Coalition Hosts Briefing and Reception in Honor of National Health IT Week

Emphasizes the importance of technology for the future of healthcare

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Health IT Now Coalition held a briefing with the Food and Drug Administration titled, "Innovations in Health Technology: Developing a New Regulatory Framework to Foster Innovation and Promote Patient Safety." The briefing featured Joel White, executive director of the Health IT Now Coalition; Bakul Patel, senior policy advisor for the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Devices and Radiological Health; Jim Bialick, executive director of the Newborn Coalition; and Dr. Martin S. Kohn, chief medical scientist for Care Delivery Systems at IBM.

A reception, to be hosted on the Hill on Thursday evening, will recognize the importance of National Health IT Week and how new technologies are transforming the delivery of medical care by bringing providers and patients together virtually. The reception will feature remarks from Congressmen Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), who together introduced a new bill, the TELEmedicine for MEDicare Act (HR3077), last week.    

Joel White, executive director of the Health IT Now Coalition, says we are hosting these events because we believe it is important to acknowledge the increasing value technology plays in addressing America's healthcare concerns. "In recognition of National Health IT Week, Health IT Now is bringing together national thought leaders to discuss key policy issues impacting patients, providers and payers, and to demonstrate how technology is improving patient safety, promoting better health outcomes and lowering costs," said White.

"As technology continues to impact the delivery of care, it's important that policy makers both in Congress and at the appropriate regulatory agencies develop a roadmap for technology adoption and use that will continue to promote innovation, patient safety and encourage adoption of life saving technologies."

The Health IT Now Coalition promotes the rapid deployment of heath information technology. Health IT will benefit patients and health care consumers while supporting health practitioners to make smart decisions about patient care while promoting efficiency. For more information, visit www.healthitnow.org.

SOURCE Health IT Now Coalition