August 9, 2006

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced the following appointments to the newly created Michigan Health Information Technology Commission:.
 
“Using technology, this group of industry and health care leaders will help to create a system so that patients and health care providers no longer have to rely on memory and paper records as their database,” Granholm said.  “This investment in information technology will reduce errors, reduce duplication, reduce insurance costs, and increase patients’ medical privacy.”
 
The State Health Information Technology Commission was created within the Michigan Department of Community Health to facilitate and promote the design, implementation, operation, and maintenance of an interoperable health care information infrastructure in Michigan.
 
The 13 appointments include:

Robin Cole of Detroit, COO of Pro Care Health Plan, Inc.  Ms. Cole is appointed to represent health plans and other third party payers for a term expiring August 3, 2010.

Dr. Gregory Forzley of Grand Rapids, medical director of informatics at Saint Mary’s Health System.  Dr. Forzley is appointed to represent doctors of medicine for a term expiring August 3, 2007.

Joseph Hohner of Canton, vice president and chief information officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.  Mr Hohner is appointed to represent nonprofit health care corporations for a term expiring August 3, 2010.

Toshiki Masaki of Canton, public policy manager at Ford Motor Company.  Mr. Masaki is appointed to represent purchasers and employers for a term expiring August 3, 2009.

Robert McDonough of Three Rivers, director of global public policy management at Pfizer.  Mr. McDonough is appointed to represent pharmaceutical manufacturers for a term expiring August 3, 2008.   

Dr. Mark Notman of East Lansing, associate professor, executive director of administrative services, and chief technical officer with the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.  Dr. Notman is appointed to represent schools of medicine in Michigan for a term expiring August 3, 2009.

Janet Olszewski of Williamston, director of the Michigan Department of Community Health.  Director Olszewski is appointed for a term expiring August 3, 2008.

Robert Paul of Novi, COO and president of Compuware.  Mr. Paul is appointed to represent members of the health information technology field for a term expiring August 3, 2010.

Ganesh Reddy of Okemos, director of business development at HTC Global Services Inc.  Mr. Reddy is appointed to represent consumers for a term expiring August 3, 2007. 

Dr. Thomas Stevenson of Alto, associate professor and associate clinical medical manager with the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.  Dr. Stevenson is appointed to represent doctors of osteopathic medicine and surgery for a term expiring August 3, 2007.

Jeanne Strickland of Brighton, chief compliance officer with the University of Michigan Health System.  Ms. Strickland is appointed to represent hospitals for a term expiring August 3, 2009.

Teri Takai of Troy, director of the Michigan Department of Information Technology.  Director Takai is appointed for a term expiring August 3, 2008.

Larry Wagenknecht of Haslett, CEO of the Michigan Pharmacists Association.  Mr. Wagenknecht is appointed to represent pharmacists for a term expiring August 3, 2010.

These appointments are not subject to disapproval by the Michigan Senate.