UnitedHealth Group and PacifiCare have announced more than $6 million in grants to benefit healthcare consumers and improve the delivery of health care services in the Golden State.
The grants, ranging from $100,000 to $740,000, have been awarded to 15 California not-for-profit healthcare organizations dedicated to improving healthcare services through enhanced healthcare technology opportunities, and driving preventive health and coordinated care initiatives.
"UnitedHealth Group and PacifiCare are committed to investing in a healthier California," said David Hansen, CEO in the Pacific region of UnitedHealthcare. "We do this by offering products and services that address affordability, access and quality needs for all Californians, and also through grants to community health organizations that will help improve the healthcare delivery system for everyone, including underserved populations."
The grants include:
•$360,000 to the Ukiah-based Alliance for Rural Community Health to implement electronic health records in six federally qualified health centers in Mendocino County.
•$100,000 to Centro La Familia Advocacy Services Inc. in Fresno to expand community health outreach activities related to healthful eating and lifestyles via its Promotora program.
•$350,000 to Orange-based Children's Health Initiative of Orange County to implement a Web-based application and tracking system for children's health programs and other state-sponsored services.
•$367,250 to Darin M. Camarena Health Centers Inc. in Madera to purchase computer equipment that will enhance clinical information management, billing and organizational service growth.
•$664,688 to Glendale Adventist Medical Center to help implement a rural telepharmacy project that will enable rural hospitals and clinics to better comply with pharmacy standards, improve quality and reduce medication errors.
•$187,000 to Willows-based Glenn Medical Center to purchase new equipment to allow digital recording and transmission of diagnostic studies, which will help improve speed and efficiency of rural patient care.
•$360,000 to the Institute for Healthcare Advancement in La Habra to support implementation of electronic medical record and practice management systems in a pediatric community clinic serving Los Angeles and Orange counties.
•$593,720 to the Northridge Hospital Foundation to enhance and expand its school-based obesity-prevention and diabetes-prevention programs.
•$740,000 to Planned Parenthood Mar Monte/Fresno to establish a response center serving a 27-county area using IP telephony.
•$361,684 to Ukiah-based Redwood MedNet to establish an information network allowing clinics and hospitals in Mendocino, Lake and Northern Sonoma counties to share patient and medical information.
•$500,000 to Ridgecrest Regional Hospital to expand telehealth and telemedicine capabilities to additional rural care providers.
•$200,000 to Shasta Community Health Center in Redding to complete the implementation of its EMR system.
•$159,155 to Fremont-based Tri City Health Center to upgrade its telephone system and improve its ability to serve its low income, ethnically diverse patient population.
•$705,184 to the Vista Community Clinic to purchase and implement its EMR system.
•$731,070 to the University of California San Diego Department of Emergency Medicine to develop the San Diego Safety Net Health Information Exchange, an integrated information system between community clinics and hospitals.
The grants are part of a $25 million commitment to California by UnitedHealth Group and PacifiCare. Recently, UnitedHealth Group committed $10 million to University of California Riverside and University of California Merced for the creation of medical and health science education programs at the two campuses, and for hiring of administrative, teaching and support staff needed to establish course work and classes for the programs.