PRESS RELEASE

September 27, 2005
Contact: Jason Sanford
(614) 224-4950, ext 302

Symposium On Health Information Technology in Ohio Set for October 17 in Columbus

Columbus , OH – The Health Policy Institute of Ohio and the eHealth Initiative will host the day-long 2005 Ohio Health Information Symposium on October 17, 2005, at Quest Business Centers in Polaris.  A highlight of the event will be the release of the 2005 Ohio Health Information Briefing Paper.

Health Information Technology is a nation-wide effort to promote the use of technology to improve medical care, reduce costs and provide a more patient-centric focus to better health for all Americans.  Its goal is to unite health providers, payers, and patients in a common way to ensure that everyone gets the right care at the right time.

Recent events resulting from Hurricane Katrina have made clear the need for all Americans to have a secure, private medical record that can follow them wherever they go in the US .

The Symposium features the public release the 2005 Ohio Health Information Briefing Paper, a report of the status of Health Information Technology planning and use in Ohio.  Nationally known speakers are expected, as well as a panel of Ohioans to talk about their HIT efforts.  Break-out sessions will follow to discuss how Ohio can move these very important effort towards reality.

The event is open to all interested persons.  Registration is available online at http://www.healthpolicyohio.org/OHHIT/2005/Registration.html.  There will be no on-site registration.  The cost to attend is $50; lunch is included. More information can be found at http://www.healthpolicyohio.org/OHHIT/2005/Invitation.html.

HPIO an independent, nonpartisan organization that will forecast health trends, analyze key health issues, and communicate current research to Ohio policymakers, state agencies, and other decision makers. HPIO will also convene discussions on important health issues for Ohio by bringing together representatives from various sectors with a keen interest in health matters, including policy makers, providers, employers, advocates, health plans, consumers, state agencies, and researchers.

The eHealth Initiative is a independent, non-profit affiliated organization whose mission is to drive improvement in the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare through information and information technology.