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Make IT Happen. Advocate! HIMSS 4th Annual Advocacy Day is April 7, 2005. Don’t miss it!


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Leaders are gathering for action. Will you be there? Register today for HIMSS Summit 2005.


	March 23, 2005 HIMSS NEWS 1. HIMSS Members - Help Spread Advocacy Message On April 7 2. Industry Comes Together At HIMSS Summit 3. Explore EHR Benefits For Physician Practices At PACT 4. SunSHINE Spring Webinar Series Looks At Future Healthcare 5. Call For Abstracts For Fall 2005 JHIM 6. Daniel E. Blum Wins February "Spirit of HIMSS" Award 7. Take The SIG Member Survey 8. HIMSS 2006 – Online Call For Proposals Opens March 28 9. Submit An Application-HIMSS 2006 Call For Reviewers 10. MS-HUG - Call For Advisory Committee Members 11. MS-HUG - Call For Proposals For Fall Tech Forum 12. FY06 Federal Budget For Health IT Requires Compromise 13. Spring Fever? Attend The HIMSS Chapter Meeting INDUSTRY NEWS 14. CMS To Host Teleconference On HIPAA Security Rule HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY NEWSBRIEFS 15. Claims Automation In A New Environment 16. Fast Track To Rewards 17. The Digital Hospital


	1. HIMSS Members - Help Spread Advocacy Message On April 7 Help spread the HIMSS advocacy message for the HIMSS 4th Annual Advocacy Day on Thursday, April 7, by taking simple grassroots actions. What can you do? Join over 200 of your colleagues and register for this complimentary action-packed Advocacy Day at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Members of Congress, the President’s staff, and key industry leaders will help orient you to key industry issues. You can also meet with your own elected officials and share your personal views. Can’t come to Washington, D.C., but still want to participate? Go to the HIMSS Legislative Action Center and invite your elected officials to the Advocacy Day Solutions Showcase Reception in the Rayburn House Office Building Foyer from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Then, at the HIMSS Legislative Action Center, encourage your elected House member to join the 21st Century Health Care Caucus. Finally, on April 7, visit the HIMSS Advocacy Web site for key messages that your colleagues will be sharing on Capitol Hill. To make I-T happen, it’s time to advocate together. Back to Top 2. Industry Comes Together At HIMSS Summit Connect with the healthcare industry’s leaders at the HIMSS Summit in New York City on June 6-7. All the committees of the National Health Information Network (NHIN) and numerous standards organizations have joined the HIMSS Summit as organizational partners; federal organizations represent key “voices of influence” at the summit. Register today for this collaborative and strategic HIMSS summit. Organizational Partners Association for the Advancement of Medical Informatics American College of Clinical Engineering American College of Physician Executives American Health Information Management Association American Medical Informatics Association Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems Alliance for Nursing Informatics Center for Information Technology Leadership Federation of American Hospitals eHealth Initiative Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise ISO/TC 215 Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations National Committee for Quality Assurance National Council for Prescription Drug Programs National Business Coalition on Health URAC Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange Voices of Influence Veterans Administration Center for Health Transformation Department of Defense Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Back to Top 3. Explore EHR Benefits For Physician Practices At PACT Most physicians have decided the electronic health record (EHR) is inevitable…but how to select it, buy it and install it successfully is the big question. Now – HIMSS can help physicians answer those questions with PACT – Physicians Adopting Computer Technology. Join HIMSS in Phoenix, New York or Chicago for an upcoming PACT Conference to learn how to maximize practice efficiency, ROI and patient satisfaction with the latest computerized tools. Tracks are designed for large and small group practices with presentations from clinicians who have successfully implemented the EHR in their practices. Demonstrations and exhibits showcase current EHR products. The PACT conference is approved for continuing medical education for physicians and for renewal of the CPHIMS and CHS credentials from HIMSS. Conferences are scheduled for: May 21 - Phoenix, Ariz. June 4 – New York, NY (preceding HIMSS Summit) June 25 – Chicago, Ill. Visit PACT for more information and to register. Back to Top 4. SunSHINE Spring Webinar Series Looks At Future Healthcare Mark you calendar for SunSHINE’s Spring Webinar series: March 29, April 19, May 18 and June 15. This opportunity will help you learn more about essential strategies and technologies for creating the healthcare environment of the future without leaving your desk. And it’s free to all SunSHINE members. To learn more, go to SunSHINE. Back to Top 5. Call For Abstracts For Fall 2005 JHIM Handheld computers and other portable devices are transforming the way clinicians work. Mobile computing is the theme of the Fall 2005 issue of the Journal of Healthcare Information Management, and HIMSS is calling for abstracts, which are due April 18, 2005. HIMSS is looking for articles describing the issues and opportunities through utilizing mobile computing in healthcare—including within the ambulatory care setting. HIMSS will also consider original contributions on other healthcare IT issues including computerized provider order entry (CPOE) and patient safety, project management—theory/practice and healthcare IT leadership strategies. Article proposals must include a 150-200 word abstract and complete contact information for all potential authors. Electronic submissions are preferred and should be sent to Nancy Vitucci. Back to Top 6. Daniel E. Blum Wins February “Spirit of HIMSS” Award Daniel E. Blum received the February “Spirit of HIMSS” Award for his excellent service in leading the Advocacy & Public Policy Committee's Chapter Advocacy Liaison Roundtable. A long-standing HIMSS member, Blum has provided HIMSS chapters with an effective vehicle to demonstrate and share grassroots advocacy efforts. He has helped them identify and address pressing information technology (IT) issues, while considering the diversity of each state’s constituents and their needs and interests related to healthcare IT. With monthly industry public policy updates, Blum helped energize the chapters’ local and grassroots advocacy and public policy efforts. The "Spirit of HIMSS" recognizes each month a member whose volunteer efforts within the Society embody the spirit and philosophy of HIMSS. Submit nominations to Heather Akin as a 25-word description of the member's accomplishments and how he/she has earned the recognition. The HIMSS Membership Committee will select the recipient of the award, which is announced in the HIMSS Insider and HIMSS eNews. Back to Top 7. Take The SIG Member Survey HIMSS is currently conducting a survey of all Special Interest Group members. The survey will collect data that will help improve the SIG programs. Take the survey, if you are a member of one of the HIMSS SIGs and would like to participate. Back to Top 8. HIMSS 2006 – Online Call For Proposals Opens March 28 The online Call for Proposals for the 2006 Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition, which will be held Feb. 12-16, 2006 in San Diego, Calif., will be open via the HIMSS Web site from Monday, March 28, through Monday, May 2, at 5 p.m. CDT. The link here includes a sample proposal form, for information only. The proposals selected will be developed into education programs for the conference. The 2006 lecture and roundtable sessions are 60 minutes; E-Sessions are 20 minutes. A peer review team will review and score all proposals. All proposals must be submitted online via the HIMSS Web site to be considered; late proposals will not be accepted. Back to Top 9. Submit An Application-HIMSS 2006 Call For Reviewers Share your knowledge and expertise by reviewing and scoring proposals for the education programs at the 2006 Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition. Reviewer applications will be available on the HIMSS Web site March 28 - April 25. Back to Top 10. MS-HUG - Call For Advisory Committee Members The MS-HUG Advisory Committee is in the process of soliciting volunteers to fill three open positions on the leadership team. These positions require a two-year term of office beginning July 1, 2005 and expiring June 30, 2007. Members of the MS-HUG Advisory Committee, who are responsible for ensuring that MS-HUG is doing the best work possible in pursuit of its goals, will have a direct impact into the future of the organization, including participating on and/or chairing workgroups relating to the Web site, marketing/membership and education. Those interested in becoming involved with this increasingly successful organization should visit the MS-HUG Web site to find and complete the nomination form. Send it before April 15, with a resume, to Julie Kayman via e-mail or fax to 312-915-9511. Back to Top 11. MS-HUG - Call For Proposals For Fall Tech Forum The Call for Proposals process for the Fall Tech Forum 2005, taking place August 23-24 at the Microsoft Corporate Campus in Redmond, Wash., is now open. MS-HUG is looking for users of Microsoft-based technology to join the experts at Microsoft on the agenda for this must-see event. Share best practices, solutions and user experiences on a variety of potential presentation topics including: Emerging Technologies Health Data, Interoperability and Standards IT Infrastructure and Architecture Mobility and Wireless Patient Safety Process Improvement If you are interested, please visit the MS-HUG Web site for a copy of the application. Applications must be completed and sent to Maggie Suerth before 5 p.m. CDT on April 15. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your experience and expertise with your peers by submitting a proposal today. Back to Top 12. FY06 Federal Budget For Health IT Requires Compromise As the U.S. Congress left Washington, D.C. this week for a two-week recess, both houses of Congress completed the first step on the long path to pass a FY06 budget for the federal government. A budget resolution is a plan with spending and revenue targets, which are implemented through subsequent legislation, including appropriation acts and changes in laws that affect revenues and direct spending. The House passed a Budget Resolution that mirrored the President’s Budget Request, while the Senate’s Budget Resolution restored $14 billion in proposed Medicaid reductions. The Senate also proposed establishing a reserve fund that provides incentives for adoption of modern information technology and for performance-based payments following accepted clinical performance measures that improve the quality of healthcare. Following the Easter recess, both houses will have to resolve their differences in conference. For more information, contact HIMSS Director of Public Policy, Dave Roberts. Back to Top 13. Spring Fever? Attend The HIMSS Chapter Meeting It’s springtime and, if you are in the mood to get out of the office, use the time to attend the local meeting of your HIMSS chapter. You’ll meet with other professionals in your city or area and add value to your own expertise as you hear from experts in healthcare IT. Meeting topics vary, as you can see from the list below, so take a look at the schedule of chapter meetings throughout the country…and plan to attend a meeting in your location. Visit the HIMSS Chapter Calendar and put HIMSS on your springtime schedule. 4/15/2005 Alabama Chapter St. Vincent’s Hospital - Birmingham, Ala. Timely Issues for Challenging Times http://www.alabamahimss.org 4/8/2005 California Chapter - Southern Holiday Inn - Long Beach, Calif. Ambulatory Electronic Health Record http://www.himss-socal.org/calendar/calendar.html 4/15/2005 Colorado Chapter Denver Health & Hospital Rita Bass Education Center - Denver, Colo. Colorado HIMSS Spring Conference http://www.chimss.org/ 4/19/2005 Delaware Valley Chapter Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, Penn. Wireless Solutions http://www.dvhimss.org/events.asp 4/7/2005 Georgia Chapter Atlanta, Ga. Health Information Security http://www.gahimss.org/register/abstract.html 3/30/2005 Hawaii Aloha Chapter Hilton Hawaiian Village - Honolulu, Hawaii Staying Alive Beyond 2005 http://www.himsshawaii.org/calendar/calendar.html 4/21/2005 Heart of America Chapter Cerner Corporation Campus Spring Heart of America HIMSS program http://www.hoahimss.org/index.html 4/5/2005 Iowa Chapter Des Moines, Iowa Iowa Chapter HIMSS Meeting http://www.iowahimss.org/calendar/calendar.html 4/28/2005 Kentucky Bluegrass Chapter Caesars Indiana Casino Resort- Elizabeth, Ind. 2005 Spring Conference http://www.bluegrasshimss.org/calendar/calendar.html 4/29/2005 Louisiana Chapter Pennington Conference Center - Baton Rouge, La. Linking Louisiana Healthcare http://www.lahimss.org/calendar.html 4/28/2005 Michigan Chapter St John’s Golf & Conference Center -Plymouth, Mich. Annual Spring Conference: National Health Initiatives using EHR’s: Pay for Performance, Quality and Safety – Are We There Yet? http://www.mi-himss.org/calendar/mihimss_cal05.mht 4/20/2005 New York State Chapter Greater New York Hospital Association - New York, NY Clinical Information Exchange: Present and Future http://www.himssnys.org/calendar/calendar.html 4/15/2005 Ohio - Northern Chapter Cleveland Botanical Garden in University Circle 2005 Spring Conference http://www.nohimss.org/new/new.html 4/28/2005 Oregon Chapter Embassy Suites - Portland, Ore. Intelligent Identification: Micro Technology – Macro Benefits http://www.himss-oregon.org/ 3/25/2005 South Carolina Chapter http://www.schimss.org 3/25/2005 Tennessee Chapter Brentwood, Tenn. Monthly Luncheon http://www.tnhimss.org/calendar/calendar.html 4/28/2005 Tennessee Chapter Brentwood, Tenn. Monthly Luncheon http://www.tnhimss.org/calendar/calendar.html 4/19/2005 Texas - Austin Chapter Chapter Meeting http://www.austinhimss.org/calendar/calendar.html 3/31/2005 Texas - Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse - Addison, Texas D/FW HIMSS Social http://www.dfwhimss.com/calendar/calendar.html Back to Top

	14. CMS To Host Teleconference On HIPAA Security Rule The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will host a “National HIPAA Security Roundtable” conference call on April 13 at 2 p.m. EDT. The agenda is not yet available, but will be posted in the future at the CMS Web site. The dial-in number for the call will be (877) 203-0044 and the call ID number 4587639. Back to Top

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	15. Claims Automation In A New Environment Health Data Management (03/05) Vol. 13, No. 3, P. 30; Goedert, Joseph Medical claims clearinghouse WebMD decided to negotiate lower rates with healthcare providers with whom it has exclusive contracts, substantially reducing its revenue sharing with other clearinghouses. This decision could have serious effects on the claims market, if the other clearinghouses do not find a way to pass the expenses from the lost revenues on to other business partners. Providers may have to cover the costs instead through increased fees among the other clearinghouses. Clearinghouses that cannot find a way to effectively redistribute the costs could go out of business, which could result in an environment of reduced competition that would allow the remaining claims processors to significantly raise rates, again shifting a greater burden of costs to providers. WebMD believes that the trouble some providers are having with maintaining clearinghouse connections is simply a question of waiting for payback on a considerable investment. WebMD believes that its services, such as high claim auto adjudication rates, allow for a smaller turnaround time on the investment in a clearinghouse relationship. (click for more) Back to Top 16. Fast Track To Rewards Healthcare Informatics (03/05); Hagland, Mark The Pacific Business Group on Health (PBSH), a San Francisco-based business alliance that represents some of the nation's largest healthcare purchasers, is involved in an initiative that could help transform the reward system in healthcare. The alliance has been collaborating with the California provider coalition Integrated Healthcare Association and with several of California's largest health plans to establish and expand the broadest effort yet at paying physician groups and hospitals for documented quality. Areas being measured are patient experience, preventive and chronic care management, and investment in IT, an element that is essential to the whole effort, not only as a progress indicator but also for its contribution to core infrastructure development. “Doctors must have patient registry. Hospitals have to have automated systems to track medications and everything else. From soup to nuts, IT is an essential element in providing better care,” said Peter Lee, president and CEO of PBGH. (click for more) Back to Top 17. The Digital Hospital Business Week (03/17/05 Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, N.J., is one of the nation's most aggressive tech adopters. Millions of dollars in investments have paid for projects such as a drug-order entry system. Hackensack's results are encouraging. Patient mortality rates are down while quality of care is up. At the same time, productivity is rising. While these are early days and plenty of hurdles remain, the hospital does not doubt that its technology investments are making a positive difference. "We could never become a top hospital unless we were tops in tech," says John P. Ferguson, the hospital's chief executive. (click for more) Back to Top

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