WASHINGTON, D.C. - Included in the hotly debated federal spending bill signed earlier this month by President Obama is $423,000 in federal funds for Monroe Clinic to upgrade the clinic's information technology and fully implement an electronic medical records system.
"This funding will allow the Monroe Clinic to streamline the medical process by implementing electronic medical records and upgrading medical equipment," said U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., who along with Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, secured the funds as part of the Fiscal Year 09 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.
"These changes will build on the hard work done by the staff at the Monroe Clinic and will help doctors and nurses ensure that patients are receiving the best care possible," Kohl said.
Kohl, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, identified this project as a priority for funding.
"I am acutely aware of the need for information technology upgrades in our medical facilities to improve patient care and efficiency and reduce cost," Baldwin said.
Monroe Clinic funding would be one of 7,991 appropriations considered "earmarks," costing $5.5 billion, in the spending bill Obama signed March 11.
A total of 7,991 earmarks, costing $5.5 billion, are in the "omnibus" spending bill Obama signed March 11. Almost $19.8 million from 40 earmarks is headed for Wisconsin.
The bill also includes $951,000 for Blackhawk Technical College to help General Motors employees and affiliated workers with job training and placement in the wake of GM's closure of the Janesville plant on December 23, 2008.
Monroe Clinic made a commitment to significant health care IT improvements, including moving from a paper-based system to an electronic medical records system to improve patient care and efficiency, in 2003.
To further improve the quality of patient care, Monroe Clinic is implementing a comprehensive Rural Health Technology Initiative in three phases focusing on technological equipment upgrades and purchases, including digital mammography and MRI systems.
This year, Monroe Clinic plans to convert to a new digital mammography system that more accurately identifies breast cancer in younger women.
"With this new technology, our staff can more accurately diagnose women for this life-threatening disease, and have a greater impact on the future health of our patients," said Dr. Mark Thompson, chief medical officer at Monroe Clinic.
Monroe Clinic is a not-for-profit health system offering comprehensive health care, a 100-bed hospital, a 24-hour emergency room, and home care and hospice services to rural communities throughout south central Wisconsin.
The Janesville GM plant shut down on Dec. 23, 2008, directly affecting 1,200 workers. In addition, another 1,200 workers were laid off in related fields, including auto suppliers Lear and LSI.
"There is an urgent need to help GM's former employees get back on their feet," Kohl said. "Families are struggling and the whole community has been stung by its largest employer pulling up stakes. This desperately-needed investment will partner Blackhawk Technical College and former Janesville GM employees to retrain these skilled workers and help put more people back to work."
The federal funding for GM workers will help support career and aptitude assessment testing; career and technical education instruction; basic skills or college readiness instruction; tuition, books, materials, and related fees for educational program enrollment; and job readiness/job placement services.
"This funding will allow the Monroe Clinic to streamline the medical process by implementing electronic medical records and upgrading medical equipment," said U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., who along with Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, secured the funds as part of the Fiscal Year 09 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.
"These changes will build on the hard work done by the staff at the Monroe Clinic and will help doctors and nurses ensure that patients are receiving the best care possible," Kohl said.
Kohl, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, identified this project as a priority for funding.
"I am acutely aware of the need for information technology upgrades in our medical facilities to improve patient care and efficiency and reduce cost," Baldwin said.
Monroe Clinic funding would be one of 7,991 appropriations considered "earmarks," costing $5.5 billion, in the spending bill Obama signed March 11.
A total of 7,991 earmarks, costing $5.5 billion, are in the "omnibus" spending bill Obama signed March 11. Almost $19.8 million from 40 earmarks is headed for Wisconsin.
The bill also includes $951,000 for Blackhawk Technical College to help General Motors employees and affiliated workers with job training and placement in the wake of GM's closure of the Janesville plant on December 23, 2008.
Monroe Clinic made a commitment to significant health care IT improvements, including moving from a paper-based system to an electronic medical records system to improve patient care and efficiency, in 2003.
To further improve the quality of patient care, Monroe Clinic is implementing a comprehensive Rural Health Technology Initiative in three phases focusing on technological equipment upgrades and purchases, including digital mammography and MRI systems.
This year, Monroe Clinic plans to convert to a new digital mammography system that more accurately identifies breast cancer in younger women.
"With this new technology, our staff can more accurately diagnose women for this life-threatening disease, and have a greater impact on the future health of our patients," said Dr. Mark Thompson, chief medical officer at Monroe Clinic.
Monroe Clinic is a not-for-profit health system offering comprehensive health care, a 100-bed hospital, a 24-hour emergency room, and home care and hospice services to rural communities throughout south central Wisconsin.
The Janesville GM plant shut down on Dec. 23, 2008, directly affecting 1,200 workers. In addition, another 1,200 workers were laid off in related fields, including auto suppliers Lear and LSI.
"There is an urgent need to help GM's former employees get back on their feet," Kohl said. "Families are struggling and the whole community has been stung by its largest employer pulling up stakes. This desperately-needed investment will partner Blackhawk Technical College and former Janesville GM employees to retrain these skilled workers and help put more people back to work."
The federal funding for GM workers will help support career and aptitude assessment testing; career and technical education instruction; basic skills or college readiness instruction; tuition, books, materials, and related fees for educational program enrollment; and job readiness/job placement services.