Mrs. Cryer to Represent Patient and Consumer Interests in the Development of a Nationwide Health Information Infrastructure
Washington, DC (May 5, 2015) — The Global Liver Institute is pleased to announce the naming of its Founder and President, Donna Cryer, JD, to the Health Information Technology (HIT) Policy Committee by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Created in 2009, the HIT Policy Committee makes recommendations to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, on the development and adoption of a nationwide health information infrastructure. Mrs. Cryer, an advocate for elevating and expanding the roles of patients and patient advocates in policymaking and healthcare transformation leadership, will fill the position of a representative for patients and consumers on the committee.
“I’m deeply honored to represent the patient and consumer voice on the HIT Policy Committee, and I look forward to working collaboratively with my colleagues across all stakeholder categories to advance a secure and interoperable health technology system,” said Mrs. Cryer. “Seamless safe exchange and more insightful use of health data is the necessary foundation for a learning health system, personalized medicine, and achieving the triple aim of higher quality, lower cost, and more convenient care for all.”
The Global Liver Institute (GLI) was founded by Mrs. Cryer in 2014 to facilitate collaboration among patient advocates, policymakers, regulators, health systems and payers to help co-design and accelerate the adoption of solutions that can improve liver health and lead to the better treatment of liver diseases.
“Attracting innovation and leveraging technology is an important strategic pillar for GLI as a 21st century, multi-stakeholder advocacy organization, and I’m excited to bring my experience in patient engagement with the technology community to the HIT Policy Committee,” said Mrs. Cryer.
Mrs. Cryer joins two other new appointees to the HIT Policy Committee, including Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, who will fill the position of an expert in health care quality measurement and reporting, and Brent Snyder, Esq, who will fill the position of a representative of health care providers
Mrs. Cryer is a liver-transplant recipient and lives with multiple serious chronic conditions. She serves on the boards of the Society for Participatory Medicine and the Personalized Medicine Coalition and is a member of the NIH Learning Health System Stakeholder Advisory Group. She has served on the HIT Privacy and Security Workgroup and is a member of the HIT patient Generated Health Data Technical Advisory Panel. She obtained her A.B. from Harvard and her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
About GLI:
Founded in 2014, The Global Liver Institute is redefining traditional advocacy to defeat liver disease. Through the creation of high-level, collaborative partnerships with public, private and academic institutions, GLI drives the development of innovative solutions to complex problems that can then be scaled to impact patients, clinicians or other stakeholder groups. To address the low level of awareness and stigma associated with liver disease, GLI recruits high-profile celebrities and media organizations to spread knowledge and understanding. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, promoting collaboration and scaling novel approaches, GLI hopes to improve the effectiveness of the liver community – and one day eradicate liver disease.
About the GAO:
The Government Accountability Office, known as the investigative arm of Congress, is an independent, nonpartisan agency that exists to support Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities. GAO also works to improve the performance of the federal government and ensure its accountability to the American people. The agency examines the use of public funds; evaluates federal programs and policies; and provides analyses, recommendations, and other assistance to help Congress make informed oversight, policy, and funding decisions. GAO provides Congress with timely information that is objective, fact-based, non-ideological, fair, and balanced. GAO’s commitment to good government is reflected in its core values of accountability, integrity, and reliability.