By Paula Gulak,
President
The Gulak Group
Gulak@comcast.net
 Virginia’s IT Community, “Follow the money!”: Healthcare and Electronic Records
In February, President Obama signed a federal stimulus bill which included federal funds for the health care industry earmarked specifically for the development and deployment of electronic medical records. Although the timeline, details, policies and guidelines on how the money will be distributed have not been finalized, nearly $20 billion dollars in federal funds is about to hit the world of health care information technology. Members of Virginia’s political leadership are calling on hospital executives, medical professionals and IT providers to ready themselves for this massive undertaking for healthcare reform.
On May 18, Senator Warner hosted a conference at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, to bring together many of the stakeholders – hospital, nursing home and health care executives from across the state, as well as federal and state officials -- to learn how Virginia can access new federal funds and position the Commonwealth as a national leader in health IT. Warner’s desire is to have Virginia, a leader in IT nationally, grab the sword and lead the way in reforming health care which has long dragged behind other sectors such as manufacturing and telecommunications in embracing the efficiencies that IT can bring. “To accomplish this,” stated Warner, “there must be a focus on infrastructure, information (i.e., communications) and incentives. “
Speakers and panelists at the summit included Dr. David Blumenthal, the National Health IT Coordinator, Tony Trenkle, CMS Director for e-health Standards, and Virginia’s Secretary of Health and Human Resources, Marilyn Tavenner. Secretary Tavenner outlined how the Commonwealth is preparing to be a resource to those seeking grants and information by forming a Health IT Project Management Group (PMO) within the office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources as well as a Health IT Interoperability Advisory Committee (HITIAC).
The summit got high rankings for providing an information view and emphasizing the need for meaningful use for the benefit of the citizens of Virginia and the country. For Summit Presentations and videos visit: http://warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=hit. Also, a linked-in group has been established to follow progress on the healthcare stimulus packages. ( A number of sites exist regarding existing technology and energy stimulus dollars available on a federal and state level – I recommend you check the internet and if you can figure out simple steps for applying, please share!)
Upcoming IT events
News Release: June 9th- Leading in Troubled Times: 7:30 am to 3 pm, Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel, Glen Allen. (Pre-registration is required via www.assuraconsulting.com/leadership)
Business leaders are often alone at the top without many resources for advice or practical solutions, such as how to successfully guide your company through the current economic climate. Assura Consulting, a leader in the field of risk management, is bringing together industry leaders to help provide tangible, useful information to get through this recession. The leadership symposium kicks off with keynote speaker Patrick Gottschalk, Secretary of Commerce and Trade for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Additional speakers include Dr. Marta Wilson, CEO of Transformation Systems; Dr. Jim Burke, Director of the Performance Management Group at VCU; Dr. David Schein, President of Claremont Management Group; Karen Cole, CEO of Assura Consulting; and Tom Cricchi, CEO of SyCom Technologies. This experienced group of speakers will discuss topics such as keeping morale high during organizational changes, reducing operating costs, managing risk, legal liability pitfalls, IT investment guidelines and more.
The Leadership symposium is being sponsored by Assura Consulting together with SyCom Technologies and The Gulak Group. The cost is $125 per person, which includes breakfast, lunch, and copy of Dr. Marta Wilson’s new book, Leaders In Motion: Winning the Race for Organizational Health, Wealth and Creative Power. For more information, visit www.assuraconsulting.com/leadership.
(The Gulak Group provides consulting services in strategic planning, positioning, branding and public relations for the purpose of business development. Paula Gulak is Principal of The Gulak Group and can be reached at paulagulak@gmail.com)
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