Press Release Headlines

Health Information Technology: UC San Diego New Seminar Explores Four Critical Issues

LA JOLLA, Calif., June 21, 2011 — Healthcare information technology (HIT) is already creating new opportunities for revolutionary change. But several pivotal decisions lie ahead with respect to HIT and healthcare information exchange.

Many critical issues facing healthcare leaders will be examined in the inaugural Healthcare IT Seminar Series on June 28, 2011 from University of California San Diego Extension. In the seminar "Leveraging Information Technology to Shape Healthcare Delivery," Chief Medical Information Officer of Kaiser Permanente and healthcare IT visionary, John Mattison, MD, will paint a provocative view of what that future may hold. He will explore with the audience how they can anticipate and influence some of the challenges ahead. Four issues to be examined are:

  1. How can healthcare providers and consumers collaborate more effectively to achieve better health outcomes?
  2. How can the "tyranny of the urgent" in healthcare reform be managed without disrupting much good work already underway, and without subverting critical longer-term work so desperately needed?
  3. What alternative futures can help prevent the seemingly inexorable collapse of primary care?
  4. How do we consciously exploit emerging technologies in ways that align consumer values with health and wellness objectives for larger populations?

          With the support of current sponsors AMN Healthcare and Allscripts, UC San Diego Extension's Healthcare IT Certificate program welcomes CIOs & CMIOs, senior healthcare executives, HR/Hiring Managers, healthcare IT practitioners and UC San Diego Healthcare IT Program Advisory Board members, faculty, alumni and students to examine these and other issues. In addition to the presentation and networking will be opportunities to visit with HIT exhibitors.

          The "Leveraging Information Technology to Shape Healthcare Delivery" seminar will be from 5 to 8 pm at AMN Healthcare, 12400 High Bluff Dr., San Diego, CA 92130. Seats can be reserved by visiting http://www.extension.ucsd.edu/healthcareIT or clicking on the link above.

          The UC San Diego Extension Healthcare IT Certificate Program has graduated more than 100 students since its inception in fall 2009. Certificate graduates are trained in the fundamentals of health information technology as well as the national drivers for adoption of electronic medical records. The lecture and experiential based curriculum consists of 140 hours of online instruction followed by a 60-hour capstone project. For more information, visit http://www.extension.ucsd.edu/healthcareIT.

          As the continuing education and public programs arm of the university, UC San Diego Extension educates approximately 56,000 enrollees a year, which translates to about 26,0000 students in nearly 5000 courses. UC San Diego Extension is recognized nationally and internationally for linking the public to expert professionals and the knowledge resources of the University of California. Through UCSD-TV, 1 million San Diego homes enjoy daily access to an abundance of useful ideas, creative minds and provocative thinkers. Although a part of the university since 1966, Extension receives no state support and relies on the funding generated from fees, contracts, grants, sponsors and donors for its annual budget of approximately $35 million.

          Media contact:

          Henry DeVries at Email
          858-534-9955 or 619-540-3031

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