Doggett announces $5.4 million grant to Texas State

Posted by University News Service

April 6, 2010

U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett has announced more than $5.4 million ($5,421,205) in Health Information Technology (Health IT) funding for Texas State University-San Marcos through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

This funding, made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will help Texas State train health professionals for vital, highly specialized health IT roles so that doctors and nurses can communicate critical patient information when it is needed most—when a patient is receiving care.

Texas State University’s Department of Health Information Management will use the funding to operate a consortium with the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas School of Health Information Sciences at Houston to prepare health information technology professionals across Texas and the nation.

The effort will be known as the PURE-HIT (Professional University Resources and Education for Health Information Technology) consortium.

Doggett said, “These federal funds help ensure Texas State continues to prepare our students today for tomorrow’s jobs, which will improve patients’ care.”

Texas State President Denise Trauth was thrilled to hear news of the funding. 

“This is an opportunity for Texas State University to lead the way in expanding educational opportunities and establishing new methods to prepare students for careers in health information technology,” she said.