A Forum on Transformation Through Innovation

Former Senators Bill Frist and Tom Daschle, co-chairs of the Bipartisan Policy Center's Health Project, and Former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen discussed information technology in healthcare at a conference Tuesday in Nashville on June 19, 2012. Senator Frist, of Nashville, was a heart and lung surgeon, and Governor Bredesen was an executive with a healthcare management company before entering politics. The Forum on Transformation Through Innovation was sponsored by the Nashville Health Care Council and the Bipartisan Policy Center. The focus was on policy in promoting greater coordination, efficiency and cost savings in healthcare.



"Policymakers and health industry stakeholders across the country and across the political spectrum understand the critical role that health IT plays in achieving better health, improved delivery of care and lower costs,” said Senator Daschle at today’s event. “While federal investment has been substantial, increased public-private collaboration and leadership is necessary to promote greater utilization of health IT."

There was also a panel moderated by Janet Marchibroda, chair of BPC’s Health IT Initiative, which included:

Aneesh Chopra, Former White House Chief Technology Officer and Senior Advisor, Health Care Technology Strategy, The Advisory Board Company

Bob Henkel, FACHE, President and CEO, Ascension Health, and Executive Vice President, Ascension Health Alliance

Jonathan Perlin, MD, President, Clinical and Physician Services Group and Chief Medical Officer, HCA

There was also a special showcase which featured five Nashville-based healthcare organizations presenting innovative technology solutions developed and implemented to improve the delivery of health care. The select innovators include:

• Melinda Raymond, Healthways, Inc.
• Jason Dinger, MissionPoint Health Partners
• Bo Bartholomew, III, PharmMD Solutions, LLC
• Ray Pinkston, MD, Sumner Regional Medical Center
• Jack Starmer, MD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

"The Nashville innovations featured today offer new ways to achieve high quality care at lower costs,” said Senator Frist. “If we can realign the interests of payors, doctors, nurses and patients’ interests, we will constructively transform the health sector. A sustainable health system will have enough doctors, nurses and other providers to care for all Americans in the right place at the right time with the essential tools and resources.”