HIMSS Proposes Health IT Language for Inclusion in National Party Platforms

Washington, DC (July 26, 2012) – As the election cycle heats up and the United States’ two major political parties prepare for their August conventions, HIMSS has proposed language for inclusion in the Democratic and Republican National Committee party platforms to support the transformation of healthcare in America through information technology.

“Health information technology (IT) is an essential, foundational element of any meaningful effort to transform our nation’s healthcare delivery system,” said H. Stephen Lieber, CAE, HIMSS President and CEO. “While our nation is engaged in a long-term debate over how to restructure our healthcare system, there continues to be widespread, bipartisan support for efforts to move away from a delivery and payment system that rewards volume, toward a system that rewards efficiency and quality outcomes, in part by enabling providers and patients to access the right information at the right time through robust nationwide adoption of health IT.”

HIMSS has long brought attention to the value of health IT as an established national investment that improves clinical management, eliminates redundant diagnostic tests, reduces medical errors and re-hospitalizations, enhances continuity of care, and reduces fraud, waste, and abuse, leading to a significant return on investment and quality improvements for the country.

To ensure that health IT continues to improve healthcare and achieve superior efficiency, quality, and outcomes of care, HIMSS has proposed the following language for inclusion in the Democratic and Republican national party platforms for 2012, documents that will define each party’s principles for the next four years:

“In order to improve the quality of healthcare for all Americans while reducing costs, the Party will continue its strong support for the rapid, nationwide adoption of Health Information Technology including electronic health records and secure health information exchange capabilities.”

Concurrently, HIMSS continues to work with Congress to expand bipartisan leadership and support for system-wide adoption of private and secure health IT systems, which will pave the way to healthcare transformation through enhanced quality of patient care across the nation.

About HIMSS

HIMSS is a cause-based, not-for-profit organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare. Founded 51 years ago, HIMSS and its related organizations are headquartered in Chicago with additional offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. HIMSS represents more than 44,000 individual members, of which more than two thirds work in healthcare provider, governmental and not-for-profit organizations. HIMSS also includes over 570 corporate members and more than 170 not-for-profit organizations that share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and management systems. HIMSS frames and leads healthcare practices and public policy through its content expertise, professional development, research initiatives, and media vehicles designed to promote information and management systems’ contributions to improving the quality, safety, access, and cost-effectiveness of patient care. To learn more about HIMSS and to find out how to join us and our members in advancing our cause, please visit our website at www.himss.org.

   

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