The Institute for Family Health Receives Almost $1 Million In Federal Funds to Increase Substance Use and Mental Health Services and Enhance Healthcare Technology

New York, NY (September 28, 2018) – The Institute for Family Health, one of New York state’s largest health center networks, was awarded three federal grants, totaling $989,750, from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA.) Funds will allow the organization to expand its integrated substance use disorder and mental health services in Harlem, and improve quality of care across its entire network of sites through enhancements to its electronic health records (EHR) system and health information technology.

Dr. Neil Calman, the co-founder, president, and CEO of the Institute for Family Health, said, “There is a tremendous need for additional substance use and mental health services in Harlem. Additional funds will increase our capacity to serve patients seeking Medication Assisted Therapy for opioid dependence, and other services. We are also proud to be recognized for our high-quality health information technology and care coordination services, and will use funds to further enhance our EHR system to better serve our patients.”

The funds have been awarded in three areas:

Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Services: The Institute received $392,750 to expand access to integrated substance use disorder and mental health services in the organization’s Harlem service area. Funds were awarded from HRSA’s Expanding Access to Quality Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Services (SUD-MH) Supplemental Funding. The Institute will  increase the number of individuals able to access medication-assisted treatment to treat opioid dependence, as well as enhance collaborative care for depression and related mental health and substance abuse concerns.

Advancing Precision Medicine: The Institute received $456,000 in funding through HRSA’s Advancing Precision Medicine Funding Opportunity (APM), which will enable the Institute to engage patients in the nationwide All of Us Research Program, an initiative of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The program will collect and curate health-related information from individuals who reflect the diversity of the U.S. population, prioritizing groups historically underrepresented in medical research. Funds will be used to promote the program and make related technology improvements at the Institute.

Quality Improvement: Lastly, the Institute received a $141,000 Quality Improvement Award from HRSA to recognize as well as improve upon its 2017 achievements in patient care. Specifically, the Institute was recognized for using its EHR and health information technology to collect data and improve quality of care, as well as for assessing the use of systematic, patient-centered, coordinated care that supports access, communication and patient involvement. The Institute will use this one-year funding to develop and enhance quality improvement systems, infrastructure, and delivery systems to serve its patients more effectively.

 

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The Institute for Family Health (www.institute.org) is a federally qualified health center network that operates 30 practices in New York State serving more than 117,000 patients annually. Services are available to people of all ages, regardless of ability to pay. For more information visit our website at https://institute.org/