HIDI Tech Connect - November 24

Levy Announces Strategic Planning Process For Statewide HIE
MHA Staff Contact: Theresa Rogers
(11/24/09)

Ron Levy, director of the Missouri Department of Social Services and state HIT coordinator, recently appointed George Oestreich as the project director for the state’s health information technology/health information exchange team.

The MO-HITECH Advisory Board created by the state will provide leadership for the state’s HIT planning efforts. The HIE strategic planning process will establish work groups for governance, finance, technology infrastructure, legal and policy issues, consumer engagement, and business operations. Levy said the state intends “to establish vigorous dialogue with private and public stakeholders and facilitate a robust and inclusive decision-making process around strategic and operational planning.”

Participation in the work groups will be open and voluntary; the first work group meetings are scheduled Thursday, Dec. 3. Groups will meet weekly or biweekly as needed, and meetings will be held in Jefferson City and accessible via teleconference. Face-to-face participation is recommended.

MHA will host a member conference call at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, to provide more information. To participate in this call, dial 866/675-1560; the passcode is 1010253551#. Individuals interested in serving on a work group to represent provider interests should contact Theresa Rogers.

MHA To Assess Hospitals’ Interest In Leveraging HIT Vendor Purchases
MHA Staff Contact: Theresa Rogers
(11/24/09)

MHA and its affiliated group purchasing organization, Associated Purchasing Services, are conducting a short online survey to gauge hospitals’ interest in collaborating with others to leverage health information technology purchases. Please complete the 10-question survey so MHA can assess potential group purchasing activities for HIT.