Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) announced today that the South Dakota Regional Extension Center (REC) at Dakota State University in Madison will receive a $576,000 grant to better utilize electronic health medical records to improve the quality and efficiency of the health information systems. The funding is from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“I am pleased to see that this stimulus funding will be used to improve health information technology in South Dakota,” Johnson said. “Doctors will now have the ability to modernize patients’ health records, and patients will receive care more efficiently and effectively.”

The funding will provide new technical support to help convert records and move rural hospitals away from paper-based medical records to certified electronic health technology. 

Resources from the stimulus package are continuing to help local communities across South Dakota. Funding has been distributed to local housing commissions, health care providers, and to cities and towns for infrastructural and maintenance programs that improve roads, water systems, and schools.

The stimulus package signed by President Obama focused on tax cuts for the middle class, infrastructure investments and job creation. This funding is a prime example of the kind of resources the legislation provides to help improve communities while advancing South Dakota’s economy.

As a member of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, Johnson has continually pushed for increased funding for the improvement of health records, which utilizes new medical technology so more South Dakotans have access to quality health care.

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