Advocacy Committee
With 57 HIMSS Chapters across North America including the United States, its territories, and Canada, HIMSS serves as the connection point for members and policymakers on key health information and technology priorities. As a cause-based organization, HIMSS has earned respect and influence for its patient-focused approach to transforming U.S. healthcare through information and technology rather than advancing the interests of a specific constituency group.
The HIMSS Chapter Advocacy program provides an opportunity for HIMSS chapters to elect members to expand HIMSS priorities through grassroots and grasstops engagement. Chapter Advocates serve as a strong coordinated voice and respected source of information about health information and technology. Advocates, through Researching, Educating, Power Building, and Monitoring, are able to influence state, territorial, provincial and local health information and technology policies.
Over 100 HIMSS Chapter Advocates are engaged in planning and facilitating advocacy and public policy activities within their states, territories or regions. HIMSS supports these efforts through the Chapter Advocacy Roundtable (CAR) program and the HIMSS Federal & State Government Affairs office, under the leadership of Jeff Coughlin, Senior Director.
During a typical year, SCHIMSS sponsors a State Health IT Day with conference sessions and an Advocacy event at the General Assembly. For the past three or four years we have been successful in obtaining a Proclamation of State Health IT Day from the Governor’s Office. Our goal is to expand the SCHIMSS Advocacy Program, and we are seeking new committee members to help lead the effort as well as new partnerships with other healthcare organizations. Advocacy events are open to all interested SCHIMSS members, and we encourage all members to share in advocating for improving health and healthcare in South Carolina through information and technology.
South Carolina IT Day proclamation 2023
On May 17, 2023, we are sponsoring a virtual Advocacy Day with a morning speaking engagement and an afternoon letter writing campaign to our legislators. This Advocacy Day sponsored by SC HIMSS, SCHIMA, and SCHA brings together many healthcare stakeholders from across the state to share how information and technology transforms health for all South Carolinians. The focus of the event is on (1) modernizing the public health Infrastructure through the creation of policies supporting interoperable systems and the development of data platforms to share critical community health information including support of a robust health information exchange (2) Accelerating workforce development by establishing and providing health informatics-focused training and the promotion of health information technology and information management professional development programs within the state of South Carolina, and (3) Supporting the use of data analytics and advanced technologies, such properly regulated and human controlled artificial intelligence to improve the delivery of equitable health across our state.
WHEREAS, secure, effective and efficient health information systems and technologies, including the health records, are critical to the continuous pursuit of quality healthcare delivery for all South Carolina patients and their providers ; and
WHEREAS, information systems and technologies and good information management practices contribute to a quality healthcare workforce, reduce healthcare costs, and make for safer and more equitable health care for all South Carolinians across our rural areas and urban areas; and
WHEREAS, advanced tools and technologies such as improved electronic health record interoperability, use of optimized telehealth and patient portal applications, and a more robust health information exchange system helps patients and providers make safer, smarter decisions about health care.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Henry McMaster, Governor of the great State of South Carolina, do hereby proclaim May 17th, 2023, as
SOUTH CAROLINA HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DAY
throughout the state and encourage all South Carolinians to recognize the various health information technology professionals who work diligently to help transform health care through the better use of information technology.
South Carolina HIMSS Chapter Advocacy Year End Recognition Report for FY21
SC HIMSS received the Certificate of Recognition for achieving Changemaker level for July 2020 – June 2021. Congratulations to the Advocacy Committee for their dedication and hard work over the past year.
Update for State Advocacy Committees on national IT Policy Priorities and Initiatives
HIMSS has initiated a new monthly Update for State Advocacy Committees on national IT Policy Priorities and Initiatives. We would like to begin sharing this update through our chapter newsletter. The slide deck is brief, but it contains links to informative material on timely health IT issues, which you may find of interest. If you would be interested in getting involved with the SC HIMSS Advocacy Committee in helping to advance any of these issues or other changes in support of health IT in our State, you may contact Advocacy Chair, Betty Regan at earegan@mailbox.sc.edu for more information. SC HIMSS Advocacy Committee meets the 2nd Friday of each month at 2-3 pm on Zoom.
South Carolina Health IT Advocacy Day Proclamation
We are proud to announce that Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed September 30, 2021, Health Information Technology Day throughout the state to encourage everyone to recognize the health information professionals, informaticists, and innovators who work diligently to help transform healthcare through the better use of information and technology.
Please join South Carolina HIMSS, South Carolina HIMA, and the South Carolina Hospital Association on September 30 in celebrating Health IT Day with an informative program to learn more about health information sharing and statewide health information exchange.