Florida Senate - 2017 (NP) SR 1780 By Senator Garcia 36-02014-17 20171780__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing March 27-April 2, 2017, 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 3,300 members in Florida, who are committed 19 to engaging health care providers and state legislators in 20 aligning efforts to adopt policies in support of the optimal use 21 of health information technology, and 22 WHEREAS, Florida is recognized by HIMSS as having 10 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 February 9, 2017, more than 210 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 28,008 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 which the 48 implementation of health information technology is achieving, 49 NOW, THEREFORE, 50 51 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 52 53 That March 27-April 2, 2017, 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.