Author Archives: Tom Leary, MALA, CAE, FHIMSS

About Tom Leary, MALA, CAE, FHIMSS

Tom Leary, MALA, CAE, FHIMSS, is HIMSS Vice President of Government Relations. Follow me on Twitter @TLearyHIMSS

Tavenner Message at HIMSS13 Adds Clarity; Outlines Path Ahead

The public policy discussion at HIMSS13 last week had the variety and flavor of a great New Orleans Gumbo!  One of the most significant presentations I witnessed was Acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner’s session on Wednesday morning.

Posted in Blogging, Health IT, Health IT News and Developments, HIMSS Events, HIMSS13, Interoperability & Standards, Public Policy | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

President’s State of the Union Address – What Could Be Said for Health IT

As I was sitting with my 11-year-old son watching the 2013 State of the Union Address (SOTU) last night, I was reminded of similar setting in 2004, when President George W. Bush declared that we were embarking on a strategy … Continue reading

Posted in Health IT, Health IT News and Developments, Health IT Workforce, Jobs, Public Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

View from the CMS Administrator: A Must See at HIMSS13

Our HIMSS13 Public Policy sessions got a big boost this week when Acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner confirmed she will be speaking on March 6th in New Orleans! Ms. Tavenner is the second CMS Administrator in recent years to travel … Continue reading

Posted in Health IT, HIMSS Events, HIMSS News and Developments, HIMSS13, Public Policy | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Providers and Hospitals Need Every Tool on the Workbench to be Successful Meaningful Users

While speaking at the 2011 HIMSS Annual Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, Fla., Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, outlined a three-part Call to Action for HIMSS and the health IT community to assist with the transformation of healthcare delivery in … Continue reading

Posted in HIMSS News and Developments, Patient-Centered Systems, Public Policy | 1 Comment

Is Accessibility on the Horizon for Meaningful Use Stage 2 Requirements?

Many years ago, when I was a staff assistant at the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, we held a day-long conference at the Pentagon to expose local communities to “Life after Base Realignment and Closure.” The … Continue reading

Posted in Patient-Centered Systems, Public Policy | Tagged | Leave a comment

Federal Regulations, Health IT and Patient Safety

Section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, classifies medical devices in one of three classes, Class I, II, and III, with regulatory control increasing from Class I to Class III. There has been a great deal of … Continue reading

Posted in Public Policy | 3 Comments

Health IT and Consumer Engagement

I was in an Apple store a few weeks ago, and I am trying to decide if I saw RED or ‘the future’ as I helped my son pick out an accessory for his device of choice.  Some 300 people … Continue reading

Posted in Patient-Centered Systems, Public Policy | 6 Comments