MILWAUKEE (April 9, 2010) – Milwaukee Area Technical College was awarded a $325,000 grant to train health care information technology workers for jobs supporting a fast-growing health information network that will keep patient health records and all health information and data accurate, available and properly protected. An additional $325,000 grant to continue the work is likely to be awarded in 2011.

MATC is one of 17 colleges in the Midwest Community College Consortia Program chosen to facilitate offering a non-degree program to train workers to help health care facilities and medical practices meet the requirements of the new Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH). The grants were announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The grants will encourage the rapid adoption of electronic health information technologies to improve the overall quality of health care delivery, while converting the entire country to electronic health records and meeting the ongoing needs of an expanded work force.

“This initiative will save lives and lower health care costs. We are pleased to be selected to support this important project,” said Dr. Michael L. Burke, MATC president.

MATC is expected to train 300 information technology or health care students in four designated health information technology roles. Students with appropriate prerequisite education or experience will be able to complete the training within six months or less. The training, which will begin in fall 2010, may be offered through on-campus instruction, online or both; and through employer partnerships and other outreach programs.

Dr. Richard Ammon, MATC associate dean of business and health occupations and manager of the project, said: “MATC is looking forward to taking a leading role in the training and development of health care information technology workers in the region.” Details concerning precisely how the HITECH grant program will work at MATC are now being developed, according to Lucia Francis, dean of the Business Division.

 More Information

Program Information Request - http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHlGYklmTmFrZHlsdXJsUGZkcXhBOUE6MQ

Letter to Prospective Students (.doc format)

HIT Training Program FAQ (.doc format)