The National Partnership for Women & Families, one of the nation’s most powerful and effective advocates for quality health care, fairness in the workplace, and policies that help Americans meet the dual demands of work and family, is pleased to announce that Vice President Christine Bechtel was appointed to the federal Health Information Technology (HIT) Policy Committee, established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Bechtel brings expertise in a wide range of issues, policies and perspectives related to HIT and health care quality improvement.  She has worked extensively with both consumer and other health care stakeholders.  At the National Partnership, she provides strategic direction and oversight for the organization’s health care work, including its leadership of the Consumer Partnership for eHealth the leading consumer coalition on health IT.  Prior to joining the National Partnership, Bechtel served as Vice President of the eHealth Initiative.

“We are absolutely delighted that Christine Bechtel will serve on this important Committee,” National Partnership for Women & Families President Debra L. Ness said.  “This committee can be a powerful force in promoting policies that ensure health IT is used to improve the quality of care and make care safer and more affordable for all Americans while protecting the privacy and security of their information.”
 
“I am honored to be a part of the Health Information Technology Policy Committee, and I look forward to representing the voices of consumers, patients and their families at this table.” Bechtel said.  “From improving care coordination to reducing health disparities and engaging patients in shared decision-making, health IT is an essential platform for the kind of improvements we desperately need in health care.  It must be implemented in a way that builds trust and fosters transparency, and puts patients at the center of the of the health system.” 

The HIT Policy Committee was established to make recommendations to the federal government regarding a policy framework for the development and adoption of a nationwide health information technology infrastructure.