HHS Launches New Blog: Health IT Buzz November 23, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, November 23, 2009

Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

HHS Launches New Blog: Health IT Buzz

Dr. David Blumenthal, HHS’ National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, today announced the launch of Health IT Buzz, a new blog that will allow readers to learn more about health information technology (health IT) and provide a space for consumers, providers, policymakers, and technology experts to share their ideas and concerns regarding health IT. The blog is available at http://healthit.hhs.gov/blog/onc.

Dr. Blumenthal will hold a conference call with members of the media on Tuesday, November 24, to discuss the blog and the availability of new grants to strengthen the health IT workforce.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included historic new resources to improve health care through advances in health IT and provided incentives to hospitals and providers who meaningfully use health information technology.  Health IT has the potential to improve the quality of care for patients and make care more efficient.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s activities that will be discussed on Health IT Buzz include:

• Activities to advance standards to achieve interoperability, which will ensure accurate and widespread exchange of health information;
• Evaluation of new options for the certification of electronic health records;
• Exploration of health IT related regulatory and guidance initiatives to protect  the privacy and security of health information;  and,
• An assessment of critical privacy and security issues.

Information regarding the conference call on Tuesday is included below.

WHEN:                       November 24, 2009
                                    9:30 a.m. EST

DIAL-IN:                   888-390-0868
Passcode: ONC

Note: This call is for members of the media only.