Governor Moves to Digitize Health Care in Oregon
Electronic health records improve patient care, safety and efficiency
(Salem) – As part of the Governor’s health care initiative, Governor Ted Kulongoski signed an Executive Order creating the Health Information Infrastructure Advisory Committee (HIIAC).
In the order, the Governor directed the advisory committee to develop a strategy for the implementation of a secure, interoperable computerized health network to connect patients and health care providers across Oregon. Such a system will make the health care industry more efficient, improve the quality of care, reduce medical errors and save patients money by eliminating unnecessary or repeated medical procedures.
The committee will provide a written report of findings and recommendations to the Oregon Health Fund Board by July 31, 2008 for use in their broader effort to provide health care access to all Oregonians, part of which is focused on reducing and controlling costs.
“Citizens can access and manage nearly all aspects of their life online with the exception of their health care,” Governor Kulongoski said. “The appropriate use of electronic health care records will empower patients and allow doctors to provide timely and higher quality medical care, particularly in emergency situations.”
Currently, a patient’s medical history is too often unavailable when it is needed because of fragmentation and the lack of interoperable health information systems. This means that health care providers are forced to delay care, to spend time during medical appointments working with patients to create a medical history, or to make decisions based on incomplete information, perhaps ordering duplicative and costly tests and procedures.
“Solely relying on patients to recall their medical history and to trust that doctors are able to track down disparate papers files from various medical offices, is not the way health care should be administered,” the Governor continued.
Implementing a secure, computerized interoperable network will store a patient’s medical history in one accessible location, arming patients and health care providers with a complete medical history before care is administered.
For Oregonians who live in rural or underserved areas, building this network will mean greater access to health care. Through heath care information technology, other technologies such as telemedicine can become a reality. Telemedicine allows patients to work directly with health care providers around the state.
Oregon’s health care providers are already among the nation’s most advanced in the adoption of electronic health records at 53%. To continue to build on this momentum, the Oregon Health Fund Board will work with the Governor’s advisory group on implementing health information technology as one way to provide higher quality health care to Oregonians.
The Governor’s group is called the Health Information Infrastructure Advisory Council. It will be comprised of consumers as well as medical, technical and policy experts. A list of the members follows below.
Dick Gibson, Legacy Health Systems
Nancy Clarke, QCorp
Andy Davidsonm, Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems
Bart McMullin, M.D., Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield
Abby Sears, Oregon Community Health Information Network
Homer Chin, Kaiser
Nan Robertson, Robertson Group
Denise Honzel, Oregon Business Council
Greg Wenneson, Division of Medical Assistance Programs, Department of Human Services
Laura Etherton, Oregon State Public Interest Research Group
Barbara Prowe, Oregon Coalition of Health Care Purchasers
Paul Gorman, Oregon Health and Science University
Andi Miller, Central OregonElectronic Medical Records,
Gina Nikkel, Oregon Association of Mental Health
Grant Higginson, state public health officer, Department of Human Services
Andrew Perry, CEO, The Corvallis Clinic
Sally Sparling, NW Cardiovascular Institute/NW Cardio Technologies
Chris Apgar, Apgar & Associates, health care industry consultant
Dave Widen, Safeway
Joyce DeMonnin, AARP
For a copy of the Executive Order go to: http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/exec_orders.shtml
Contact:
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169
Jillian Schoene, 503-378-5040
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