Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware Provides Grant to Delaware Health Net, Inc.

October 23, 2007

WILMINGTON - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware (BCBSD) awarded a $15,000 grant to help support the implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) within the Delaware Health Net, Inc., (Delaware Health Net) community health centers. These centers include the Henrietta Johnson Medical Center in Wilmington, Delmarva Rural Ministries in Dover and La Red Health Center in Georgetown. Delaware Health Net recently received a Federal grant of $460,468 for first-year funding of this initiative.

Implementing an EHR system will not only help ensure that Delaware residents who receive health care at any of these centers will have a secure, electronic medical record, regardless of their insurance status; but it will also improve clinical efficiencies throughout Delaware Health Net facilities. The program also supports President Bush's goal of adoption of EHRs for most Americans by 2014 as a way to make health care delivery more efficient and more effective.

This grant is the second of its kind provided by BCBSD. In late 2005, BCBSD partnered with MEDecision, a provider of collaborative care management software, and Christiana Care Health System (Christiana Care) on a pilot program to provide patient clinical information online in an emergency department setting. Because of the project's success, BCBSD and Christiana Care are continuing the program.

"The widespread use of electronic health records has the potential to provide doctors with faster access to patient data, leading to fewer medical errors and reduced costs," said Dr. Paul Kaplan, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at BCBSD. "We are pleased to support electronic health record implementation, as it is a direction in which we see the health care community moving in the near future."

The mission of Delaware Health Net, Inc., is to assist its members in pursuit of their educational agency missions; enhance and develop clinical and business tools; and continue to foster a collaborative and trusting relationship among the members.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. In its 72nd year of service, BCBSD offers a comprehensive portfolio of health benefits products to more than 432,000 customers. BCBSD is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. More information about BCBSD is available at bcbsde.com.