CHICAGO, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- At their July Advisory Task Force Meeting in Chicago, the National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC), announced the formation of the Health Information Technology Work Group. The NTOCC HIT Work Group will focus on the national efforts to develop electronic medical records, HIT exchange and promote interoperability to advance improved patient care.
"With HIT now so closely linked to health reform, we see it as a critical component to achieving a more efficient health care system and equally important in facilitating smoother transitions in care that ultimately lead to better patient outcomes," said Cheri Lattimer, RN, BSN, and NTOCC Project Director." To this end, we have assembled a Work Group of notable HIT experts from various sectors of the health care industry." Members of the Work Group are -- Leah Binder, MA, MGA, CEO, The Leapfrog Group; H. Edward Davidson, PharmD, MPH, Assistant Professor Clinical Internal Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School; Partner, Insight Therapeutics; David Dorr, Assistant Professor, Oregon Health & Science University; Jean Paul Gagnon, PhD, Senior Director, U.S. Policy & Strategic Advocacy, sanofi-aventis U.S.; Eva Powell, MSW, CPHG, Director Health Information Technology Project of The National Partnership for Women & Families; William M. Russell, Vice President, Clinical Information, Erickson Retirement Communities; Annette Schmidt, Director, External Affairs, sanofi-aventis U.S., and Charles Smith, PhD, CEO, CIGNA.
The HIT Work Group will begin a number of activities including, assessment of the barriers and gaps in health information technology related to transitions of care (TOC) and developing a White Paper that would provide recommendations on how to close gaps or remove barriers.
The Advisory Task Force reaffirmed their consensus on seven considerations for improving transitions. The Coalition is looking to build awareness among legislators and policymakers that these considerations should be part of any health care reform initiatives.
