HIMSS establishes new Latino Initiative to focus on health IT needs

With the Hispanic population as the nation's largest minority, HIMSS announces the establishment of a new HIMSS Latino Initiative to focus on health IT needs for the rapidly growing Hispanic/Latino market.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for HIMSS to share its resources and knowledge with the Hispanic community," said H. Stephen Lieber, CAE, HIMSS President and CEO. "I look forward to working with the HIMSS Latino Initiative on its efforts to identify information technology solutions to improve the quality of care, increase access to care, and reduce the cost of care among the United States' Latino population."

During HIMSS11, the HIMSS Latino Initiative will host a program featuring a keynote speech by former U.S. Surgeon General Antonia Novello, MD. Other presentations include a panel with industry leaders including David R. Hunt, MD, FACS, Chief Medical Officer in the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and a networking reception. Panel discussions will include the State of Latino Health/Health Disparities, and Health IT Adoption in the Hispanic Community and Overcoming Barriers. This complimentary event will be held on Sunday, Feb. 20, from 2-5 p.m. at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

HIMSS' new Latino Initiative will be led by a workgroup that is open to all HIMSS members and will meet monthly via teleconference. Luis Belen, President and CEO of VWCGlobal and Founder, President and CEO at Medic Success; and Danny Vargas, President of VARCom Solutions, have been named as co-chairs of this workgroup by HIMSS Board Chair C. Martin Harris, MD, MBA.

"I am excited to work with HIMSS leadership on this ground-breaking initiative, which will enable us to address the needs of Latino healthcare professionals and businesses," said Belen.

"Having interacted with Hispanic communities throughout the country," said Vargas, "I have seen first-hand the need to improve the delivery of health-related services to the Hispanic population. Health IT will play a vital role in bridging the gap in health disparities."

"We at ONC are excited to work with the HIMSS Latino Initiative to help advance the adoption, implementation, and meaningful use of electronic health records (EHR) in the Hispanic clinical community," said Dr. Hunt. "The promise of electronic health records to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare in the United States is unprecedented. This initiative is another voice to help us realize that promise broadly and equitably throughout our nation."

Source: HIMSS