• Washington, DC
• Philadelphia

POLICY ISSUES IN CONSUMER HEALTH INFORMATICS

Partnerships for Networked Consumer Health Information
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Annenberg School for Communication and Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania

Washington, D.C. • National Press Club • Tuesday, April 28, 1998

9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Registration

10:00 - 11:30 am
Internet Training Session for Health Media

• Doug Levy, Technology and Medical Reporter, USA Today

Health writers, editors, and other news staff will learn about key Internet sites and resources to help them identify emerging stories, get background information, and locate contacts.

10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Technology Showcase and Games                                           Developers and vendors will demonstrate interactive consumer/patient applications and Web sites and engage in optional, friendly competition.

12:00 - 1:30 pm
Luncheon

12:45 pm
Welcome

• Douglas Rivlin, Director, Washington Office, Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania
• David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon General
• Donna E. Shalala, Ph.D., Secretary of Health and Human Services

• The Honorable Al Gore, Vice President of the United States [invited]

The popular government health Web site launched by the Secretary and the Vice President at Partnerships '97 has a new look and enhancements to help consumers prevent illness, take care of themselves and their families, find quality health care, and judge health information on the Internet.

• Warner V. Slack. M.D., Co-President, Center for Clinical Computing; Editor, M.D. Computing, and author, Cybermedicine: How Computing Empowers Doctors and Patients for Better Health Care
• Interviewed by David Meyerson, M.D., Johns Hopkins University

Chair: James O'Hara, III, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

• Keynote: Health Illiteracy Costs and Opportunities Through Technology
  • David W. Baker, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology-Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University

Many patients cannot read basic materials they encounter in the health care setting, such as prescriptions and appointment slips. These individuals are less likely to understand their diagnosis and treatment, and they are more likely to be hospitalized. Computerized learning packages and home monitoring tools may ameliorate these problems.

Federal and State agencies play important roles in promoting access to pertinent, credible, and understandable health information. Policies,  programs, and specific services will be highlighted by public sector panelists. Consumers too can take action on their own behalf and promote the wider availability of sound information.

• Is Federal Policy Keeping Up?
  • John M. Eisenberg, M.D., M.B.A., Administrator, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• What’s Happening in the States?
  • The Honorable Cecil H. Underwood, Governor of West Virginia
• How Can Consumers be Proactive?
  • David Ansley, Medical Editor, OnHealth.com

1. Innovative Programs for Ensuring Access to Health Information and Education

   Moderator: Margaret Cary, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H., Regional Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

   Those groups who are least likely to have access to electronic health information resources are also most likely to have more burdensome health problems. To reduce the gap between the health information "haves" and the "have-nots," both the public and private sectors are supporting programs to enhance public access to technology in libraries, shopping malls, and low-income housing. Other innovative programs are designed for specific high-risk populations.

• Panelist:  Victor Strecher, Ph.D., M.P.H., Professor and Associate Director, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center (The Michigan Community Kiosk Program, a Statewide Network for Prevention Education)
• Panelist: Sandra B. McCray, Executive Director, Colorado HealthNet (Reaching Youth and Teens with Online Programs)
• Panelist:  Stephen J. Yank, Project Manager, ICF Kaiser Consulting Group (HUD's Neighborhood Networks Initiative, Bringing Health Information into Low-Income Housing)

Moderator: Shannah Koss, Program Director for Government and Health Care, IBM, Inc.

Health plans and large employers that have implemented electronic access to information and services have generally only included descriptions of benefits. Panelists will discuss issues associated with offering members and employees a full spectrum of functions, such as administrative, provider selection, health information, and communication with health professionals.

• Panelist:  Jeffrey M. Johnston, President and CEO, Decisions Innovations, Inc. (Decision-Tools for Health Plan Selection, including for the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program)
• Panelist:  David Cochran, M.D., Associate Medical Director, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (Consumer Health Systems, Clinical vs. Administrative Support)

3. Moderator: Tom Eng, V.M.D., M.P.H., Study Director, Science Panel on Interactive Communication and Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

   There is increasing concern about the accuracy, quality, and health impact of Internet-based and other interactive health communication technologies. Panelists will discuss efforts in the public and private sectors to identify key issues and strategies, including policy and educational initiatives.

• Panelist:  Farrokh Alemi, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Health Administration, Cleveland State University, and Member, Science Panel on Interactive Communication and Health (General Approaches: Update from the Science Panel on Interactive Communication and Health)
• Panelist: Helga Rippen, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., Director, Health Information Technology Institute, Mitretek Systems (Consumer Tools: Work of the Mitretek Health Summit)
• Panelist:  Richard L. Cleland, Assistant Director, Division of Service Industry Practices, Federal Trade Commission (Potential Regulatory Approaches)

This session will demonstrate important Internet sites and resources for obtaining background information on health issues and events; tracking legislation; identifying, locating, and reaching key players in government and the private sector; and much more.

• 5:15 - 7:00 PM
  Technology Games Awards (Reception with Cash Bar)

  BRINGING KNOWLEDGE TO THE POINT OF USE

  American Medical Informatics Association Spring Congress in collaboration with the Partnerships for Networked Consumer Health Information

  Philadelphia, PA • Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel • May 27-30, 1998

  AMIA’s 1998 Spring Congress will focus on exploring knowledge-based systems for clinicians and patients. The 3-day conference will explore three separate aspects of this topic:

• Integrated clinical decision support: how it works, who is using it, what is known
• The virtual library: tools and strategies for searching, how to effectively provide literature access wherever it is needed, links to knowledge across campus and around the world
• Consumer/patient access to clinical knowledge: who is providing online resources, how they are being evaluated, what the latest developments are

• A technology showcase featuring online resources for consumers will be sponsored by Partnerships for Networked Consumer Health Information (DHHS) and run concurrently for the first 2 days of the conference. All AMIA registrants will have open access to the showcase. The Consumer Health Informatics Games will open Wednesday evening and end with a closing awards ceremony on Thursday evening. Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Dean of the Annenberg School for Communication and Director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, will make the presentations.

  The Wednesday afternoon plenary session will feature a multimedia presentation of the history of knowledge-based development efforts, followed by a debate and interactive presentation on the value of knowledge-based systems.

  Thursday will be a research day cosponsored with the Medical Library Association. In the morning, keynote presentations and discussions will focus on a research agenda for the 21st century, exploring each of the theme areas mentioned above. In the afternoon, there will be breakout sessions to develop a research agenda concept as it pertains to each theme area.

  Friday will be a full day of scientific papers and panel presentations on the theme areas.

  Wednesday and Saturday morning will provide tutorials, workshops, and working group meetings. Site tours of local health care facilities will also be offered Wednesday morning.

  Social activities and local tours are planned for the evenings and Saturday so that attendees may take advantage of price breaks on airline tickets.

http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/confrnce/partnr98/agenda.htm