THE U.S. LEADER IN HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPEAKS IN ALBUQUERQUE
LCF Research hosts David Blumenthal, MD, MPP, to discuss issues surrounding the sharing of electronic patient medical records between health care providers.
June 15, 2010 --- Albuquerque, NM. LCF Research, a New Mexico-based health care research, education and information technology organization, is hosting David Blumenthal, MD, MPP, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, on Monday, June 21 and Tuesday, June 22 in Albuquerque.
Dr. Blumenthal is the nation’s leader in health information technology (HIT). Health information technology involves the comprehensive management of electronic patient health information and its secure exchange between consumers, providers, government and quality entities, and insurers.
Dr. Blumenthal and the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) is responsible for implementing a $19.5 billion investment in a nationwide interoperable, privacy-protected patient health information technology infrastructure by 2014, as called for in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. New Mexico was the first state in the country to receive funding to implement a statewide program to share electronic patient information, an effort led by LCF Research.
Such an infrastructure will assist the federal government in significantly reducing health costs, improving quality of care for patients, and helping make the nation’s health care system more efficient.
LCF Research was recently awarded a total of $14 million by the ONC to promote health information technology in our state. The funding includes $7 million dollars to lead and expand the state’s designated health information exchange network, which will allow the secure sharing of electronic patient information between health care organizations and physicians statewide.
LCF Research was awarded an additional $6 million by the ONC to work with its coalition partners, the New Mexico Primary Care Association and the New Mexico Medical Review Association, to assist medical providers in small and rural practices in New Mexico to select and implement electronic health record systems, and to use them in a meaningful way to improve patient care.
During his meetings in Albuquerque, Dr. Blumenthal will talk about a range of initiatives designed to support improvements in health and health care through the use of information technology, including discussions about the multi-billion dollar electronic health records incentive program, which CMS will soon announce, and a range of technical assistance, workforce development, and health information exchange programs designed to support physicians in becoming "meaningful users" of technology.
The media is invited to attend any of Dr. Blumenthal’s four discussions. He will speak on Monday, June 21at 2:30pm at UNM, 4:00pm at Presbyterian Hospital, and at 7:00pm for a dinner and lecture at the Hotel Albuquerque. On Tuesday, June 22, Dr Blumenthal will speak at 9:00 am at ABQ Health Partners in the McKay Auditorium. Reporters are asked to RSVP to April Salisbury at 938-9925 if attending any of these events. Exact locations and directions will be given upon RSVP.