December 19, 2019
The Government Accountability Office announced yesterday that our own Abby Sears, OCHIN’s chief executive officer, has been appointed to the federal Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC). HITAC advises policy makers on how to safely advance electronic access, exchange, and use of health information nationwide. Abby’s service will help elevate the voices of the patients and providers in historically underserved communities throughout the nation.
“I’m thrilled to be serving on HITAC. It will allow me to bring the collective experience of OCHIN members to national policy. I will work to advance policies that will make a real difference in streamlining health care IT and reducing the burdens put on providers in order to improve the care that patients receive at community health centers and other safety net clinics,” Abby said.
The appointment begins in January and will last three years.
Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and David Taylor, CEO of the National Association of Community Health Centers, both submitted letters recommending Abby and highlighting the important niche OCHIN will fill on the committee.
“Ms. Sears is a leader in both the nonprofit and health information technology fields,” said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), “She is particularly passionate about ensuring that underserved patients and the health centers and providers that care for them are understood and represented as we make technology, policy, clinical and operational decisions that help their care.”
“We are confident that Ms. Sears will ensure that the needs and challenges faced by safety net providers and their patients are represented. Her knowledge of a broad range of safety net providers, combined with her passion and expertise for using technology to improve access to high-quality health services, make her well prepared to contribute to HITAC,” said David Taylor, CEO of the National Association of Community Health Centers, in his letter of recommendation.
