August 8, 2008

OPEN MINDS Announces Keynote Addresses on Patient Privacy, Consumer-Centric Technology, and the Future of Informatics at The Fourth Annual Institute for Behavioral Health Informatics

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania – OPEN MINDS is pleased to announce the addition of three exciting keynote addresses to the speaker lineup for the Fourth Annual Institute for Behavioral Health Informatics, scheduled for October 30-31 in Washington, D.C. The two-day institute, an executive update on emerging technological tools and their implications for leaders of organizations that pay for or deliver behavioral health and social services, explores the best future applications of new technological tools.

Deborah Peel, M.D., a practicing physician and national expert on medical privacy and the founder of the Patient Privacy Rights Foundation, will address the growing privacy concerns for consumers in the emerging national electronic health information network. She founded Patient Privacy Rights in 2004 to educate and empower Americans to preserve and protect their fundamental human and civil rights to medical privacy. Dr. Peel will discuss the current policy, legislation and regulations regarding consumer health information privacy. “The Federal government is not certifying the safety of these consumer-health records,” Dr. Peel says, “a neutral third-party consumer advocate is needed.” Dr. Peel’s Patient Privacy Rights Foundation is working to develop international standards for certification of the privacy of electronic consumer health information.

Peter Bisbecos, Director of the Division of Disability & Rehabilitative Services for the state of Indiana, is a passionate advocate for the use of technology to address challenges in the public sector. He will share how his state agency is using technology to be a more efficient, consumer-centered agency while ensuring compliance with Federal regulations. His agency serves more than 10,000 individuals on waivers and 3,800 people in group homes. Mr. Bisbecos advocates for the greater use of technology to reduce costs, and find better, more effective methods for serving the developmentally disabled.

Monica E. Oss, chief executive officer, OPEN MINDS, and featured speaker and author of numerous books and articles on industry trends and strategic marketing and management issues, will address the future of informatics for the behavioral health and social service field. Ms. Oss, the founder of OPEN MINDS, brings her energetic style and broad range of executive experience in both the private and public sectors of the behavioral health and social service fields to her presentations. Her executive briefings on dynamic industry change drivers and the infrastructure and talent necessary to keep pace are ‘standing-room only’ events.

In addition to the three plenary addresses, participants will have the opportunity to select from expert roundtable reviews in three dynamic programming tracks: Technology Promoting Consumer Recovery and Support for Individuals with Disabilities; Informatics to Improve Service Delivery and Outcomes Through the Use of Data; and, Technology and the Business of Health and Human Services. Sessions include:

• High Leverage from Low Tech: Health & Human Services Uses of Cell Phones, iPods, PDAs and More

• Dashboards, Benchmarking and More: Real-Time Information for Organization Performance Improvement

• Optimizing the Investment in Electronic Health Records to Improve Behavioral Health Care

• Using Information Technology to Meet the Challenges of Evidence-Based Practices

• Improving the Effectiveness of Case Management Through Deployment of Informatics

• Using Technology to Facilitate Consumer Self-Care & Consumer Choice in the Behavioral Health Field

• Using Brain Imaging and Brain Mapping to Improve Consumer Care

The Institute is sponsored by Anasazi Software, Angel Systems, Inc., Bayview Center for Mental Health, Community Care Behavioral Health Organization, Credible Behavioral Healthcare Software, The Echo Group, Esteam, LLC, Focus Professional Services, Inc., Health Care Software, Inc., Infinity/Civerex LLC, InfoMC, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Qualifacts Systems, Inc., and Welligent, LLC. Association sponsors include: Alliance for Children and Families, California Council of Community Mental Health Agencies, Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland, Florida Council for Community Mental Health, Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs, National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers, Pennsylvania Community Providers Association, Virginia Association of Community Services Boards, Inc., and West Virginia Healthcare Providers Association.

For more information and a complete agenda, call toll free 877-350-6463 or go to: www.openminds.com/educ/ibhi2008.htm. Save $100 with the Early Registration Rate if received by September 21. For information about group rates, call OPEN MINDS, 877-350-6463 or e-mail info@openminds.com for details.

OPEN MINDS is a national behavioral health and social service industry market research and management consulting firm. Founded in 1987 and based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the 75+ associates provide executive education, information, market research, and management consulting services.

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