Several healthcare IT organizations, government leaders and private industry groups will convene in Washington this June to promote the use of healthcare information technology to achieve better care and lower medical costs.

"This first-ever National Health IT Week will help ensure that private and public entities alike are working to full effect toward the common goals of better quality of care and greater cost effectiveness through health IT,” Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Director Carolyn Clancy, MD, said in a statement.

Groups participating in the event include American Association of Family Physicians, the California Healthcare Foundation, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, the American Health Information Management Association and the eHealth Initiative.

The event, called National Health IT Week, will be held in Washington, D.C. from June 5 to 10.  Events will include presentations from members of Congress and education sessions. The event also brings together dual healthcare IT conferences from AHRQ and HIMSS.
 
“We wanted to create a collaborative event for everybody to come together under one location to promote a joint vision of where we are going to transform healthcare,” said David Roberts, director of public policy for HIMSS.

Janet Marchibroda, CEO, eHealth Initiative, said she was encouraged by the number of organizations working together.

More information is available at www.healthitweek.org.