National eHealth Collaborative Elects New Leadership

Washington, D.C. (December 18, 2009) - National eHealth Collaborative (NeHC) today announced the election of Laura Adams, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Quality Institute, to serve as Chair of the 2010 Board of Directors.  Simon Cohn, MD, Associate Executive Director for Health Information Policy at Kaiser Permanente, will serve as Vice Chair.  Thomas Fritz, CEO of Inland Northwest Health Services, was elected to a second term as Treasurer.  

"In 2010, NeHC will continue to build on the success we have had through our Stakeholder Forums and working groups in 2009, driving broader efforts to educate, provide practical guidance, and encourage collaboration and consensus among all health IT stakeholders.  NeHC will also begin working with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) to support the growth of the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN).  I look forward to the challenge of building on our vision and helping to stimulate unified stakeholder action in support of our shared goal of a secure, interoperable, nationwide health information system," said incoming NeHC Board Chair Laura Adams. 

"NeHC is governed by some of the foremost leaders in health IT today, and working with them during NeHC's inaugural year has been very rewarding.  Helping to represent a health IT stakeholder, I plan to continue assisting NeHC in the coming years, as we strive to create a true patient-centered health system through the broad adoption and use of health information technology and electronic health information exchange," said outgoing NeHC Incorporator and Board Chair John Tooker, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, American College of Physicians. 

NeHC recently announced a national call for new members to join the Board of Directors in 2010.  Nominations are being accepted through December 25, 2009 at http://www.nationalehealth.org/ShowContent.aspx?id=327.  A slate of candidates recommended by the NeHC Nominations Committee will be posted online for 10 days of public comment in mid-January 2010, and the new Board members will be elected by NeHC's membership at the end of January. 

"I hope that leaders from across the healthcare spectrum will consider joining us on the NeHC Board of Directors in 2010.  We have an important year ahead of us, and I am excited about the opportunity to help lead NeHC's efforts to improve the quality, safety, efficiency and accessibility of healthcare through the effective use of health information technology," said incoming NeHC Vice Chair Simon Cohn.

December 2009 marks the end of a critical first year in the establishment of this new public-private partnership.  Alongside a diverse and knowledgeable Board of Directors, Laura Adams, Simon Cohn and Tom Fritz will help to advance the organization's vision of providing leadership and engaging individuals, providers, institutions and other stakeholders to foster the effective use of interoperable health information to significantly improve the health and well being of all, while protecting privacy and security. 

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