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9-19-05: Arizona Leading the Way on E-Health
Governor Issues Call to Action – Cummiskey, Schermer to Co-Chair
Committee
Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano has issued a
Call to Action
on E-Health connectivity by signing an
executive order
creating the Arizona Health-e Connection Steering Committee. This makes Arizona
one of the first states in the nation to establish a formal process to
set a course for E-Health adoption.
 The Health-e Connection Steering Committee is charged with developing a
road map for Arizona to achieve statewide electronic health data
exchange between insurance companies, health care providers and
consumers of health care as well as exploring issues related to the
implementation of electronic medical records.
“Arizona’s health care system already has much of the infrastructure in
place to become digital,” Governor Napolitano
said. “Plus, the early adoption of an interoperable electronic health
records system will improve the quality and reduce the cost of health
care in Arizona.
“Doctors will have easy access to patients’ medical records at all
times, thus reducing the possibility of duplication or error.”
Chris Cummiskey, State CIO and director of the Arizona Government
Information Technology Agency, and Beth Schermer, a Phoenix attorney and
interim vice dean for administration at the University of Arizona’s
College of Medicine Phoenix, are co-chairs of the
steering committee.
“CEOs and executive directors of health care associations, major
employers, hospitals and other leaders of health care across the state
will sit on the steering committee, ensuring the different entities
involved in the Arizona health care system are working toward the same
goal,” said the Governor.
The federal government estimates $140 billion or almost 10 percent of
the total annual health spending in the United States could be
eliminated by the expansion of health information technology.
A Call to Action Summit is planned for October 5, 2005 at the Phoenix
Civic Center. More information about the summit including an agenda and
conference registration materials can be found at
www.slhi.org.
Other Links: Governor's
Press Release
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