The HITECH Act and funding workforce development

The HITECH Act was a piece of legislation that addressed shortages of skilled professionals needed for electronic health records (EHRs) and other health IT systems. The adoption relied on initiatives such as the Workforce Development Program, which assisted with training workforce members to facilitate the adoption of EHRs.

How does the HITECH Act contribute to funding workforce development? 

The HITECH Act funded workforce development within the health information technology (HIT) sector. The HITECH Workforce Development Program specifically targeted training through the following avenues:

• Community college consortia program which supported community colleges. 
• Assistance for university-based training that prepared students through advanced training programs. 
• Curriculum development centers created and disseminated educational material to support training. 
• Competency exam development used to validate the knowledge and skills of graduates. 

These programs collectively trained over 21,000 students across the United States creating a knowledgeable workforce equipped to support healthcare organizations in their transition to EHRs. The program focused on technical skills and developing new curricula tailored to meet the evolving demands of health IT.

The breakdown of workforce development

1. The program was funded with approximately $118 million, divided into four components designed to train a range of HIT professionals across various educational settings.
2. The community college consortia involved training individuals on using EHRs through six-month programs at 82 community colleges in five regional consortia. The initiative successfully graduated 19,733 students, exceeding the initial target of 10,500. 
3. The program included advanced training at nine universities resulting in 1,704 graduates by the end of the funding period. 
4. Curriculum development centers were responsible for creating and disseminating educational materials that supported community college and university programs. This curriculum included modules on EHR implementation, data privacy, and clinical workflow integration.
5. This initiative developed competency exams for community college graduates to validate their skills in HIT. 
6. The program was organized around 12 specific workforce roles ensuring that training was aligned with the needs of healthcare organizations transitioning to EHRs. 

The impact of workforce development under HITECH

As HITECH promoted the adoption of EHRs through initiatives like the Meaningful Use program, healthcare organizations experienced an increased need for staff capable of managing these technologies. The Workforce Development Program funded the training that assisted in creating competent personnel and providing training in compliance with regulations like HIPAA. 

This provided for the effective integration of a trained workforce who could easily keep up with the need to implement EHRs with other systems like HIPAA compliant email platforms for a well-rounded educational approach. With a well-prepared workforce, healthcare organizations can benefit from the reduced error rates associated with effective data entry.

FAQs

How does the HITECH Act fall part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act? 

The HITECH Act is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, aimed at promoting the use of EHRs and improving healthcare delivery through HIT. 

How were employers involved in shaping or supporting the workforce development programs?

Employers shaped workforce development programs by collaborating with educational institutions to create training curricula that align with industry needs. 

Are there any new programs or updates under subsequent legislation like the 21st Century Cures Act?

Yes, subsequent legislation like the 21st Century Cures Act introduced new initiatives aimed at further advancing health IT interoperability.