Institute for e-Health Policy Turns to Mobile Apps

This came out recently from HIMSS:

Institute for e-Health Policy Turns to Mobile Apps

The Institute for e-Health Policy held its seventh event of this year on July 28th at the Russell Senate Building in Washington, DC. The event, “Rapidly Advancing Mobile and Wireless Applications Toward Improved Chronic Disease Management,” focused on the latest advancements in mobile and wireless applications that aimed at improving chronic disease management.



Steve Lieber, President & CEO of HIMSS (photo, at right), served as moderator of this standing room only event. More than 100 attendees also heard from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), photo left, an Honorary Co-Chair of the Steering Committee on Telehealth and Healthcare Informatics. The Senator highlighted the growing issue of increasing healthcare costs in the country and how rising costs affect nearly every sector of the healthcare system. He emphasized that efforts should be geared toward fixing the healthcare system and addressing the issue of rising healthcare costs. He also stated that a “robust health information infrastructure and system” is needed to allow the ability for exchange of health information. Senator Whitehouse has a longstanding engagement and commitment to healthcare quality and information systems.

Some of the nation’s leading organizations and government agencies were represented on the panel. Dr. Adam Darkins, who is the Chief Clinical Care Coordinator for the Veterans Health Administration, has led VA efforts to implement telemedicine, chronic care disease management tools, and now mobile and wireless applications in health information technology for Veterans throughout the nation. Dr. Yael Harris, Director of Office of HIT & Quality, HRSA, presented various federal health activities and programs that integrated wireless applications with healthcare, which truly utilize the value of wireless technology.

Presenters also included Bruce Brandes, Chief Strategy Officer for Airstrip Technologies, who was among those offering brief table top demonstrations of how mobile applications can be applied to the most profound healthcare challenges in order to create a meaningful difference in improved outcomes. Other speakers included Anthony Delli Colli, Vice-Chair, Market Adoption Working Group, Continua Health Alliance and Vice President, Marketing from Elbrys Networks; Steffan Johnson, Sr. Consumerism Lead from Highmark Inc.; Kent Dicks, Founder & CEO, and Eric Vanderwater, Chief Technology Officer from Medapps Inc.

The next Capitol Hill health IT briefing program is scheduled for Monday, September 12th from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. The Capitol Hill Health Information Technology Showcase: Patient Safety and Quality Issues,” will take place during National Health IT Week (September 12-16, 2011). Approximately 350-400 attendees from government, industry, and academia are expected throughout the day.