Vermont Gov. Douglas honored by eHealth Initiative for contributions to electronic health information exchange
Karla Hurter |
September 26, 2006 |
September 26, 2006, Washington, D.C. Vermont Gov. James Douglas was among high-ranking officials from three states lauded by the eHealth Initiative (eHI) for their contributions to the advance state-level infrastructure to support electronic health information exchange. The honors were bestowed at a dinner honoring leaders from 45 states during eHI's Third HIT Summit, held Sept. 25-27 in Washington, D.C. at the Renaissance Hotel.
These state leaders are blazing a trail for HIT that will propel the implementation of data exchange to improve the safety, effectiveness and quality of healthcare for the citizens of their states, said Janet Marchibroda, eHI's chief executive officer and emcee for the honoree dinner.
During Mondays HIT Summit, representatives from 45 states met in a "National Assembly of State Leaders to discuss initiatives at the state level, which have expanded dramatically in number and scope over the last two years. Monday evening, eHI hosted a dinner to honor the entire group of state leaders and specifically the accomplishments of Gov. Douglas, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, and Michigan Representative Gary Newell. Sharon Moffatt, acting commissioner of the Vermont Department of Health, accepted the honor on the governors behalf.
The Vermont Blueprint for Health, Chronic Care Initiative will put Vermont at the forefront of healthcare, advancing innovative solutions and providing support to help doctors and patients effectively manage chronic disease, said Governor Douglas. Health information technology is the conduit for the people of Vermont to receive world class care by creating information networks so they can tap into the resources they need to improve their quality of life.
Gov. Douglas was singled out for his role in supporting the development of a common HIT infrastructure, working with the states Legislature and Department of Health, and partnering with the Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL), a multi-stakeholder non-profit corporation working to implement HIT statewide. Gov. Douglas was instrumental in garnering $1.4 million in seed funding over two years to support an HIT-based chronic care disease management initiative, called The Vermont Blueprint for Health, Chronic Care Initiative, which will be implemented in cooperation with the VITL strategy for a statewide HIT infrastructure. In August, Gov. Douglas was selected by his colleagues to serve as lead governor on the major health care quality, information technology and cost containment initiative launched by the National Governors Association (NGA).
Since 2004, eHI has been providing leadership and support to states, regions and communities who are improving health and healthcare through HIT 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.
About eHealth Initiative and its Foundation
The eHealth Initiative and its Foundation are independent, non-profit affiliated organizations whose missions are the same: to drive improvements in the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare through information and information technology.
eHI engages multiple stakeholders, including clinicians, consumer and patient groups, employers, health plans, healthcare IT suppliers, hospitals and other providers, laboratories, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, pharmacies, public health, and public sector agencies, as well as its growing coalition of more than 280 state, regional and community-based collaboratives, to develop and disseminate common principles, policies and best practices for improving the quality, safety and effectiveness of America's healthcare through information and information technology.
For more information, go to http://www.ehealthinitiative.org.
