eHealth Initiative Convenes Southern Regional Forum on Electronic Health Information Exchange
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Karla Hurter |
January 12, 2006 |
eHealth Initiative convenes Southern Regional Forum on electronic health information exchange
Nation's leading non-profit organization focusing on the rapid and secure electronic exchange of health information to convene a Jan. 18, 2006 regional forum in Tampa
January 12, 2006 Washington, D.C.— Electronic health information exchange is expanding rapidly, with 25 fully operational organizations online and more than 100 initiatives underway in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Proponents of health information exchange from dozens of local organizations dotted across the Southeast will converge on Tampa this month as the eHealth Initiative (eHI) continues its groundbreaking work with leaders at the state, regional and community levels to build multi-stakeholder collaborations focused on mobilizing healthcare information across organizations to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of care.
eHI is sponsoring the one-day event at the Wyndham Harbour Island Hotel to engage key stakeholders in the Southeast in discussion and planning to improve healthcare through the rapid development and implementation of electronic health information exchange. The keynote speaker for the event is Russell S. Thomas, CEO of Gold Standard and chair of the Tampa Bay Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO). The Tampa Bay RHIO recently won the largest share of a $1.5 million state grant for planning and start-up of a medical data-sharing system, which will link three area hospitals and hundreds of doctors in the Tampa area.
"The strength of our initiative begins with strong local support from business," Thomas said. "Tampa business leaders have already devoted many hours to get this initiative off the ground because we believe it will lead to safer, more efficient healthcare for our community."
Keynote panelists include both public and private sector leaders in healthcare and information technology who are involved in health information exchange organizations, including practicing clinicians, hospitals, employers, health plans, and government agency representatives. Featured speakers and panelists include Becky Cherney, president of the Florida Health Care Coalition and the chair of the Central Florida RHIO which also received grant funds from the state; Mark Bengel, deputy chief information officer of the State of Tennessee; Michael Heekin, chairman of the Florida Governor's Health Information Advisory Board; Barbara Prosser, Ed.D., chief information officer, information technology division of the Georgia Department of Community Health; Roxane Townsend, M.D., Medicaid medical director of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals; and Jay Wolfson, Dr.P.H., J.D., director of the Florida Health Information Center.
eHI and its Foundation are independent, non-profit affiliated organizations which bring together multiple, diverse stakeholders to improve the quality, efficiency and safety of healthcare through information technology. As part of its ongoing community outreach mission, eHI's Regional Forums create opportunities for practical discussion of issues related to the clinical, financial, technical and organizational challenges faced by regional, state and community-based initiatives.
"Our recent survey of more than 100 health information exchange efforts across the nation revealed that these initiatives are at varying levels of maturity—some are just becoming organized, while others are already exchanging data," said Janet Marchibroda, CEO of the eHI. “Regional meetings such as this allow physicians, hospitals, employers and health plans to discuss local issues and share innovative solutions to these challenges. By sharing knowledge at the community level we are seeing health information exchange efforts move from 'talk' to 'action.'"
The forum will be attended by multi-stakeholder leadership from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. It will include break-out sessions focusing on specific issues, as well as sessions from a select faculty of national experts, to include practical "lessons learned" from more advanced efforts throughout the country. For more information or to register, go to
http://www.ehealthinitiative.org/regional_ccbh_FL_homepage.mspx.
About the eHealth Initiative and Foundation
The eHealth Initiative and its Foundation are independent, non-profit affiliated organizations which bring together multiple, diverse stakeholders to achieve their shared mission, which is to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare through information and information technology.
