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 Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
 AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS.
 ACTION: Notice.
 SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve the proposed information collection project: “Synthesis Reports for Grants and Cooperative Agreements for Transforming Healthcare Quality through Information Technology (THQIT).” In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed information collection.
 DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 3, 2011.
 ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz, Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, by e-mail at 
                        *doris.lefkowitz@AHRQ.hhs.gov.* Copies of the proposed collection plans, data collection instruments, and specific details on the estimated burden can be obtained from the AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477, or by e-mail at 
                        *doris.lefkowitz@AHRQ.hhs.gov.*


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed Project Synthesis Reports for Grants and Cooperative Agreements for Transforming Healthcare Quality Through Information Technology (THQIT) AHRQ's health information technology initiative is part of the Nation's strategy to put information technology to work in health care. By developing secure and private electronic health records and making health information available electronically when and where it is needed, health IT can improve the quality of care, even as it makes health care more cost effective. This proposed information collection will help AHRQ enhance the evidence base to support effective information technology (IT) implementation and add to knowledge about health IT by synthesizing and drawing lessons from its Transforming Healthcare Quality through Information Technology (THQIT) program. From 2004-2010, the THQIT program has supported the adoption of health IT through 118 grants and cooperative agreements. These grants fall into three main categories: Planning grants, implementation grants and value demonstration grants. Planning grants are intended to develop health IT infrastructure and data-sharing capacity among clinical provider organizations in their communities by (1) creating multidisciplinary collaboratives and coalitions of health care providers, (2) conducting needs assessments and feasibility studies, and (3) developing plans to implement electronic health records. Implementation grants support community-wide and regional health IT systems by (1) developing shared registries, electronic health record systems, and telemedicine networks, (2) integrating clinical data from a variety of health IT systems, including pharmacy, laboratory, and public health organizations, (3) redesigning clinical workflow to improve patient care and provider access to information and (4) creating novel methods for delivering information to providers. Value demonstration grants evaluate how the adoption of health IT will (1) impact quality, safety, and resource use in large, integrated delivery systems, (2) advance the effectiveness of Web-based, patient education tools and (3) improve patient transitions between health care facilities and their homes. The program places an emphasis on grants to rural health organizations. AHRQ does not currently have a system in place for assessing the overall outcomes and lessons learned from these health IT grants. This project seeks to create such a system and has the following goals: (1) Further the state of knowledge of health IT planning, implementation, and effects by synthesizing the experiences of THQIT grantees and the reported effects of the grants; (2) Translate this knowledge into a practical tool to assist rural hospitals with electronic health record implementations; and (3) Translate this knowledge into recommendations for AHRQ activities. This study is being conducted by AHRQ through its contractor, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (Mathematica), pursuant to AHRQ's statutory authority to conduct and support research (1) on healthcare and on systems for the delivery of such care, 42 U.S.C. 299a, and (2) on information systems for health care improvement. 42 U.S.C. 299b-3. Method of Collection To achieve the goals of this project the following data collections will be implemented: (1) Planning Grant Survey for all grantees that received a planning grant; (2) Implementation Grant Survey for all grantees that received an implementation grant; (3) Value Grant Survey for all grantees that received a value grant; and (4) In-Depth Interviews will be conducted via telephone with a sample of grantees from each of the three types of grants. Given the complex nature of many of the projects conducted under these grants, from each selected grantee organization 1 to 3 persons with different areas of expertise will participate in the interview with the most knowledgeable person responding to a given question. Questions vary by grant type. These proposed data collections will gather information from grantee principal investigators on topics including: (1) Partnerships, which were required of all the grantees-what types are most effective and long-lasting and 
                    ( print page 67371)
                    how partnerships can be made more effective; (2) planning for health IT-information that can help identify successful pathways; (3) implementation of health IT-including common and unique barriers and facilitators to implementation across types of health IT and care settings; (4) the outcomes, benefits, and drawbacks of the grant projects; and (5) the sustainability and expansion of implemented health IT. Collecting this information will assist AHRQ in its mission of supporting the synthesis and dissemination of available evidence for the planning, implementation, and use of health IT by patients, practitioners, providers, purchasers, policymakers, and educators. The proposed data collection is also designed to assist AHRQ in improving the effectiveness with which it supports future research, synthesis, and initiatives on health IT topics. The grantees' experiences with the THQIT grant process and features is an important topic covered including feedback on whether the funding and time period were sufficient, how effective the grant was in furthering health IT in grantee organizations, and whether planning grants are a useful mechanism to prepare health care organizations and researchers to participate in future large-scale research. This research also supports AHRQ's mission, 42 U.S.C. 299(c), to specifically focus on rural populations and priority populations by collecting information on special factors affecting rural health care grantees, and the outcomes of the grant projects for AHRQ priority populations. Estimated Annual Respondent Burden Exhibit 1 shows the estimated annualized burden hours associated with the respondents' time to participate in this research. The Value Grant Survey will be completed by the 24 grantees that received a value grant and takes 30 minutes to complete. The Planning Grant Survey will be completed by all 38 recipients of a planning grant and requires 30 minutes to complete. The Implementation Grant Survey will be completed by the 56 grantees that received an implementation grant and takes 45 minutes to complete. In-depth interviews will be conducted with 1 to 3 persons (2 on average) from each of 30 different grantee organizations and is estimated to average 1.8 hours; actual burden will vary since some sections apply to specific grant types. The total annualized burden is estimated to be 181 hours. Exhibit 2 shows the estimated annualized cost burden associated with the respondents' time to participate in this research. The total annualized cost burden is estimated to be $7,917. Exhibit 1—Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
Form name
Number of
                             respondents
Number of
                             responses per 
                             respondent
Hours per 
                             response
Total burden hoursValue Grant Survey
24
1
30/60
12Planning Grant Survey
38
1
30/60
19Implementation Grant Survey
56
1
45/60
42In-Depth Interviews
30
2
1.8
108Total
148
n/a
n/a
181
 Exhibit 2—Estimated Annualized Cost Burden
Form name
Number of
                             respondents
Total burden hours
Average hourly wage rate*
Total cost 
                             burdenValue Grant Survey
24
12
43.74
$525Planning Grant Survey
38
19
43.74
831Implementation Grant Survey
56
42
43.74
1,837In-Depth Interviews
30
108
43.74
4,724Total
148
181
na
7,917* Based upon the mean of the average wages for medical and health services managers, Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational and Employment Wages. May 2009. Accessed at: 
                        *http://www.bls.gov/​news.release/​pdf/​ocwage.pdf.*
 Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal Government Exhibit 3 shows the estimated total and annualized cost for this project. Although data collection activities will last for one year, the entire project will span 2.25 years; therefore, the annualized costs cover two and a quarter years. The total project cost is estimated to be $600,055. Exhibit 3—Estimated Total and Annualized Cost
Cost component
Total cost
Annualized costProject Development
$80,584
$35.815Data Collection Activities
72,198
32,088Data Processing and Analysis
52,389
23,284Publication of Results
149,476
66,434Project Management
70,313
31,250Overhead
175,095
77,820( print page 67372)Total
600,055
266,691
 Request for Comments In accordance with the above-cited Paperwork Reduction Act legislation, comments on AHRQ's information collection are requested with regard to any of the following: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of AHRQ healthcare research and healthcare information dissemination functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ's estimate of burden (including hours and costs) of the proposed collection(s) of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information upon the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the Agency's subsequent request for OMB approval of the proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of public record. Dated: October 21, 2010. Carolyn M. Clancy, Director.


[FR Doc. 2010-27568 Filed 11-1-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4160-90-M