Charity Program

 

2023-2024 Charity Application Now Available!

Organizations must complete and submit their application to the HIMSS NCA Charity Chairperson via this Google form by Friday, April 19, 2024. After the application deadline, a review panel composed of HIMSS NCA members will review the merits of each application. HIMSS NCA will notify the awardee during our May event on May 16, 2024 at LMI. We invite all applicants to attend this event.

For any questions or concerns, please contact the HIMSS NCA Charity Chairperson, Ann Wolford-Connors, at awolfordconnors@guidehouse.com.

 

The HIMSS NCA 2022-2023 Charity Program:

The Health Information and Management Systems Society, National Capital Area (HIMSS NCA) Chapter engages in many forms of community service, including its annual Charity Award Program. Within our chapter, event and sponsorship proceeds are designated for charitable organizations serving the Metropolitan DC community. Consistent with our mission, HIMSS NCA supports those serving the health needs of their community, preferably needs including an information technology component.

Recipients of the Charity Program Award benefit from direct funding, as well as exposure to a wide network of health information technology (health IT) professionals living in the community.

In 2022-2023, HIMSS NCA provided funding to support two Health IT projects serving uninsured and special needs populations locally. The recipients of the 2022-2023 HIMSS NCA Charity Program Award were Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care, Inc. and Horizon Day Camp - Metro DC.

Mary's Center used the donation to increase healthcare access for participants who may not otherwise reach health centers for their services. Specifically, this award served 58 under-resourced, expectant mothers and participants with chronic conditions by providing remote monitoring, at-home blood pressure cuffs. These devices enabled accurate and timely self-monitoring so that patients could manage their hypertension more effectively. This allowed them to reduce the number of times a participant is required to obtain medical care in-person during pregnancy or for chronic conditions. As a result, there is a reduced COVID-19 exposure risk for these high-risk populations and increased access to more timely care through tele-visits. Furthermore, with more remote patient monitoring devices amongst their patient population, Mary's Center is able to embark on additional telemedicine and care coordination programming through electronic health record integration. These measures help improve outcomes, reduce low-acuity non-emergent (LANE) visits to the ER, and decrease readmission rates to the hospital.

The other awardee, Horizon Day Camp - Metro DC, used the funds toward the purchase of two laptops to be stationed in the medical office. These new devices will ensure medical staff have real time access to the records of their vulnerable campers.

 

The Charity Award Program has allowed HIMSS NCA to support projects in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. The 2023-2024 awards will continue supporting charities in the DC metropolitan area, specifically those organizations that use the funds for a health or healthcare technology related endeavors.

If your organization would benefit from the HIMSS NCA Charity Program, please apply by April 19th, 2024.

 

Click Here to complete your application via the Google Form.