This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) seeks to support the use of clinical trials, comparative effectiveness research, observational studies, and implementation science to investigate how to leverage health information technology (health IT) to improve minority health care and reduce health disparities by increasing access to care, delivery of higher quality care, improving patient-clinician communication and health outcomes for minority health and health disparity populations in the U.S.
Health information technology (health IT) has tremendous potential for increasing health equity for racial and ethnic populations. Health IT tools such as electronic health records (EHRs), patient portals/patient health records (PHRs), and clinical decision support (CDS) may yield population health benefits for underserved populations by enhancing patient engagement, improving implementation of clinical guidelines, patient safety, and reducing adverse outcomes. EHRs and CDS may help improve documentation of social determinants of health (SDoH) & inform patient care for those most vulnerable who have multiple chronic diseases and higher health risks. Availability of real time actionable patient data , clinical care coordination, and decision support enabled by health IT tools may also reduce disparities in quality of care for underserved populations who often experience a greater burden of chronic diseases and are more likely to demonstrate signs of poor management of chronic disease. Better clinical care coordination via health IT could improve clinician performance and adherence to clinical guidelines, reduce redundant testing due to clinician biases, detect treatment risks, and thus consequently facilitate equitable treatment for underserved populations.
Applications are due March 4, 2021.