HIMSS Weekly Insider
HIMSS News from
July 2, 2008

In This Issue

Play a role in the HIMSS09 Academic Forum • Dedicate some of your time and expertise to one of our many task forces and work groups • Check the status of your HIMSS membership • Finally, check out the free tools and resources recently posted online

Have a question, comment or idea? Please send them to Matt Schlossberg.

What's New

Play a Role in the HIMSS09 Academic Forum

HIMSS and the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) are seeking abstracts for the special Academic Forum to be held on Saturday, April 4, at HIMSS09 in Chicago. They also are looking for abstract reviewers to participate in the selection process.

The Academic Forum encourages practitioners and vendors to observe current research that has a practical application to the world of healthcare IT. There is no theme for the session, so a wide range of topics will be considered.

Submit an Abstract. The peer review process will evaluate the abstracts based on the applied nature of the research; applicability to the world of information technology practices; rigor of methodology; and clarity of presentation. Abstracts should be no longer then two double-spaced pages, and should accompany a one-page resume. Abstracts must describe the research issue and methodology; provide a summary of conclusions or recommendation; and explain why practitioners would benefit from this research. Deadline for submissions is Sept. 15. Authors will be notified of acceptance by Oct. 15. Send all materials electronically to Mari Franks, Education Coordinator, HIMSS.

Become a Reviewer. Reviewers also are needed to evaluate abstracts submitted to the Forum. Healthcare information management and technology professionals and educators interested in becoming reviewers must complete and submit an application. Additionally, participants will need to submit a current C.V., including a list of publications, presentations and other editorial experience; list areas of expertise; and indicate any conflicts that would prohibit them from reviewing submissions. Reviewers selected for this year’s peer review process will be offered the choice of a selected HIMSS publication. Completed applications should be forwarded to Mari Franks, Education Coordinator, HIMSS. More information is available online.

Submit a Paper to HIMSS AsiaPac09

HIMSS is seeking papers and proposals on IT development in the Asia-Pacific region for the AsiaPac09 Conference & Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur this February. Papers can be submitted for consideration until Sept. 8.

Presentations should stimulate discussion of issues and collaborative exchanges, and include practical information from hospitals, clinics and clinicians on their IT implementation experience in the Asia-Pacific region and other areas internationally. The majority of proposals selected will be from the Asia-Pacific region and reflect geographic balance within the region as well as balance between topic areas and the practical users in the region.

Product or commercial perspectives are discouraged, but case studies that focus on solutions to business issues may be considered. Information for submitting a proposal is available online. For questions, e-mail Joanne Bartley, Manager, Global Education, or call 312-915-9251.

Transforming Nursing Education and Practice with a Technology-Rich Environment

As a leading provider of resources for nurse informaticists and the healthcare industry, HIMSS is an endorsing organization of a Proclamation for Change “Time & Motion: Transforming the Hospital Patient Care Environment,” and the National League for Nursing (NLN) position statement, “Preparing the Next Generation of Nurses to Practice in a Technology-Rich Environment: An Informatics Agenda.”

The Proclamation for Change was issued in response to the results of the time-and-motion study conducted by researchers at Ascension Health and Kaiser Permanente. The study, the largest environmental study of its kind, was conducted over a 12-month period, ending in June 2006.

In order to transform the hospital-patient care environment and improve the delivery of safe, high quality, patient centered care, HIMSS, as an endorsing organiztaion, believes in the need for patient-centered design; system-wide, integrated technology; seamless workplace environments; and vendor partnerships.

The recently announced NLN Position Statement provides an informatics agenda that includes 23 recommendations for improving training in healthcare information technology for nurses. The statement outlines specific steps to take to ensure that nurses currently in the field, and those who will be new members of the nursing community, receive the education needed to both understand what nursing informatics is and how healthcare IT augments quality patient care.

The TIGER (Technology Informatics Guiding Education Reform) Initiative is cited in the NLN position statement as one activity that is educating nurses in the use of healthcare information technology to improve patient care delivery. The Alliance for Nursing Informatics (ANI) is an enabling organization of the TIGER Initiative through the sponsorship of American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) and HIMSS, representing more than 3,000 nurse informaticists across the United States.

Don’t Let Your HIMSS Membership Lapse

We value your commitment and dedication to HIMSS and the healthcare IT systems industry. To ensure you can continue to take advantage of the value you receive as a HIMSS member, don't forget to renew your membership.

Take advantage of these outstanding member benefits:

Renew your membership online today. You also may e-mail Member Services or call 312-664-4467. We are happy to renew your membership over the phone or send an electronic copy of your invoice.

Tools & Resources

UPDATED New HIMSS Tools Online

Healthcare IT is a complex and ever-evolving industry impacted by countless dynamics, including patient outcomes, government legislation and regulation, emerging technologies, industry standards and cost/revenue constraints. HIMSS regularly offers free tools and resources to keep its members updated on latest information, best practices and strategies. Following are the newest tools available on the HIMSS Web site. For more information, contact HIMSS staff liaison JoAnn Klinedinst, CPHIMS, PMP, FHIMSS.

Additional free tools and resources are available to HIMSS members on our Web site. And be sure to peruse our online catalog of more than 100 HIMSS resources, including case studies, best practices, toolkits and research. (Member login required.)

Healthcare IT Survey Pinpoints Professional Needs

Medical technology and Information technology professionals are hungry for information on emerging technologies and guidance on the integration of IT systems in the healthcare environment, according to the results of a major new industry survey.

The online survey was conducted recently by the new CE-IT Community, a coalition of three national associations including HIMSS, the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and the American College of Clinical Engineering (ACCE)

The survey—which attracted more than 470 respondents—was developed to identify the major needs facing the members of the three sponsoring organizations, so that the CE-IT Community could then address those needs through several specific projects in the months ahead.

According to the survey results, the overwhelming majority of the respondents want the CE-IT Community to develop and share best practices and to be kept informed about new standards and regulations and new technologies. In addition, the majority of the respondents said that it would be helpful if the CE-IT Community helped ensure that new technology weaves into current technology without precluding connectivity in the future.

The respondents also expressed strong support for sharing business plans, goals, and mission statements between IT and clinical engineering groups, and a desire to gather diverse stakeholders to discuss IT issues of mutual interest.

Survey respondents also said they wanted more guidance on developing a collaborative relationship between IT and clinical engineering; and up-to-date information on IT standards, IT issues related to facility upgrades and the environment, and IT security issues. Issues that scored the lowest were guidance on picture archiving and communications systems, deploying intranet technology, and upgrades of network infrastructure.

The survey results and the proposed projects that will be undertaken will be explored during an online CE-IT Town Hall meeting, which will be held on July 15 at 2 p.m. (EDT). Details of the conference call will be available online.

New IT Web site Launched for Medical Technology Professionals

A new Web site has been created for medical and information technology professionals to access timely educational resources and information about clinical engineering and IT-related issues affecting the healthcare field.

The Web site was developed by a coalition of three national associations—HIMSS, the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and the American College of Clinical Engineering (ACCE)—which recently formed the CE-IT Community.

The Web site describes the new CE-IT Community; includes a copy of the group’s charter; as well as news coverage about the collaboration, background information about the three sponsoring organizations, and details about how individuals can become involved.

Over time, the Web site will also include detailed information about specific projects undertaken by the CE-IT Community, including guidance documents and publications, information about educational events, and the sharing of best practices.

For more information about the CE-IT Community, visit http://www.ceitcollaboration.org or contact Steve Campbell.

Get Ready for the IHE Connectathon: Attend Free Webinar Series

If your firm is not active in Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) perhaps it should be. More than 300 healthcare IT vendors worldwide are helping to drive interoperability using IHE profiles in their products. You can learn more about the IHE through a series of Webinars held in June and July 2008. These sessions are free, but pre-registration is required.

All Webinars are recorded, so you may listen to sessions at your convenience. Not sure what IHE is or need a basic overview? Review the June 10 Webinar today.

For more information contact: lspellman@himss.org

Five Questions

New HIMSS Board Chair Talks Shop

Charles E. Christian, FCHIME, FHIMSS
Chair, HIMSS Board of Directors

Charles E. Christian, FCHIME, FHIMSS, began his term as chair of the HIMSS Board of Directors on July 1. He replaces Chair John Wade, FCHIME, FHIMSS.

Mr. Christian is the director of information systems and CIO of Good Samaritan Hospital, a 100-year-old, free-standing acute care community hospital in southwest Indiana. He is serving his 19th year in this role and his 37th year in healthcare.

Good Samaritan Hospital received the McKesson VIP Award in 2004; identified as a Solucient Top 100 Hospital – Quality Improvement Leader in 2005; listed as Most Wired (small and rural) in 2004 and 2005; a 2006 recipient of the VHA Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence; and a 2008 recipient of the VHA Leadership Award in Supply Chain Management.

Prior to joining Good Samaritan Hospital, Mr. Christian worked in healthcare IT for Compucare and Baxter Travenol, in both management and implementation roles. He started his career in healthcare as a radiologic technologist, serving in various radiology roles for over 14 years.

The HIMSS Weekly Insider took a few moments to ask Mr. Christian about the future of HIMSS, upcoming initiatives and programs, and the importance of implementing HIT across the United States.

HIMSS: As you begin your term, what are your thoughts on serving as HIMSS Chair?

Mr. Christian: It is an honor to follow in the footsteps of some extraordinary industry leaders: John Wade, George Hickman, Blackford Middleton, just to name a few of the previous chairs. I am humbled by the fact I have the privilege to serve as chair and participate in the advancement of healthcare IT. I really feel that just getting the opportunity to participate in this movement is really remarkable.

Also, HIMSS has such a large number of active volunteers and I am always amazed at their level of participation despite the heavy demands of their everyday work schedules. They volunteer because they are passionate and believe technology will really make an impact on the quality and safety of the care we deliver. I know all of the Board greatly appreciates their support of our shared goal of improving healthcare through the use of information technology.
 
Personally, I have been a long-time advocate of utilizing healthcare IT to improve our healthcare system at the local, statewide and national level. This is where I believe I can really help: providing a positive voice and moving forward the goal of widespread healthcare IT adoption for the better of patient care.

HIMSS: What initiatives, programs, etc., are you most excited about working on during your term as Chair?

Mr. Christian: I am very excited about exploring the idea of a social networking-type forum in the coming year. HIMSS is a large tent of over 20,000 individual members: We are a very diverse group from which numerous communities have arisen over the past few years: the physician community, nursing community, management engineering community, pharmacist community, etc. We need to give these professionals who have like interests the opportunity to collaborate, share their thoughts, learn from each other in an online forum, which could lead to common goals and content that would be beneficial to the industry at large.

HIMSS: What HIT issues will be critical to HIMSS and its members during the coming year?

Mr. Christian: We are all looking at the cost of healthcare. Whether we are futurists, economists, legislators, etc.; we are saying “as a country, we cannot continue to bear the weight of the cost of healthcare as an increasing percentage of the GDP.”

Another important event on our radar will be the presidential election and who will get elected and what their stance will be on HIT. The potential codification of the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, healthcare IT and management systems funding and the passage of appropriate legislation is important as well.

When it finally became apparent that the nation was getting on board with the goal of widespread healthcare IT adoption by 2014 and the formation of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, I told my staff the good news is all of the technology and change we have been advocating for to improve the quality and safety of patient care and cost effectiveness of the organization is now the light at the end of the tunnel. However, the bad news is the light at the end of the tunnel has a train attached to it: If we don’t continue to move quickly we will get run over.

HIMSS: Will we see wide spread adoption of an electronic health record in the next decade?

Mr. Christian: I think it is great goal: It is no different than when President Kennedy first made the goal for landing a man on the moon. Will we make 2014? I don’t really know if we are going to make 2014, but I think we need to have a goal and I think it was very important that the goal came from a very high level.

HIMSS: With over 37 years experience in healthcare, what do you see as the greatest accomplishment of your career?

Mr. Christian: I think my greatest accomplishment is having the pleasure of working in this industry for over 37 years. This is my 19th year at Good Samaritan Hospital. I have had the pleasure of growing our team to meet the business objectives of the organization in concert with a lot of the other members in this organization—our excellent administration, outstanding Board of Governors that supports our efforts and a great medical staff who continues to challenge me. We have all worked very hard together in order to move this organization forward to where it is today and I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish here. But we have so much yet to do and we will keep working to develop and implement technology that will benefit the community in which we are privileged to serve.

A full listing of the HIMSS Board of Directors is available online.

Meet Our Members

John Sharp
Manager, Clinical Research Informatics
Department of Quantitative Health Sciences
Cleveland Clinic

May 2008 Spirit of HIMSS Award Recipient Supports HIMSS PHR Initiatives

John Sharp, recipient of the May 2008 Spirit of HIMSS Award, supports the Society’s PHR Community through his active volunteer efforts. Mr. Sharp has been instrumental in supporting the work of the Consumer Organization Outreach (COO) Task Force of the Personal Health Record Steering Committee. This past year, Mr. Sharp was the chair of the work group to complete the Consumerism Position Statement. Not only did Mr. Sharp organize this position statement team to complete the deliverables, he was the primary author.

He has had several responsibilities within HIMSS: chair of the eHealth SIG for three years, a member of the COO Task Force for two years and a member of the Project Management SIG. He has presented at the annual conference in 2003, 2006 and 2008 in educational sessions, and in 2007 through an e-session. He has always volunteers to participate in work groups associated with the COO Task Force and other initiatives. Mr. Sharp has also volunteered his organization to support the many needs of the PHR Community, and he continues to be a key resource for HIMSS' volunteers.

Mr. Sharp is currently the manager, clinical research informatics in the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences at the Cleveland Clinic. Previously he served as project manager for Web services at Cleveland Clinic for eight years in healthcare IT and has served as a project management professional since 2005. His interest areas include research informatics, personal health records, service oriented architecture, e-health, Windows Sharepoint Services and Web 2.0.

Learn more about HIMSS PHR initiatives online. Nominations should be submitted to HIMSS Member Services Manager Jessica Bird and should include a brief description explaining the accomplishments of the member and how he or she earns the recognition of the Spirit of HIMSS. Recipients will be selected and announced in the HIMSS Insider and HIMSS Weekly Insider. One annual honoree is selected from the recipients each year.

Calling All Members

New HIMSS Financial Systems Announces New Task Forces, Work Group

The Financial Systems Committee is seeking volunteers interested in participating in several new task forces and work groups launching this month.

These groups are open to all active HIMSS members. Work activities are conducted through monthly, one hour conference calls. If you are interested in participation or have any questions, please contact Holly Gaebel.

New HIMSS HIE Committee Launches New Task Forces and Work Groups

HIMSS members are welcomed to join the new volunteer groups focused on health information exchange. Following are the new task forces and work groups launching this month:

These groups are open to all active HIMSS members. Work activities are conducted through monthly, one hour conference calls. If you are interested in participation or have any questions, contact Holly Gaebel.

What’s Your Worth? Take the HIMSS 2008 Compensation Survey and Find Out

The HIMSS Compensation Survey is the definitive resource for healthcare IT professionals to compare salaries and compensation packages. The survey provides information on overall market trends, as well as breakout information by facility budget, facility type, geographic region, gender, length of service and professional level.

Is there a discrepancy in salaries between men and women? Do organizations with larger net revenues pay more? Does one state average higher salaries versus another state? Does experience matter when it comes to increasing your paycheck? Your participation in this survey will help answer these questions. Moreover, the Compensation Survey enables HIT professionals to identify what their peers are earning and provides a benchmark for ensuring that employee compensation packages are attracting and keeping appropriate talent.

Take the survey online until July 31. Results will be announced later this year on the HIMSS Web site. Participants will be eligible to win one of 10 $100 American Express Gift Cards.

Certification Commission Seeks Candidates

The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) is seeking senior executives working in healthcare to serve as commissioners on the agency’s 21-member board. The board oversees certification criteria, developed by voluntary work groups, provides strategic direction and ensures the objectivity and credibility of the Certification Commission. The application period will be open through July 31, for two-year terms that begin in October.

Members of the Board of Commissioners are senior executives representing a wide range of stakeholders across the private and public sectors of healthcare and health IT. The Commission is made up of at least two representatives each from the provider, payer and vendor stakeholder groups, as well as representatives from other stakeholder groups. This year, 13 Commission positions are open. Applications are invited from qualified candidates from the community of vendors, providers, payers, consumer organizations, quality improvement and standards organizations.

Commissioners serve staggered two-year terms and may be reappointed for a second term. Interested candidates should submit their resumes to candidates@cchit.org. The Board of Trustees will review all applications and announce appointments in September.

Ambulatory Committee Seeks New Task Force, Work Group Members

The HIMSS Ambulatory Committee is accepting new members to several of its task forces and work groups.

All Task Forces and Work Groups meet monthly, via conference call, and are open to all active HIMSS members. The task forces and work groups for the next fiscal year are:

If you are interested in joining one of our groups, and for additional information, contact Jill Redenius, Staff Coordinator.

In other Ambulatory Committee news, Dr. John Maese, President Quality Physician Services, Brooklyn, NY, will serve as the chairperson of the Ambulatory Information Systems Steering Committee, and Gamble Heffernan, Vice President, Misys Corp., will serve as the Vice Chairperson effective July 1. Staff leadership is provided by Mary Griskewicz, MS, FHIMSS, Senior Director of Ambulatory Information Systems.

PHR Committee Seeks New Volunteers

The Personal Health Record Committee is will accept new members effective July 1.

All groups meet monthly, via conference call, and are open to all active HIMSS members. The groups for this year are:

If you are interested in joining on of our groups, and would like more information, contact Jill Redenius, Staff Coordinator.

In other PHR Committee news, Lucy Mancini-Newell, President, Stellar Group, will serve as the chairperson of the PHR Committee, and Lory Wood, Vice President, Privacy and Security, Good Health Network, Inc., will serve as the Vice Chairperson, effective July 1. Staff leadership is provided by Mary Griskewicz, MS, FHIMSS, Senior Director of Ambulatory Information Systems.

Join the RHIO Connection e-Newsletter Work Group

The RHIO Connection e-Newsletter Work Group is looking for volunteers to participate in making this a leading newsletter resource in the HIE and RHIO arena. The work group will support the newsletter in a variety of ways, including brainstorming content topics, seeking potential authors, identifying topics for columns and features, reviewing readership surveys and monitoring the newsletter score card. Time requirements include a monthly one hour conference call. If you are interested in joining, contact Holly Gaebel.

IHE Seeks Public Comment on White Papers

The Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) initiative has announced several new technical framework supplements and white papers available for public comment. IHE integration profiles can be used to increase the level of interoperability among applications exchanging data. They are a resource for users, developers and implementers of healthcare information systems as they define specific implementations of established standards to achieve effective systems integration, facilitate appropriate sharing of medical information and support optimal patient care.

To learn more, visit the public comment page on the IHE Web site or contact Lisa Spellman.

Work Group Seeks Input on Patient Security

The HIMSS Privacy and Security Steering Committee has commissioned a new Work Group on Patient Identity Integrity. The first Work Group deliverable is to develop a white paper that will identify the complex of issues that surround accurate identification of an individual’s information within and across systems as well as the business processes that must be in place to support and maintain data integrity for quality of care. If you are interested in participating in this activity, please contact Mike Kroll.

JHIM Seeks Articles on Process Improvement

JHIM, the peer-reviewed journal of HIMSS, is seeking abstracts for its Winter 2009 topic: “Process Improvement: Best Practices and Lessons Learned.”

JHIM is particularly interested in:

JHIM’s primary audience includes healthcare professionals in hospitals, corporate systems, clinical practice groups, vendor organizations, consulting firms and government settings. We seek articles and proposals firmly grounded in defining challenges and offering solutions for leaders in healthcare organizations.

Abstract proposals should not exceed 250 words. They should include a working title and a list of all potential authors and full contact information. Send your abstracts as e-mail attachments to Senior Editor Matt Schlossberg by July 14.

Register Today for the Microsoft Health Users Group Tech Forum08

We’re heading back to the Microsoft Corporate Campus Aug. 26-27and this is your chance to get an inside glimpse of Microsoft and upcoming Microsoft healthcare technologies.

Hear from industry leaders discuss the top tech issues of the day, with the following educational tracks planned:

Registration for this event is open. Early bird registration ends July 31.

Save the Date

July 10—1 p.m. (CDT)
HITSP Webinar—Biosurveillance
HITSP is a private- and public-sector partnership that was established under contract to the US Department of Health and Human Services to identify standards that will support the exchange of healthcare information across the United States. Learn more about the Panel and how you can engage in shaping the future of HIT interoperability during a series of nine free Webinars held throughout the Summer of 2008. Visit HITSP online to learn more about these events and to register.

July 22—1 p.m. (CDT)
Industry Solutions Webinar - Wireless Voice and Mobility - A Nurse's Perspective
Join featured speaker Erin Kirby, RN and Interim Director of Nursing Services at Methodist Hospital on a complimentary webcast highlighting lessons-learned in bringing the benefits of mobility technology to nurses at Methodist Hospital (part of the Clarian Health System). Other speakers will include Brad Hunter, Director, American Hospital Association Solutions and Bruce Alexander, Healthcare Mobility Specialist, Cisco.

July 24—1 p.m. (CDT)
HITSP Webinar—Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Lab Reporting
HITSP is a private- and public-sector partnership that was established under contract to the US Department of Health and Human Services to identify standards that will support the exchange of healthcare information across the United States. Learn more about the Panel and how you can engage in shaping the future of HIT interoperability during a series of nine free Webinars held throughout the Summer of 2008. Visit HITSP online to learn more about these events and to register.

August 7—1 p.m. (CDT)
HITSP Webinar—Quality
HITSP is a private- and public-sector partnership that was established under contract to the US Department of Health and Human Services to identify standards that will support the exchange of healthcare information across the United States. Learn more about the Panel and how you can engage in shaping the future of HIT interoperability during a series of nine free Webinars held throughout the Summer of 2008. Visit HITSP online to learn more about these events and to register.

August 21—1 p.m. (CDT)
HITSP Webinar—Security, Privacy and Infrastructure
HITSP is a private- and public-sector partnership that was established under contract to the US Department of Health and Human Services to identify standards that will support the exchange of healthcare information across the United States. Learn more about the Panel and how you can engage in shaping the future of HIT interoperability during a series of nine free Webinars held throughout the Summer of 2008. Visit HITSP online to learn more about these events and to register.

September 4—1 p.m. (CDT)
HITSP Webinar—EHR and Emergency Response
HITSP is a private- and public-sector partnership that was established under contract to the US Department of Health and Human Services to identify standards that will support the exchange of healthcare information across the United States. Learn more about the Panel and how you can engage in shaping the future of HIT interoperability during a series of nine free Webinars held throughout the Summer of 2008. Visit HITSP online to learn more about these events and to register.

September 18—1 p.m. (CDT)
HITSP Webinar—Medication Management
HITSP is a private- and public-sector partnership that was established under contract to the US Department of Health and Human Services to identify standards that will support the exchange of healthcare information across the United States. Learn more about the Panel and how you can engage in shaping the future of HIT interoperability during a series of nine free Webinars held throughout the Summer of 2008. Visit HITSP online to learn more about these events and to register.

Chapter Calendar

July 23—2:30 p.m. (CDT)
Arkansas Chapter of HIMSS
Webinar: Using Technology to Control Rising Physician Preference Item Costs
Challenged by rising supply chain costs and continued reliance on legacy systems, BJC Healthcare realized dramatic savings by making strategic technology and business process changes within its organization. Learn how these changes lead to success for the organization. Register for this event online.