbased medical files to electronic health records (EHR) technologies will provide expanded career pathways in health information management and technology. HIT jobs will be created in hospitals, physicians’ offices, home healthcare and outpatient clinics, and residential care facilities.
“Further, comprehensive reforms in health law and policy will require new and updated skill sets for a range of clinical occupations (including nursing and allied health professionals), medical record technicians, coders, health information technicians, and other health information technology professionals including but not limited to clinical informaticists.
“The Health Care Information and Management Systems Society estimates there are approximately 108,400 HIT jobs in hospital settings currently and expects workforce needs to require an additional 40,800 HIT occupations by 2012. ETA is interested in projects that design state-of-the-art training and support progression in career pathways for the health information workforce using a variety of learning strategies for individuals who want to specialize in the management of health information, as well as workers who must use HIT to perform the duties of their jobs.”
The overall ETA grant program totals $250 million covering 45 to 65 grants of $2 to $5 million over a period of up to 36 months.
Federal Register Notice (pdf)
Journal of AHIMA July 24, 2009 article by Kevin Heubusch
