2009 Leadership Forum
"Health IT In Maine....Accelerating Adoption To Improve Care"
Keynote Speaker: David Blumenthal, MD, MPP
National Coordinator, Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
More than 300 clinicians and health and health care leaders from across Maine gathered in late July for the 7th annual Hanley Leadership Forum in Portland.
As the nation focuses its attention on transforming the way healthcare is delivered and paid for, this year's Forum examined one of the cornerstones of reform...health information technology.
Keynoting the 2009 Forum was the official charged with implementing the ambitious national health IT strategy—Dr. David Blumenthal, who heads the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT (ONCHIT). Dr. Blumenthal is leading the Obama Administration's high profile effort to accelerate the adoption of electronic medical records, interoperable health information exchanges (HIEs) and other systems. He described how the federal government intends to use nearly $20 billion in federal recovery act funding to help drive forward more aggressive implementation.
The federal government's leadership is expected to have major implications for Maine, where providers struggle to secure the financial resources and other support needed to adopt electronic systems that will lead to improved quality, care coordination and efficiencies.
Dr. Blumenthal was joined by Dr. Bob Berenson of the Urban Institute. Dr. Berenson, who keynoted the 2008 Hanley Forum, returned to offer a clinician's view of the emerging health reform package in Washington and describe its likely impact in Maine and elsewhere.
Elaine Ryan of AARP provided an inside look at the health policy provisions now underway. Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins made videoed remarks.
The Forum coincided with a major announcement that same day by Maine's statewide health information exchange, HealthInfoNet (www.hinfonet.org), which is now the third statewide system of its kind.
The 2009 Forum was co-chaired by Dr. Lisa Letourneau, Executive Director of Quality Counts, and Dr. Josh Cutler, Director of the Maine Quality Forum.
- Click here to register for this year's Forum.
- Click here to learn more about Dr. David Blumenthal.
- Click here to learn more about Dr. Robert Berenson
- Agenda
Watch Senator Susan Collins's remarks
Watch Senator Olympia Snowe's remarks
For more information, contact Jim Harnar at jharnar@maine.rr.com.
Outcomes from Forums
2008
- Draft 2008 Hanley Forum Report & Action Plan
- Evolution of the Primary Care Medical Home in Eastern NC Charles F. Willson MD
- Paying for Primary Care: Is There A Better Way? Robert A. Berenson, M.D
2007
2006
- Who Will Pay For Quality Health Care: Can The State of Maine Set An Example? Stuart H. Altman
- Forum White Paper
2005
2004
In June 2004, the Forum focused on developing a Maine collaborative model for adopting and implementing screening and risk factor reduction guidelines as they are released nationally for implementation. Fifty statewide participants represented payers, hospitals, practitioners, public health groups and community-based Healthy Maine Coalitions, state agencies, employers, health educators, and quality assurance coordinators.
Using the Obesity Guideline, the Forum explored how collaborative leadership by Maine's health care providers, health organizations, state agencies, communities, and consumers can be leveraged to improve the link between favorable research findings and better health outcomes for Maine people.
- 2004 Report on Proceedings: Executive Summary
- 2004 Report on Proceedings
2003
In June 2003, the Center held its first Forum. The 2003 forum summary presents the discussion and ideas shared at the Forum.