Diana Manos
The Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel and its partner in health IT advancement, the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology – no slackers to the cause – have seen their work skyrocket – since the passage of the stimulus package in February.
The Senate Finance Committee confirmed Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius Tuesday morning to join President Barack Obama's cabinet as the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary.
David Blumenthal, MD, the newly-appointed National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, will assume the role Monday, April 20.
The Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel is "working triple time" on preparing to help providers and vendors apply the stimulus package requirements, according to its chairman.
Actor Dennis Quaid brought the importance of electronic prescriptions and bar-coding close to the heart with the story of the near-deaths of his newborn twins from a medical error in 2007.
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius expressed strong support of healthcare IT in both of her confirmation hearings this week before Congress. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to vote on her nomination as Department of Health and Human Services Secretary as early as next week.
The Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology has released information online to help organizations participate in the Nationwide Health Information Network.
With the stimulus package passed, healthcare reform looms large on Capitol Hill. President Obama, lawmakers and experts say healthcare IT is destined to play a key role.
President Barack Obama has tapped Democratic Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for Department of Health and Human Services secretary and Nancy-Ann DeParle to head the White House Office for Health Reform. Both women have extensive experience in healthcare and the overall praise of stakeholders.
Healthcare IT is a rocket ride under the new stimulus package
Never has there been a time when healthcare IT has garnered this much attention from Washington, this much money from the federal government and this much opportunity to advance.