FOUNDATION AWARDS OHI $10,000 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GRANT

By Rich Romero
OHI Resource Developer

OHI, HERMON, Maine – The Maine Community Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant to OHI to upgrade its information technology infrastructure based upon a thorough independent assessment.

The Penobscot Valley Health Association Fund of the Maine Community Foundation at the recommendation of the Penobscot Country Committee advisors funded the grant, according to Amy Pollien, grants manager.


Currently, OHI provides services in rural locations which have limited Internet connectivity with existing resources, said Brenda Leavitt, project manager. Communication and service deliver suffer as a result.

“An IT assessment benefits OHI by providing us with an outside audit of our current network by examining performance, reliability and risk,” explained Leavitt. “The assessment report provides us the factual information to redesign our IT infrastructure. The grant allows OHI to begin making recommended upgrades and changes to keep pace with our strategic plan and evolving technology.”

OHI is in the process of implementing an electronic medical record and recently converted to new time and attendance, and payroll systems. This project benefits not only all of the more than 350 people OHI employs but also the nearly 400 people it supports, Leavitt said.

“Our last IT technical assessment and major technology restructure took place in 2007,” she explained. “By enhancing out IT infrastructure we provide better access to the electronic medical record for our employees which, in turn, enhances the quality of supports we provide to people we currently serve and those we will serve in the future.”

Penobscot Valley Health Association grants support grassroots organizations and start-up projects focused on strengthening the health and welfare of the greater Bangor community. It was established in 1906 through a number of bequests to help people with tuberculosis in the greater Bangor area. For many years, the association made charitable contributions to both treat and research the disease. After newer drugs and methods of treating tuberculosis were developed, the association turned its charitable interests to more general health and welfare projects in the greater Bangor area. In 1996, the association moved its endowment and became a component fund of the Maine Community Foundation.

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