The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society(HIMSS) Summit focused on the clinician community which included physicians and nurses where they met with senior staff of their counterparts in Congress last September 19th, 2013. “Dr. Carol Steltenkamp, Vice Chair of the Board, from Kentucky, and Dr. Paul Kleeberg, Board Chair-elect, from Minnesota, and other physician Board members and HIMSS members—met with House Doctors Caucus staff to explain physicians’ view of health IT, Meaningful Use, and HIMSS’ recommendations to optimize health engagements and care outcomes using information technology” according to the HIMSS News. The House Doctors Caucus is chaired by the Honorable Phil Gingrey, MD, (GA/11th) and the meeting was organized by David Pulliam, Legislative Assistant to Dr. Gingrey.
At the same time, HIMSS sent nurse members to meet with the staff of professional nurses in Congress. “The meeting was hosted by the Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson, RN (D-TX) who represents a district that is part of the Dallas area. Carrie Palmer, Legislative Assistant to Congresswoman Johnson organized the meeting” as mentioned by the HIMSS News.
The 2013 HIMSS Congressional Asks were:
1. Consistent Nationwide Patient Data Matching Strategy
2. Alignment of Healthcare Quality Reporting Requirements Across Federal Programs
3. Consistent Adoption of Health IT Exchange Standards and Implementation Guidelines
For more information on all three 2013 Policy Summit Congressional Asks Recommendations click:
1. http://www.himss.org/files/HIMSSorg/Congressional_Asks_1%202013_InteroperabilityPatientID.pdf
2. http://himss.files.cms-plus.com/HIMSSorg/CongressionalAsks_2_2013_AlignmentClinicalQualityMeasures.pdf
3. http://himss.files.cms-plus.com/HIMSSorg/Congressional_Asks3_2013StandardsInteroperability.pdf
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