October 15, 2008

Dr. Robert Kolodner, HHS National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, To Address Future of Federal Strategy at Friday Opening of
The 2008 Institute for Behavioral Healthcare Informatics

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (October 14, 2008) – Robert M. Kolodner, M.D., the National Coordinator for the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Department of Health and Human Services, will share his future view of federal strategy on health care information technology on October 31 at the 2008 Institute for Behavioral Healthcare Informatics. Dr. Kolodner is the director of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), which provides counsel to the Secretary of HHS for the development and nationwide implementation of an interoperable health information technology infrastructure and manages the American Health Information Community.

“Federal initiatives and requirements for health information technology are increasingly important to payers and provider organizations in the behavioral health and social services sector,” said OPEN MINDS chief executive officer, Monica E. Oss. “As investments in technology increase in our sector of the health and human service field, federal parameters increasingly shape these investment decisions. We’re thrilled to have Dr. Kolodner provide an update on the federal initiatives supporting interoperability and give us his perspectives, and advice, on future health information technology requirements.”

The 2008 Institute for Behavioral Health Informatics (IBHI), which will be held on October 30 and 31 in Washington D.C., is the only national meeting focused on emerging technological tools and their implications for leaders of organizations that pay for or deliver behavioral health and social services. OPEN MINDS, the sponsor of IBHI, is the premier market intelligence and management consulting firm in to the behavioral health and social service field. Founded in 1987 and based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the 75+ associates provide executive education, information, market research, and management consulting services.

Additional information is available on the OPEN MINDS web site:

• Robert M. Kolodner, M.D.  biography –www.openminds.com/educ/ibhi08_keynotes.htm#Kolodner

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

• Faculty list – www.openminds.com/educ/ibhi2008_faculty.htm

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

• Technology demonstrations & sponsorships – www.openminds.com/educ/ibhi2008_techexecs.htm

• Sponsoring associations – www.openminds.com/educ/ibhi2008_sponsors.htm

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.

To be added to OPEN MINDS electronic press distribution list, please visit www.openminds.com/press.htm to fill out a web-based permission request form.

OPEN MINDS