The “2011 Virginia Telehealth Summit” co-sponsored by the Virginia Telehealth Network will be held April 5, 2011 at the beautiful Wintergreen Resort in Central Virginia. A variety of topics important to the leaders and executives in the rural health field will be presented for a full day of non-stop rural health information. Take advantage of the many networking opportunities that will present new ideas and thoughts on how to forge ahead and make a difference to so many people in rural America.
To open the exciting day, Karen Rheuban, MD., President and Chairman of the Virginia Telehealth Network will give an overview of the issues confronting today’s rural health field. This will be followed by Karen Jackson, Deputy Secretary of Technology for the Commonwealth of Virginia who will present the results of the Virginia Healthcare Broadband, HIT, and Telehealth Survey.
Funding in the telehealth field is a very important issue and the attendees will have the fortune to hear top speakers with expertise in this area. The presenters will include Sherilyn Pruitt, Director, Office for the Advancement of Telehealth within the Office of Rural Health Policy at HRSA, Eugene Sullivan, Program Manager, for the Office of Telemedicine, at the University of Virginia, Ellen Matthews Davis, Virginia State Director for Rural Development at USDA, and Paloma Costa, Program Manager of Outreach, Rural Health Care for the Universal Service Administrative Company
Telehealth projects can only proceed so far without sustainable programs. Presenters on sustainable programs in terms of reimbursement and models will be:
• Patrick M. Hamilton, Health Insurance Specialist/Rural Health Coordination for CMS in their Philadelphia Regional Office
• Gregg A. Pane, MD, MPA, Director of the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services
• David Selig, CEO, for the Community Care Network of Virginia, Inc.
• Karen Rheuban M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, Senior Associate Dean for External Affairs and Continuing Medical Education and Medical Director for the Office of Telemedicine, at the University of Virginia
• Keven L. Barger, CEBS, FAHM, CPC Network Management Director, Provider Engagement and Contracting Central Virginia, Anthem
Understanding and dealing with legal and regulatory issues is vital to the field and with information to be presented by Brian W. Murray, Attorney with Latham & Watkins, LLP, Washington D.C., Gary Capistrant, Senior Director, Public Policy, ATA, plus two speakers from the Center for Telehealth & E-Health Law (CTeL) to include Greg Billings, Executive Director and Senior Government Relations Director, Drinker, Biddle & Reath along with Rene Quashie, Regulatory Attorney for CTeL, and Government Relations Director/Regulatory Attorney for Drinker, Biddle & Reath.
Edward Brown M.D., CEO of the Ontario Telemedicine Network in Canada will present a northern rural viewpoint on the effectiveness of technologies used in healthcare by our friends in the north.
HIT and Meaningful Use a topic of vital interest to all in the telehealth and health IT field to increase the adoption of EMRs will engage attendees with the subject matter presented by experts:
• Patrick M. Hamilton, Health Insurance Specialist, Rural Health Coordinator, CMS
• Michael Matthews, CEO MedVirginia
• Sallie S. Cook, MD., CMO, VHQC/Virginia HIT Regional Extension Center
The day will include a presentation on the Virginia Health Reform Initiative to be discussed by Karen Rheuban, MD, and Stephen Bowman, Senior Staff Attorney/Methodologist for the Joint Commission on Health Care.
Other speakers will zero in on topics such as telemental health and mHealth/social media:
• Jim B. Tucker, MD., Assistant Professor of Psychiatric Medicine, University of Virginia
• Adrienne Turner, MD., Fellow in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Virginia Health System
• Felasfa Wodajo, MD, Medical Director of Musculoskeletal Oncology at Virginia Hospital Center in Northern Virginia. Also Senior Editor and Partner of the online: iMedicalApps: Mobile Medical App Reviews & Commentary
• Mark H. Ryan MD, Department of Family Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. Also a member of the Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media Advisory Board
To conclude, Kathy H. Wibberly, Ph.D., Director, for the Division of Primary Care and Rural Health at the VDH Office of Minority Health and Health Equity will present the wrap up for the day.
Sign up today for this information packed meeting and to actively participate in discussions and networking events. Go to http://ehealthvirginia.org for the complete agenda and how to take part as an exhibitor and sponsor.
