The Medical Records Institute Enhances its TEPR Advisory Committee by Adding Top Industry Experts.

Health/Medical Writers/High-Tech Writers

NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 11, 2003

For the last 19 years, TEPR (Towards an Electronic Patient Record) has grown into the leading healthcare technology trade show by annually attracting up to 4,000 healthcare technology professionals, providing overwhelming value in the educational programs and showcasing cutting-edge technologies in the exhibition hall.

For 2004, TEPR celebrates its 20th Annual event at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center in Florida from May 17-21, 2004. The Medical Records Institute (MRI), the hosting organization of TEPR, has recently garnered the best and brightest of the healthcare technology industry for the TEPR Advisory Committee.

"The Medical Records Institute is redefining itself. We are completely prepared to make TEPR 2004 the conference for anyone who is interested in or faced with implementing EHRs. This new strategic team is an integral part of TEPR" claims C. Peter Waegemann, President and CEO of MRI, who is also a key thought leader on the TEPR Advisory Committee.

The TEPR Advisory Committee consists of the following individuals as the major support of the event:

William R. "Bill" Braithwaite, MD, PhD, FACMI, is an independent strategic advisor and consultant in the field of health information policy and technology. Mr. Braithwaite aka "Doctor HIPAA" is assisting MRI by addressing critical national health information infrastructure gaps with the intent of improving the quality and effectiveness of the practice of medicine for both providers and patients.

Gary Dickinson is Co-Chair of the HL7 Electronic Health Record Special Interest Group and has taken an active role in developing the HL7 EHR Functional Model and Standard. Gary has become a part of the Advisory Committee because it brings together a unique collaboration of industry leaders who work to advance complete and robust EHR solutions.

Andrew "Andy" Barbash, MD, is a practicing Neurologist and has taken the role of Director of Mobile Health for the Advisory Committee with MRI. His interest in the advisory group stems from a very strong belief in the need to help a growing and diverse community of providers, patients, consultants, vendors, and other decision makers navigate through a changing sea of technology and business problems as they pertain to Electronic Health Records. Andy expresses, "The Medical Records Institute is clearly the right organization to address these issues in a manner that does not endorse or promote any one specific approach, but brings a better understanding to those who need to make decisions for themselves and others."

Jeff Blair, who is nationally recognized for his expertise in electronic health records and the development of health information standards, is also the VP of the MRI. Recently, Jeff was re-appointed by the House of Representatives to the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the NCVHS Subcommittee on Standards and Security.

Claudia Tessier, the Executive Director of MoHCA (Mobile Healthcare Alliance) and chair to the TEPR Advisory Committee for 5 years, is a nationally recognized expert in healthcare documentation. She sees the role of the Advisory Committee as providing a wide range of perspectives from the healthcare community to offer insights into the needs, experiences, and interests of those responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating all aspects of the EHR. Tessier notes "We clearly have populated the Committee with members who can deliver what MRI is seeking to offer. As a result, TEPR 2004 will provide the most pertinent and stimulating program ever."

About the Medical Records Institute - MRI's mission is to be the global forum for healthcare consumers, providers, and technology vendors on the journey to improved quality of care through advanced information technology solutions. MRI is best known for its educational conferences such as TEPR, TEHRE, and the Annual Mobile Healthcare Conference. For more information, please visit www.medrecinst.com