WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Ensuring that vital health information is securely communicated when and where healthcare providers need it will be the focus of two events in Columbus, Ohio: the Oct. 17, 2005 Ohio Health Information Symposium and the Oct. 18, 2005 Connecting Communities Mid-Eastern States Regional Forum.
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The eHealth Initiative (eHI) will convene and facilitate the one-day event on Oct. 18, designed to engage key stakeholders in the region 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 Samuel D. Dunn, PE, PhD, chief information officer and executive director for Kentucky's Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The Regional Forum will be held at the Athletic Club of Columbus.
The eHealth Initiative 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 and 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 eHealth Initiative. "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 Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Indiana. 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_9205.mspx
The Connecting Communities Mid-Eastern States Regional Forum will take place one day after the 2005 Ohio Health Information Symposium, set for Oct. 17 at Quest Business Centers in Polaris and co-hosted by the eHealth Initiative and the Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO). HPIO is an independent, nonpartisan organization that forecasts health trends, analyzes key health issues, and communicates current research to Ohio decision makers.
"A highlight of the Symposium will be the release of the 2005 Ohio Health Information Briefing Paper co-published by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio and the eHealth Initiative. The paper is the first in-depth look at the status of electronic health information technology efforts in Ohio," said Philip Powers, director of health informatics for the Health Policy Institute of Ohio. "Our discussions during the break-out sessions will focus on how Ohio can move these very important efforts along towards reality." Registration for the Symposium is available online at http://www.healthpolicyohio.org/OHHIT/2005/Registration.html.
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.
About the Health Policy Institute of Ohio
The Health Policy Institute of Ohio is an independent, nonpartisan organization that will forecast health trends, analyze key health issues, and communicate current research to Ohio policymakers, state agencies, and other decision makers. HPIO will also convene discussions on important health issues for Ohio by bringing together representatives from various sectors with a keen interest in health matters, including policy makers, providers, employers, advocates, health plans, consumers, state agencies, and researchers.
Karla Hurter Jason Sanford For: eHealth Initiative For: Health Policy Institute of Ohio khurter@health2resources.comjsanford@healthpolicyohio.org (703) 319-0080 (614) 545-0754
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050630/DCTH083LOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.orgPRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comeHealth Initiative; Health Policy Institute of OhioCONTACT: Karla Hurter, +1-703-319-0080, khurter@health2resources.com, foreHealth Initiative; or Jason Sanford of Health Policy Institute of Ohio,+1-614-545-0754, jsanford@healthpolicyohio.org
