``High Alert - America's Hospitals Not Fully Prepared for Terrorism Attacks'' - Says Douglas E. Goldstein during 'Homeland Security Through Health IT, Infrastructure, and Leadership' Keynote.Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 12, 2003 Goldstein Delivers Six Action Steps for Preparedness That Also Improves Patient Safety to America's Leading Healthcare Chief Information Officers at CHIME-HIMSS CIO CIO: see American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. (Chief Information Officer) The executive officer in charge of information processing in an organization. Forum Our nation's hospitals are not fully prepared for the threat of biological, chemical and nuclear terrorism Noun 1. nuclear terrorism - the use of a nuclear device by a terrorist organization to cause massive devastation or the use (or threat of use) of fissionable radioactive materials; "assaults on nuclear power plants is one form of nuclear terrorism" , according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a survey of healthcare CIOs conducted prior to the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, or CHIME, is a United States professional organization formed to aid the professional development needs of healthcare industry Chief Information Officers (CIOs), and to advocate the more effective use of information (CHIME) 2003 Spring CIO Forum, held February. 9, San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , CA. Douglas E. Goldstein, President, Medical Alliances - eHealthcare.net (http://www.douglasgoldstein.com), was tapped to deliver the keynote, "Homeland Security Noun 1. Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Department of Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States through Health Information Technology, Infrastructure, and Leadership," when Steven Cooper, CIO, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Noun 1. Department of Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States was unable to deliver this critical presentation. According to Goldstein, "Despite strides in the last year, hospitals, doctors, nurses and our health information technology systems are not prepared to effectively respond to biological, chemical, nuclear and cyber attack. The lack of sharing and collaboration in the public and private sectors is a significant challenge to overcome in our nation's preparedness efforts." Goldstein told the more than 1000 CIO attendees responsible for helping their healthcare organizations identify and implement technology and leadership solutions specific to terrorist preparedness, "With our just raised terror alert--the time to act is now. The roadmaps for integrating the fragmented health information system 'stovepipes' that exist in the public and private sectors are being tested at the community and national level, and activity is accelerating for clinical data standards, interoperability, and the next generation health infrastructures. Together, we can identify and implement action steps for health care leadership to initiate in the organizations, communities, states and country to protect Americans against terrorism and other catastrophic events. It's a matter of life and health." Goldstein added, "The good news is that our efforts to get prepared, empower patients with an interactive, electronic medical record, and a connected health information system will also help drastically reduce medical errors and improve healthcare quality." He concluded by saying "a transformed national health information infrastructure (NHII NHII National Health Information Infrastructure ) is not a only a vital health and welfare issue, but an essential national defense imperative for America." About Douglas E. Goldstein Douglas E. Goldstein is a 'Practical Futurist' in Leadership, Technology and Healthcare and President of Medical Alliances, Inc.- eHealthcare.net (http://www.ehealthcare.net), an organization specializing in achieving better patient care and quality through technology, alliances and distinctive innovation. He has been the strategist and developer of leading technology projects including: Ascension Health Ascension Health is a non-profit company that operates a network of hospitals and related health facilities in the United States. It is the nation's largest Catholic and largest non-profit health system[1]. Exchange - the knowledge transfer initiative of Ascension Health, e-Strategy for the Veterans Health Administration, Medformation.com for Allina Hospitals and Clinics (Best of the Best Hospital Web Sites - Modern Healthcare Magazine 2000), and Health Adventure (a 1998 Smithsonian-Computerworld nominee). For a backgrounder, contact doug@ehealthcare.net, 703.626.0798 or http://www.douglasgoldstein.com. |
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