Washington, DC--Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) secured a preliminary $1.5 million in funding for the Montefiore Medical Center, as part of the FY 2011 Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations bill, for a program allowing the DoD and the Department of Veterans Affairs to analyze patient data in real time, and improve medical surveillance, quality initiatives and cost savings measures.

The funding is for the Montefiore Clinical Looking Glass, a user-friendly interactive software application developed at Montefiore to evaluate health care quality, effectiveness and efficiency.  It tracks the performance of doctors and identifies patients in need of clinical remediation.  

“Montefiore is considered the crown jewel for providing medical care, and I am always pleased to help them provide their excellent level of care.  This project will also be a very important tool for the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to bring state-of-the-art treatment and service to our troops and veterans.  After all their sacrifices, they certainly deserve the best we can provide.  I look forward to working with Montefiore to advance this project along,” said Rep. Engel.

"We would like to commend Congressman Engel for his efforts and great foresight in supporting the Clinical Looking Glass information technology system and in seeing the need for this very important tool in combating chronic illness and other diseases.  It is important for our patients that we have the means necessary to measure just how we are doing in keeping them in good health," said Steven M. Safyer, MD,  President and CEO, Montefiore Medical Center.

This action was a preliminary step in a long process. The bill will now be considered by the full House Appropriations Committee, and then the full House. The Senate is also working on their version of the bill.

Rep. Engel added, “While this is only the beginning of the Appropriations process, I feel very good that funding for this important program was included in this measure. I will continue working with my colleagues to ensure this funding is preserved as the bill moves through the legislative process.”

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