Kansas Gov. Sebelius among executive leaders to address 12-state Regional Forum in Kansas City
Karla Hurter |
May 24, 2006 |
eHealth Initiative convenes health information exchange leaders for Connecting Communities Mid-Continent States Regional Forum
May 24, 2006, Washington, D.C. State government leaders are looking to electronic health information exchange as a means to both improve healthcare quality, lower costs and make them more prepared in the case of a bio-terrorism threat. The strength of top executive support at the state and regional level for building electronic health information exchange initiatives will be emphasized as Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius delivers a keynote address at the eHealth Initiative's Connecting Communities Mid-Continent States Regional Forum June 21-22 in Kansas City.
Electronic health information exchange (HIE) is finding its way to the policy platform in a number of state governments. HIE is considered one way to improve quality of care and control rising state budget costs in Medicaid and state employee benefit plans.
"Expanding access to affordable healthcare is one of my administration's top priorities," Gov. Sebelius said. "Our citizens already benefit from technology in the detection and treatment of illness, and they should also benefit from technology in healthcare administration, through lower costs and fewer errors. Through a collaborative process, all sectors of the healthcare industry are working together to ensure Kansas remains a leader in this important area."
The eHealth Initiative and its Foundation (eHI) are independent, non-profit affiliated organizations who engage multiple stakeholders to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare through information and information technology. eHI actively supports 13 states across the country to develop strategies, policies and plans for improving health and healthcare through health information technology and HIE.
The Regional Forum is an opportunity to engage key stakeholders from multiple states (Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado) to implement activities on a state, regional and local level to lay the foundation for an interconnected, electronic, standards-based health information infrastructure to support patients, clinicians and those responsible for population health. Participants will include those who are engaged in the development of HIE within their respective communities and states. Break-out sessions and keynote addresses will focus on regional issues related to the clinical, financial, technical and organizational challenges of health information exchange. The Regional Forum will take place at the Hilton Kansas City Airport.
Through its State and Regional HIT Policy Initiative, eHI has been working in Kansas with the Governor's Office of Health Planning and Finance to assist the Governor's Commission on Healthcare Cost Containment to plan and implement a health information infrastructure capable of accurately and efficiently recording and tracking all aspects of health care delivery and payment.
"Kansas is among the states working to bring HIE to its citizens, and at the same time reaching for the goal to make health information exchange interoperable across state lines," said Janet Marchibroda, eHI's chief executive officer. "Because healthcare consumers do not receive care in only one state, we are working to help Kansas incorporate national HIE standards to overcome the difficulties of delivering local healthcare while acknowledging consumer mobility across state lines."
Kansas Lt. Gov. John Moore leads the Governors Commission on Healthcare Cost Containment and will also speak at the Regional Forum.
"Interoperable health information exchange has the potential to dramatically improve the quality, safety and reduce the cost of healthcare while at the same time ensuring patient privacy and giving consumers access to their own healthcare information so they can make informed choices," Lt. Gov. Moore said.
Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dianne Mandernach will also be a keynote speaker at the Regional Forum. Arkansas Surgeon General Joe Thompson, MD, will round out the slate of high-ranking state government executives addressing the group.
"Minnesota's e-health initiative is being guided by a broad-based, public-private collaboration, including representatives from healthcare providers, hospitals, health plans, physicians, academic institutions, healthcare purchasers, long-term care, local and state public health agencies and consumers, Mandernach said. As we strive to improve patient safety and quality, we need to ensure that health information technology catches up with the diagnostic and treatment technologies available today. No other single factor is likely to do as much to reduce the gap between what we spend for healthcare and the outcomes we achieve."
"Rapid advancements in information technology, changes in the way medical care is delivered, and increasing strains on our public health system all combine to drive the need for a system that allows easy exchange of health information across multiple platforms," Thompson said. "Because the field of health information HIE is developing, most public health professionals are unfamiliar with the technology needed and available. It's vital that health leaders learn about the potential of HIE to improve health care quality and patient safety and how they can overcome the clinical, financial, technical and organizational challenges of sharing health information."
The Connecting Communities Program, conducted by the eHI Foundation with funding support from a cooperative agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration, provides seed funding and technical support to the more than 250 multi-stakeholder collaboratives within states, regions, and communities which are using electronic health information exchange and other information technology tools to drive improvements in healthcare quality, safety and efficiency. The Regional Forum is a unique opportunity for practitioners and leaders in these collaboratives to identify common principles to advance their work, as well as strategies to tackle common issues--clinical, financial, legal, organizational, and technical. The educational and practical lessons learned will be presented by a select faculty comprised of national experts.
Since 2004, eHI and its Foundation have been providing a range of activities to states and regions towards improving health and healthcare through health information technology and health information exchange. In its work over the years at both the national and local levels, eHI has developed resources and tools designed to support the many stakeholders in this effort to navigate the organizational, legal, financial, clinical and technical aspects of health information exchange. More information on the program and registration is available www.ehealthinitiative.org/MidContinent_Regional_Forum.mspx
About eHealth Initiative and its Foundation
The eHealth Initiative and its Foundation are independent, non-profit affiliated organizations who engage the multiple stakeholders in healthcare, including clinicians, employers, health plans, healthcare IT suppliers, hospitals, laboratories, patient groups, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, pharmacies, and public health agencies, to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare through information and information technology.
For more information, go to http://www.ehealthinitiative.org.
