The Pennsylvania Department of Health has been awarded a grant from the CDC to prevent and control diabetes, heart disease, obesity and associated risk factors. Quality Insights/PA REACH have been awarded work under this grant to work in the five counties of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Carbon and Schuylkill, which report some of the highest incidences of these diseases statewide.

PA REACH’s first objective is to assess the capabilities of EHRs installed in health system practices in these counties. The results of this assessment will help PA REACH staff to identify 40 practices to receive fully subsidized assistance for Meaningful Use (MU). In addition to MU assistance, PA REACH will help determine whether the software in use provides clinical decision support and disease management functions for the identified diseases of diabetes, heart disease, obesity and associated risk factors.