October 2, 2008

Psychiatrist Peel, Head of Patient Privacy Rights Foundations, Kicks Off 2008 Institute for Behavioral Health Informatics With Forecast of Information Privacy Issues Under An Obama Or McCain Administration

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (October 2, 2008) – Deborah Peel, M.D., psychiatrist and chairman of the Patient Privacy Rights Foundation, will kick off the 2008 Institute for Behavioral Health Informatics with a look to the future of patient privacy under an Obama or McCain presidential administration. Dr. Peel will provide a context for the decisions that a new administration will need to make as part of their overall health care policy planning – and review both the Obama and McCain records on privacy-related issues.

Dr. Peel’s keynote address, “Beyond Security: What We Can Expect to See in Patient Privacy Issues and Challenges From an Obama or McCain Administration.” is scheduled for the opening of this year’s institute, the morning of October 30, 2008, in the Washington, D.C. area. Dr. Peel founded the Patient Privacy Rights, the nation’s leading medical privacy watchdog organization in 2004 to educate and empower Americans to preserve and protect their fundamental human and civil rights to medical privacy. The Patient Privacy Rights Foundation is working to develop international standards for certification of the privacy of electronic consumer health information.

“The Federal government is not certifying the safety or privacy of consumer-health records.” Dr. Peel says, “A neutral third-party consumer-led audit process is needed.” In 2006, Dr. Peel formed the Coalition for Patient Privacy, a bipartisan coalition of 40+ organizations that works with Congress about the need for legislation to save patient privacy rights. Dr. Peel also gained the support of Microsoft Corporation for restoring privacy and consumer control over personal electronic health information. In 2007, Microsoft joined the bipartisan Coalition for Patient Privacy, which presses Congress to restore Americans’ legal and ethical rights to health privacy.

Monica E. Oss, chief executive officer of OPEN MINDS and producer of the Institute for Behavioral Health Informatics, addressed the patient privacy issue in a recent interview saying, “It will be very easy in an era of growing cost pressure in the health care field to overlook the importance of patient privacy in the rush to balance health care budgets. Dr. Peel brings a physician and manager perspective to the privacy issue – along with an in-depth knowledge of the individual consequences of lack of privacy in issues related to mental illness and addictions. Her understanding of the legislative and regulatory environment surrounding privacy policy is a great resource for executives in the field.”

The Institute for Behavioral Health Informatics is the only national event that brings together clinical professionals, provider executives, payers, policymakers, and tech leaders to discuss the impact of technology on the behavioral health and social service fields. This year’s institute will be held at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel in Arlington Virginia, on October 30th and 31st. Additional information is available on the OPEN MINDS web site:

• Deborah Peel, M.D.  biography – www.openminds.com/educ/ibhi08_keynotes.htm

• Full agenda – www.openminds.com/educ/ibhi2008_agenda.htm

• Faculty list – www.openminds.com/educ/ibhi2008.htm#Presenters

• Registration list – www.openminds.com/educ/ibhi2008_attendees.htm

• Technology demonstrations & sponsorships –www.openminds.com/educ/ibhi2008.htm#Executives

• Sponsoring associations – www.openminds.com/educ/ibhi2008.htm#Associations

For more information on this event or to schedule an interview with Dr. John Talbot, please call Mary Lynn Billitteri, Director of Education Services, at 877-350-6463 or at mlbillitteri@openminds.com.

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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