Florida Senate - 2016                             (NP)    SR 782
       
       
        
       By Senator Garcia
       
       
       
       
       
       38-01058-16                                            2016782__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing January 25-31, 2016, as
    3         “Health Information Technology Week” in Florida.
    4  
    5         WHEREAS, Florida is providing its residents with access to
    6  the highest quality of care by allowing participating health
    7  care providers to share information safely, securely, and in
    8  real time, thereby connecting doctors and patients to more
    9  complete and accurate health records, and
   10         WHEREAS, comprehensive health care reform is not possible
   11  without systemwide adoption of health information technology,
   12  which improves the quality of health care delivery, increases
   13  patient safety, decreases the number of medical errors, controls
   14  costs, strengthens the interaction between patients and health
   15  care providers, and expands access to care, and
   16         WHEREAS, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems
   17  Society (HIMSS) is a nonprofit organization of volunteers,
   18  including more than 2,980 members in this state, who are
   19  committed to engaging health care providers and state
   20  legislators in aligning efforts to adopt policies in support of
   21  the optimal use of health information technology, and
   22         WHEREAS, Florida is recognized by HIMSS as having 7
   23  hospitals and 12 ambulatory facilities that have attained a
   24  Stage 7 ranking under the Electronic Medical Record Adoption
   25  Model, the highest possible ranking, which indicates that a
   26  health system has an advanced electronic patient record
   27  environment, and
   28         WHEREAS, as of October 2015, more than 200 Florida
   29  hospitals are participating in the Florida Health Information
   30  Exchange Event Notification Service, providing alerts to health
   31  plans and accountable care organizations to foster improved
   32  continuity of care for more than 1 million patients, and
   33         WHEREAS, since January 2011, more than 27,200 eligible
   34  hospitals and professionals in this state have participated in
   35  the Electronic Health Record Incentive Program by adopting and
   36  effectively using certified electronic health record technology,
   37  and
   38         WHEREAS, Florida is proud to honor the commitment and
   39  service of the clinicians, information technology executives,
   40  directors, and managers who work in the state’s health care
   41  provider institutions, payer organizations, the military and
   42  other branches of government, academic centers, and supplier and
   43  consulting companies, and
   44         WHEREAS, since 2006, states and organizations across the
   45  nation have united to support Health Information Technology Week
   46  to raise public awareness of the benefits of improved quality
   47  and cost efficiency in the health care system that the
   48  implementation of health information technology could achieve,
   49  NOW, THEREFORE,
   50  
   51  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   52  
   53         That January 25-31, 2016, is recognized as “Health
   54  Information Technology Week” in Florida.
   55         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with
   56  the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to the Healthcare
   57  Information and Management Systems Society as a tangible token
   58  of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.