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Work in States a Key Focus of eHealth Initiative's Connecting Communities Learning Forum

Posted on: Monday, 10 April 2006, 12:01 CDT

WASHINGTON, April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The work of state and community leaders improving health and healthcare through health information technology (HIT) and health information exchange was spotlighted today -- the first day of eHealth Initiative's Third Annual Connecting Communities Learning Forum in Washington, D.C. at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050630/DCTH083LOGO )

With keynote speeches by the nation's top policy makers and breakout sessions guided by leading experts and pioneers on the ground, the Learning Forum is a prime opportunity for practitioners and leaders of state and regional collaboratives to identify common principles to advance their work, as well as strategies to tackle common clinical, financial, legal, organizational, and technical challenges. Nearly 1,000 stakeholders are expected to attend the conference.

The rapidly emerging work of public-private sector collaboratives in states and regions, nationwide will be the focus of many of the sessions. A number of key public and private sector leaders in Arizona will share their story regarding the development and last week's release of Arizona's Health-e Connection Roadmap. The roadmap was developed by a multi-stakeholder Steering Committee appointed by Arizona Governor Napolitano in September 2005, with on- the-ground support from the eHealth Initiative Foundation (eHI). The Roadmap was developed with participation through the Steering Committee or task groups, of over 250 Arizonans representing healthcare providers, payers and patients, with strong participation from rural constituencies.

Arizona represents one of thirteen states to which direct technical assistance has been provided by eHI through its State and Regional HIT Policy Initiative since 2004. eHI is the primary non-profit, independent leader that is providing direct support to state and regional leaders across the U.S. who are improving health and healthcare through health information exchange, with a multi-stakeholder focus -- recognizing that in order to drive change in the fragmented U.S. healthcare system, providers, payers, purchasers and patients must all be heavily engaged.

"We are pleased to collaborate with states in developing statewide initiatives to address the incremental steps and regional input needed to improve health and healthcare through information technology and health information exchange," said Emily Welebob, vice president, eHI State and Regional Initiatives. "By virtue of a state's size and influence, it is essential for the state's leaders to understand their task and develop infrastructure that supports all of their citizens and all of their healthcare markets."

The HIT Policy Initiative provides a range of activities to states and regions towards improving health and healthcare through HIT and health information exchange. In its work over the years at both the national and local levels, with stakeholders representing every sector of healthcare, eHI has developed resources and tools designed to support state and community leaders to navigate the organizational, legal, financial, clinical and technical aspects of health information exchange. The HIT Policy Initiative brings these resources to state and regional market initiatives across the country.

The importance of top executive support at the state and regional level of electronic health information exchange will be underscored Tuesday when New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch speaks at the Learning Forum. New Hampshire is another of the state health information sites benefiting from eHI's State and Regional HIT Policy Initiative. eHI is assisting the New Hampshire Citizen's Initiative on Health and the UNH New Hampshire Health Care Interconnectivity Project to develop shared principles and strategies for improving health and healthcare through the use of HIT.

"At the national level, standards and policies are being developed that will lay the foundation for connectivity, no matter where you are in the U.S.," said Janet Marchibroda, eHI's chief executive officer. "But each state or region has its own market characteristics and unique challenges to consider as it builds its own strategies and infrastructure. eHI's contribution to this work is to bridge national standards with local solutions, and help stakeholders both at the national level and local level find common ground on their priorities, policies and strategies for moving forward, applying a proven methodology for assessment, planning and development."

For more information about eHI's State and Regional HIT Policy Initiative, go to http://www.ehealthinitiative.org/initiatives/programs/aboutstatesummit.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. To support states, regions and communities that are improving healthcare through health information exchange, eHI develops and disseminates best practices and tools, provides seed funding support, and delivers technical assistance to public and private sector leaders at the state and local levels.

For more information, go to http://www.ehealthinitiative.org/.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050630/DCTH083LOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

eHealth Initiative

CONTACT: Karla Hurter of eHealth Initiative and Foundation,+1-703-319-0957, khurter@health2resources.com

Web site: http://www.ehealthinitiative.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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