NASHVILLE – At an event hosted by the Nashville Health Care Council and Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) today, former Senate Majority Leaders and BPC Health Project Co-Chairs Tom Daschle and Bill Frist, MD, discussed the critical role of information technology (IT) in health care delivery. The event also featured five Nashville-based health care organizations that have demonstrated innovative approaches to health care delivery, enabled by health IT.
“Policymakers and health industry stakeholders across the country and across the political spectrum understand the critical role that health IT plays in achieving better health, improved delivery of care and lower costs,” said Senator Daschle at today’s event. “While federal investment has been substantial, increased public-private collaboration and leadership is necessary to promote greater utilization of health IT.”
Healthways, MissionPoint Health Partners/Saint Thomas Health, PharmMD Solutions,Sumner Regional Medical Center and Vanderbilt University Medical Center were selected to participate in the Forum’s Innovation Exchange, which highlighted successful, scalable health care innovations that use technology to improve care delivery. Michael Burcham, president and CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, served as host of the exchange.
“The Nashville innovations featured today offer new ways to achieve high quality care at lower costs,” said Senator Frist. “If we can realign the interests of payors, doctors, nurses and patients’ interests, we will constructively transform the health sector. A sustainable health system will have enough doctors, nurses and other providers to care for all Americans in the right place at the right time with the essential tools and resources.”
Janet Marchibroda, chair of BPC’s Health IT Initiative, moderated a panel discussion with high-level health care leaders, including Aneesh Chopra, former White House Chief Technology Officer, and senior advisor, Health Care Technology Strategy, The Advisory Board Company;Bob Henkel, FACHE, president and CEO, Ascension Health, and executive vice president, Ascension Health Alliance; and Jonathan Perlin, MD, president, Clinical and Physician Services Group, and chief medical officer, HCA.
“We are delighted to partner with the Bipartisan Policy Center to showcase Nashville innovations and to discuss the transformative role of technology in health care,” said Nashville Health Care Council President Caroline Young. “Nashville’s vibrant health care industry continues to build on a reputation as the country’s health care capital and a hub of activity that leads to the types of exciting concepts seen here today.”
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The Nashville Health Care Council, founded in 1995 as an initiative of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, is an association of health care industry leaders working together to further establish Nashville’s position as the nation’s health care industry capital. Worldwide, Nashville’s health care industry generates more than $70 billion in revenue and over 400,000 jobs, and is Nashville’s largest and fastest growing employer. For more information on the Council, please visit www.healthcarecouncil.com.
The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation, and respectful dialogue. Founded in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole and George Mitchell, BPC combines politically-balanced policymaking with strong, proactive advocacy and outreach. For more information about BPC, please visit www.bipartisanpolicy.org.
Photo credit: (c) 2012, Harry Butler, Nashville.