Nearly 10,000 Physicians and Their Practices Are Transforming HIT Systems and Physician Leadership Skills with the Support of Grants Funded by The Physicians Foundation

Regulatory Changes Require Physicians to Adopt New Technology, Build Leadership Skills to Remain Viable in Current Healthcare Environment

Nearly 10,000 Physicians and Their Practices Are Transforming HIT Systems and Physician Leadership Skills with the Support of Grants Funded by The Physicians Foundation

CooperKatz& Co. for The Physicians FoundationKelsey Thompson, 917-595-3033

, a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance the work of practicing physicians and help facilitate the delivery of healthcare to patients, announced today the completion of several Health Information Technology (HIT) and physician leadership grants that directly assisted nearly 10,000 physicians and their practices in the selection and implementation of electronic health records (EHR) and development of leadership skills. More than 30 grants were awarded to medical society foundations and healthcare organizations across the country that aimed to create ongoing physicians resources and training programs on these critical topics.

"Health information technology is a critical component of health reform and will continue to transform the operation of physician practices and the delivery of healthcare as the Affordable Care Act comes into full effect," said Alan Plummer, MD, Physicians Foundation Vice President and chairman of the Grants committee. "Given the legislative and market need to adopt these systems, it is imperative physicians and healthcare providers understand all aspects of EHR adoption as well as feel confident they possess the leadership skills to navigate the current healthcare environment."

The Physicians Foundation has awarded more than $3 million to support these grants. Examples include:

"The U.S. healthcare system has moved into an era of digitization,” said Lou Goodman, Ph.D., President of The Physicians Foundation and CEO of the . “As current and upcoming federal requirements on EHR usage continue to significantly impact the way physicians practice medicine –and patients begin placing greater emphasis on access to their own medical records – the Foundation remains steadfast in its goal to help physicians address the challenges and benefits of health IT and effectively manage healthcare reform."

The completed HIT toolkits and physician leadership resources are accessible online at .

The Physicians Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to advance the work of practicing physicians and help facilitate the delivery of healthcare to patients. It pursues its mission through a variety of activities including grantmaking, research, white papers and policy studies. Since 2005, The Foundation has awarded numerous multi-year grants totaling more than $28 million. In addition, The Foundation focuses on the following core areas: physician leadership, physician practice trends, physician shortage issues, and the impact of healthcare reform on physicians and patients. As the healthcare system in America continues to evolve, The Physicians Foundation is steadfast in its determination to strengthen the physician-patient relationship and assist physicians in sustaining their medical practices in today’s practice environment. For more information, visit .