IFMC at Forefront of New Bush Initiative on Health Care Quality and Information

August 24, 2006

WEST DES MOINES - President Bush's newly signed measure ordering federal agencies to do more to inform beneficiaries about the cost and quality of their health care services is part of the work the Iowa Foundation for Medical Care is currently engaged in.

"We applaud the president's initiative," IFMC's Vice President for Health Care Quality Programs Peg Mason said. "For years IFMC has worked hand-in-hand with hospitals, physician offices, home health agencies and nursing homes in cooperation with state and federal governments to do just what the president advocates - bring greater efficiency and quality to our health care system."

Bush's executive order requires that four federal agencies establish programs to measure quality of care, gather information about the quality and price of care, and to share that information with program beneficiaries. The order signed by Bush also directs the federal government to identify practices that foster efficient medical care. The four agencies specified in the order include the Defense Department, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"One example of our current quality improvement work in health information technology is the Doctor's Office Quality - Information Technology initiative. Our staff works with small- to medium-sized physician offices to promote the adoption of electronic health record systems and information technology for enhancing quality, safety, and value across the continuum of patient care.

"Another current example of IFMC's health information technology work is the Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration. Governor Vilsack selected IFMC as Iowa's representative in a national collaborative to address privacy and security policy questions affecting interoperable health information exchange. We are working to identify and assess variations in privacy and security practices and laws affecting electronic health information exchange, develop best practices and propose solutions.

"The Bush Administration's efforts will lead to a more efficient and effective delivery system through an acceleration of quality improvement. Incorporating health information technology provides tools that can help make a difference in the lives of patients," Mason concluded.

IFMC and the Iowa Medical Society co-sponsored the second annual Health Information Technology Summit today in West Des Moines. The Summit is another step forward in improving care for Iowans through HIT adoption and health information exchange for Iowa.

Media Contacts:
Joe Shannahan 515-223-2988
Deb Innis 515-440-8224