Press release from the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA):
FSSA Announces First Health Information Technology Coordinator
(May 14, 2010) – Today the Family and Social Services Administration announced that Andrew VanZee will serve as Indiana’s first statewide health information technology (HIT) coordinator.
Beginning in June, VanZee will be responsible for managing the allocation of the $10.3 million ARRA HIT funding the state received in March. VanZee will work closely with Indiana’s state designated entity, the Indiana Health Information Technology, Inc. (IHIT) and its Board of Directors to determine the best use for the HIT funding. He will also be responsible for working with local, state, federal and private partners to build collaboration with Indiana’s other ARRA health information exchange (HIE) funding recipients such as Purdue’s Regional Extension Center, Ivy Tech, and the recently announced Beacon Community grant awarded to the Indiana Health Information Exchange (IHIE). VanZee will also ensure that FSSA’s Medicaid HIT efforts are properly coordinated and integrated with all statewide HIE / HIT initiatives.
Speaking about today’s announcement, FSSA Secretary Anne Murphy remarked, “Advancements in health information technology to support the exchange of health information significantly improve our collective ability to provide higher quality healthcare by reducing the costs of maintaining and tracking records, increasing efficiency and reducing errors and duplication. As the administrators of healthcare and human services to more than 1.2 million Hoosiers, our goal is to provide them with peace of mind that their personal health information is private and secure when it is shared with authorized healthcare providers.”
Prior to joining FSSA, VanZee spent his entire professional career in hospital settings in a variety of roles and responsibilities. VanZee has over 10 years of experience most recently serving as Vice President of Provider Networks and Operations at Logansport Memorial Hospital (LMH) for seven years. During his tenure, LMH realized significant revenue growth, cost reductions and operational efficiencies within the outpatient departments.
VanZee has led several large information technology implementation projects including diagnostic imaging digital conversion and physician office emergency medical response. He has held positions in the quality resource department of a Health Maintenance Organization and as an emergency medical technician/emergency response technician. Additionally, he has worked in physician services, radiology, laboratory, imaging, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and cardiac rehabilitation.
Board certified in healthcare management, VanZee is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. His affiliations include serving on the Board of Trustees for five community organizations, holding several advisory roles and mentoring youth through sports. VanZee received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Knox College and a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of South Carolina. He is currently pursuing a second master’s degree in information systems from the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, which he plans to complete in December 2010.
“FSSA is committed to supporting efforts to share health information at all levels to enhance the opportunity for improved health outcomes” Murphy commented. “VanZee is uniquely suited for the very important and challenging position of health information coordinator. His experience working for a rural hospital will be valuable as IHIT works closely with healthcare stakeholders to meet the goals and objectives of meaningful health information exchange in Indiana and nationally.”