Healthcare IT News - April 2008 - (Page 5)

www.HealthcareITNews.com industry news April 2008 ■ Healthcare IT News 5 alliance cEo Scott Wallace steps down, group takes new tack Wallace headed organization since its founding six years ago. By BernIe MonegaIn, Editor CHICAGO – Scott Wallace, president and CEO of the The National Alliance for Health Information Technology since 2003 has stepped down. Wallace has led the Alliance since its founding. Alliance Board Chairman Curt Selquist, retired chairman Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc., is serving as interim CEO. Wallace’s departure comes at the same time the Alliance announced it would launch a process to explore new ways to make further contributions to the healthcare field in light of the significant developments in healthcare information technology. “While there have been unprecedented advances in the adoption and use of health information technology, there is enormous unfulfilled potential that needs be realized sooner rather than later,” said Selquist. “This will require new strategies and tactics and a different operating structure.” “It has been a privilege to lead the Alliance and to help create the future of connected health information,” Wallace said “We accomplished much of what the Alliance’s visionary founders set out to do by articulating the future of clinical information, establishing its value and removing barriers to its adoption.” Wallace said he was looking forward to taking time off to recharge before announcing “new health technology ventures.” “The Alliance team led by Scott “But the state of HIT in Wallace has accomplished the United States in 2008 much in a short amount is vastly different than in of time,” Selquist said. “By 2002, when the Alliance was serving in the unique role formed,” Selquist said. “It is of unifier and consensustime to take stock, to conbuilder, the Alliance has sider the best way forward focused on finding common since much still remains to ground among senior exec- Scott Wallace utives from across healthcare to be done before HIT is pervasive, overcome what seemed intractable interoperable and the platform for and differing interests in addition the most effective, safe, affordable and inclusive health system possible. to other barriers to HIT adoption. We need to be aggressive in pursuit of these outcomes.” The Alliance’s board of directors is developing new approaches, with recommendations expected by early May. Board member Neil Jesuele, executive vice president of leadership and business development for the American Hospital Association, heads the initiative. ■ More at HealthcareITnews.com e Connect: aLLIaNCe 0408 ● Manos Continued from page 3 Valentine’s Day request to tell us where they stand on protecting our most private health records.” Meanwhile, Congress is ironing out a budget for next year. In February, President Bush urged them to give $66 million to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Robert Kolodner, MD, head of ONC predicts “a banner year” of accomplishments. But how well can healthcare IT fare for money when Medicare, the bottom line for care, is on the chopping block? The annual Medicare Trustees report said at the rate things are going, Medicare will be in big trouble within 10 years. Age-old partisan bickering over entitlement programs will be more brutal than ever, with oozing sore spots over defense spending already aggravating the wound. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (DRI) recently got an amendment approved on the Senate’s side of the budget that would fund healthcare IT in a deficit-neutral way. That might give it a chance. But no one can say how much that reserve will be until the 2009 budget is approved and set in stone. Until then, healthcare IT remains wedged between a rock and a hard place. ■ More at HealthcareITnews.com e Connect: MaNoS 0408 LAN of the Free. Introducing the new Welch Allyn Spot Vital Signs LXi with wireless technology. ® Now you can have the freedom you deserve—the new wireless Spot Vital Signs LXi integrates with your existing hospital infrastructure. Using Welch Allyn Connex™ Data Management System, the Spot Vital Signs LXi will wirelessly send vitals data to a range of EMRs. You choose the technology and we’ll provide the workflow that’s best suited for your hospital and your nurses, letting them wirelessly capture and document patient vitals from the bedside with no extra steps. And that’s liberating for everyone. e ● Connect: WeLCHaLLYN 0408 ● Advancing Frontline Care™ ©2007 Welch Allyn MC4788 For more information, please call 1.800.289.2500. www.welchallyn.com http://www.HealthcareITNews.com http://www.HealthcareITnews.com http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=8981 http://www.welchallyn.com http://www.HealthcareITnews.com http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=8977 http://www.healthcareitnews.com/eConnect.cms?id=9013 http://www.welchallyn.com

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Healthcare IT News - April 2008 Contents New Media Push Stepping Down BI Headaches Decision Grants Safety Alerts Summit 08 Growing an EHR Year 24

Healthcare IT News - April 2008

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