Press Releases: National
March 10, 2005
Kaiser Permanente Physician Chairs Federal Committee on Health Information
Dr. Simon Cohn longtime leader in KP's EMR efforts
Simon Cohn, MD, will chair the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) for the first time on Thursday, March 3rd. Dr. Cohn was named chairman of the Committee earlier this year by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The meeting will include discussion of electronic prescribing initiatives and standards, health information privacy, HIPAA Administrative Simplification standards efforts, and public health data issues. In addition, Dr. David Brailer will give an update on national health information technology initiatives. An agenda is available online at http://www.ncvhs.hhs.gov/050303ag.htm.
Dr. Cohn has been a leader in the development of health IT standards for many years and was recently named chair of the NCVHS. The National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) is the statutory public advisory committee to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on health data, privacy, and health information policy, and advises the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the National Health Information Infrastructure and on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Dr. Cohn is Associate Executive Director of The Permanente Federation, the national representation of Kaiser Permanente's large medical Permanente groups within its Oakland, California, headquarters. Dr. Cohn is also a recently appointed member of the National Commission on Systemic Interoperability. The Commission was mandated by the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) to develop a comprehensive national strategy for the adoption and implementation of health care information technology standards, including a timeline and priorities for implementation. Ultimately, the Commission will make its report to Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Appointments to the Commission were made by the President of the United States and leaders from both Houses of Congress. The Commission will work closely with the Health and Human Services Office of National Clinical Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) and David Brailer, MD, PhD, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
Dr Cohn's involvement in the Federal government's healthcare IT work is recognition of his expertise in the field, and of Kaiser Permanente's leadership role in health information technology.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.
