The Minnesota Department of Health's Office of Rural Health and Primary Care today announced they have awarded grants totaling $3.5 million to help Minnesota providers develop interoperable electronic health records.

Funding for the program is part of the state's e-Health Initiative, which is a broad set of strategies using health information technology to improve the quality and efficiency of health care.

Minnesota law requires all Minnesota health care providers to begin using an electronic prescribing system by Jan. 1, 2011, and to use full electronic health records by January 1, 2015. These two requirements will allow providers to better exchange patient health information and deliver optimal care at all points of the health care system.

Eleven projects received planning and readiness grants between $15,000 and $50,000. They are:

* Alexandria Clinic, Alexandria ($50,000)
* Child Guidance Clinic, Wilder Foundation, St. Paul ($50,000)
* Children's Dental Services, Minneapolis ($50,000)
* Hennepin County Medical Center, Dentistry Clinic, Minneapolis ($28,000)
* Lakewood Health System, Staples ($50,000)
* Madelia Community Hospital, Madelia ($40,000)
* Minnewaska Lutheran Home, Starbuck ($18,000)
* Otter Tail-Wadena Community Action Council, New York Mills ($33,000)
* St. Mary's Health Clinics, St. Paul ($40,000)
* Tri-County Hospital, Wadena ($15,000)
* Zumbro Valley Mental Health Center, Rochester ($50,000)

Ten implementation projects, ranging from $35,000 to $516,000, were awarded to:

* Cedar Riverside People's Center, Minneapolis ($350,000)
* Five County Mental Health Centers, Braham ($280,000)
* Lac qui Parle Health Network, Madison ($220,000)
* Mahnomen Health Center, Mahnomen ($500,000)
* Minnesota Rural Health Cooperative, Cottonwood ($500,000)
* Open Cities Health Center, St. Paul ($250,000)
* St. Gabriel's Hospital, Little Falls ($516,000)
* Sanford Tracy Medical Center, Tracy ($225,000)
* Southside Community Health Services, Minneapolis ($35,000)
* United Family Practice Health Center, St. Paul ($200,000)

In addition to these grants, the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care is now accepting applications for the Electronic Health Record Loan Program, which provides six-year, no-interest loans up to $1.5 million on a first-come, first served basis to help rural and community providers implement electronic health records.