Taking the Pulse on Health IT Exports

Recently I had the pleasure of hosting a roundtable to discuss opportunities and challenges relating to the export of Health Information Technology (Health IT) products and services.  This emerging sector is one of several that are important for the success of the National Export Initiative, announced by President Obama in February 2010 with the goal of doubling exports in five years.

Held in conjunction with the Manufacturing & Services unit of the International Trade Administration and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, our roundtable featured dynamic conversations among a broad array of industry leaders, including representatives from healthcare providers, software and hardware vendors, and consulting firms. 

Together we addressed opportunities in this rapidly globalizing sector that embraces a wide array of participants and can benefit from innovation both at home and abroad.  The discussion was focused on three primary topics:  1) barriers to increased exports; 2) HIT services and international partnerships; and 3) standards and interoperability.  Input provided by the group was helpful in identifying current and potential future obstacles and ensuring that our domestic innovation is informed by the reality of global markets.

Along with my co-hosts Assistant Secretary of Commerce Nicole Lamb-Hale and National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari, I would like to personally thank the talented health, technology, and professional services representatives who took time out from their schedules to ensure that our Health IT sector remains competitive both at home and abroad. 

Stay tuned for more opportunities to engage in this important topic.

Roundtable Attendees: 

Andrew Slavitt, CEO, INGENIX (soon to be OptumInsight)
Robin Raiford, Executive Director, Federal Affairs, Allscripts
David Yakimischak, Chief Quality Officer, Surescripts
John Feikema, President and CEO, Visionshare
Linda Boles, Chief Strategist, U.S. Public Sector Healthcare Innovation, Strategic Relations Operation, Cisco
Shawn Dolley, Vice President & General Manager, Worldwide Public Sector, Netezza/IBM Marc Perlman, Global Vice President, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Oracle
Matt Krupnick, Director, Global Public Policy, Dell/CSC
R. Shaun Gause, President, Global Group Inc.
Alice Borrelli, Director, Global Health and Workforce Policy, Intel (also Continua Health Alliance)
Brian DeMay, CIO, Enterprise Architecture, Walgreens
Joe Ternullo, Director of International Corporate Relations, Partners Healthcare
Jamie Ferguson, Vice President, Health IT Strategy and Policy, Kaiser Permanente
Hank Fanberg, Director of Technology Advocacy, CHRISTUS Health
Jay Sanders, President and CEO, The Global Telemedicine Group
Jeremy Bonfini, Executive Vice President of Global Services, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
Tom Leary, Senior Director, Federal Affairs, HIMSS
Allison Viola, Director, Federal Relations, American Health Information Management Association
Jonathan Linkous, Executive Director, American Telemedicine Association
Jennifer Covich Bordenick, Chief Executive Officer, eHealth Initiative
Chuck Parker, Executive Director, Continua Health Alliance
Justin Barnes, Vice President of Marketing, Corporate & Government Affairs, Greenway Medical Technologies
Laura Caliguiri, Director, Government and Industry Relations, Microsoft Health Solutions Group (also representing TechAmerica)
West Shell, Chairman and CEO, Healthline

Aneesh Chopra is U.S. Chief Technology Officer