HIMSS News
New HIMSS Board Members, Officers Assume Positions
Heading up the HIMSS Board of Directors, four officers and four board members began their newly appointed posts today. Barry P. Chaiken, MD, MPH, FHIMSS, assumed the one-year term as chair of the board, replacing Chuck Christian, FCHIME, FHIMSS, CIO and director of information systems, Good Samaritan Hospital. Liz Johnson, RN, MS, CPHIMS, FHIMSS, started her second term as vice chair.
Chair
With over 20 years experience in medical research, continuous quality improvement, risk management and patient safety, Dr. Chaiken established his own company, DocsNetwork Ltd. As chief medical officer, he provides thought leadership and offers clients his expertise in clinical transformation and quality improvement.
“It is a great honor to serve as board chair—especially during this exciting time with healthcare reform and the use of health IT as an enabler as top priorities,” he said. “This is such a key time for our industry and I will work very hard to continue to motivate staff, the board of directors, members and industry professionals to contribute and participate in this transformation.”
Over the past 15 years Dr. Chaiken provided expertise in quality and patient safety to provider and payer organizations helping them utilize IT to improve clinical and administrative activities. Dr. Chaiken said he hopes to further look at payers’ involvement in advancing the best use of information and management systems for the betterment of healthcare. Additionally, he said he wants to explore how life science professionals can participate in leading healthcare transformation through health IT too.
“We need to focus on where HIMSS needs to be three to four years down the road so our membership is well positioned to continue advancing the way patient care is delivered, documented, managed, reimbursed and billed,” Dr. Chaiken said.
Dr. Chaiken has also played a key role in HIMSS’ international efforts, serving as board liaison to HIMSS Europe for the past two years. “Internationally, there are great opportunities for HIMSS and its membership to transcend borders, languages and engender a truly worldwide dialogue,” he said.
Vice Chair
Ms. Johnson is vice president of applied clinical informatics for Tenet Healthcare Corp. Her responsibilities include establishing the strategic vision and operations plan for provision of clinical systems used throughout the 52 hospital provider organization. With her leadership, Tenet is implementing a comprehensive clinical informatics vision and strategy in support of interoperability of data across the continuum of care.
Ms. Johnson's 30 years of experience and comprehensive knowledge of healthcare operations, quality measurement, and the role IT and clinical transformation play in enabling the deployment of leading clinical practice has been important to HIMSS’ strategic planning and initiatives around healthcare reform. “HIMSS recognizes that healthcare reform and ARRA are forefront in healthcare professionals’ minds and the Society will continue to educate and connect healthcare professionals through tools, resources, research and education to not only keep them update to date but prepare them for the future,” said Ms. Johnson, who was recently appointed to the HIT Standards Committee, Department of Health & Human Services.
Additionally, Ms. Johnson added that HIMSS plans on developing education, tools and resources to meet the growing demand for skilled health IT professionals. “As the industry continues to move forward with healthcare reform and using health IT as an enabler, the need for skilled health IT professionals is only going to become more and more apparent. It is in the clinical arena, technology arena and beyond. There just aren’t enough of us,” she explained.
Chair Elect and Vice Chair Elect
In recent elections by the board, C. Martin Harris, MD, MBA, FHIMSS, was selected as chair elect, and John H. Daniels, CHPS, CPHIMS, FACHE, FHIMSS,as vice-chair elect. Dr. Harris is CIO and chairman of the Information Technology Division of Cleveland Clinic, and executive director of e-Cleveland Clinic, a series of e-health clinical programs offered over the Internet. Mr. Daniels is senior vice president and CIO for Evolvent Technologies Inc.
New Board Members
Beginning their three-year terms this month, the Society’s four new board members include: R. Scott Holbrook, MS, FHIMSS, executive vice president, Medicity; Willa Fields, DNSc, RN, FHIMSS, associate professor, San Diego State University; Jenifer Jarriel, MBA, vice president of IT and CIO, Baylor College of Medicine; Miriam Paramore, FHIMSS, senior vice president, corporate strategy and public relations, Emdeon.
New Nominating Committee Members
The following individuals began their two-year term on the Nominating Committee: Drexel G. Deford, FHIMSS, senior vice president and CIO, Seattle Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center; Mark Jacobs, MHA, CPHIMS, FHIMSS, director, technology services, WellSpan Health; Robin S. Raiford, RN-BC, CPHIMS, FHIMSS, director, government initiatives, Eclipsys Corp.
New Advisory Board Members
The two new Advisory Board Members are Kevin R. Hayden, senior vice president and president, state sponsored business, WellPoint Inc.; and Deb Bremer, vice president of oncology business technology, Pfizer Inc.
