The Value of Chapter Advocates

This month, I start my fifth year of service at HIMSS.  Back in September 2005, Dave Roberts, an old friend and the HIMSS VP of Government Relations, asked me to interview for the position as HIMSSS Director of State Government Relations. 

Initially, I was hesitant and expressed to Dave that I really didn’t know much about health information technology and I wasn’t sure I’d be a good fit for HIMSS.

Dave told me HIMSS was not looking for a health information technology professional for the director position.  The new Director of State Government Relations was created to help the Chapter volunteers who were the advocates for health IT issues within their chapters and states.  Dave felt my experiences and knowledge as a long-time grassroots organizer would be beneficial to these Chapter volunteers. 

In March 1970, shortly after returning from Vietnam, I was separated from the US Army at Oakland army base California.  I made my way home to New York and embarked on a journey of a personal call to service that endures to this day.  Since 1970, this call to service has motivated and inspired my actions in family, the veterans and union community as well as public life.  This commitment has developed over time and experience and formed my values and vision for the future.

Thirty five years after my Army discharge, I found myself on a new journey helping HIMSS volunteers achieve their mission of leading healthcare transformation through the effective use of health information technology.  During the past five years, I have had the opportunity to work with some of the most energetic volunteers I have ever encountered in my professional life.  It truly has been my pleasure helping them to spread the gospel of how health information technology can truly reform health care in our country.  These volunteers are the members of the Chapter Advocacy Roundtable; these CARs are driving the issue of health information technology advocacy in the HIMSS community.

With the 49 chapters in the United States, one of HIMSS’ many strengths is to connect HIMSS members with state, regional and national decision-makers on key health IT issues.  Launched in April 2004, HIMSS’ Chapter Advocacy program provides an opportunity for each HIMSS chapter to elect or appoint one or more members to serve in the Chapter Board level position of Chapter Advocate.  Chapter Advocates and other volunteers participate collectively in the Chapter Advocacy Roundtable. 

Throughout the United States today, over 50 HIMSS Chapter Advocates are engaged with planning and facilitating advocacy and public policy activities within their local chapters. Once a year, Chapter Advocates have an opportunity to visit Washington, D.C. to attend an off-site training seminar and participate in HIMSS National Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill. The advocacy activities conducted by chapters and Chapter Advocates, is celebrated through the Chapter Advocacy Recognition Program.

All Chapter Advocates are actively engaged in the CAR. Conducted through monthly conference call meetings, the CAR provides a networking and educational opportunity for Chapter Advocates to promote chapter level advocacy programs at the grassroots level in coordination with the HIMSS advocacy and public policy Board-approved agenda.

If you would like to learn more about how to get involved in this important advocacy work please go to http://www.himss.org/advocacy.