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Conference Sponsors:
The Biotechnology Council (ASME, BMES, HIMSS, IEEE and SBE part of AIChE) and
the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) |
Economic Strategy for
Health Care through Bio and Information Standards and Technologies
September 24, 2007 (evening) – September 25, 2007 (full day)
at the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, Maryland
INTRODUCTION:
LEAD SPONSORS: Biotechnology Council and, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology
The major technological breakthroughs in disease diagnosis and treatment in the Health Care industry since the 1970’s have been significant, but have also come with a price: Health Care spending now constitutes nearly one fifth of the U.S. economy. In 2002, U.S. health care spending was nearly $2 trillion and is expected to exceed $4 trillion by 2015. Until now, the emphasis in Health Care has been on diagnosis and treatment. The current pattern of escalating Health Care spending will only continue unless there is a major paradigm shift toward a more proactive approach for prevention of disease in concert with diagnosis and treatment. This can only happen with the development of breakthrough biomeasurement, bioinformatics, biologically-based and health information technologies that can be integrated with current efforts to improve Health Care delivery. There is a need to address the economic implications of such developments.
The 21st century will be defined by new technologies and the technical infrastructures that will support such a paradigm. Before these technologies can be realized and commercialized, however, breakthroughs in measurement capabilities are necessary to clear a path to market. Breakthroughs in biomeasurement, bioinformatics, biologically-based and health information technologies and the development and broad adoption of standards for interoperability among biological, biomedical, and health delivery systems will be critical enablers of the Health Care delivery paradigm shift. There is a need to address both the incentives for and the economic implications of investments in breakthrough technologies and the related standards and measurements that will enable commercialization and wide application.
The Biotechnology Council and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Technology Administration (TA), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will conduct an inaugural conference on Developing an Economic Strategy for Health Care through Standards and Technologies. The goal is to initiate dialogue on developing a strategic plan for the Nation to address the growing need for new technologies to help avert the impending economic crisis in Health Care and to improve quality Understanding the vision, the technology gaps that stand in the way of achieving that vision and addressing a method for measuring market performance of technologies to fill those gaps are critical first steps in the process of planning for investments into new technologies, widely accepted standards and breakthrough measurements. Also needed is a long term economic strategy for financing innovations in the research infrastructure to transform the way Health Care is viewed and delivered in the United States.
Discussions will take place about methods and tools to help policy and decision makers understand the economic realities of Bio and Information Technology investments and make informed high value decisions to improve the quality of care and enhance wellness while minimizing costs. Technological innovations that improve the quality and convenience of care, support efforts to control Health Care costs and increase access to affordable and effective Health Care benefit both individual patients and society at large, both in the United States and globally.
CONFERENCE SCOPE:
Dates: September 24 (evening) - September 25, 2007 (full day)
Location: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
The conference will bring together key government, industry, academic and research leaders and patient advocates to discuss mechanisms for assessing the economic benefits and opportunities of bio and information technologies and standards in the life sciences and Health Care delivery and their role in bridging Health Care system gaps. The goal is to help attendees understand the economics of Bio and Information technology and learn useful approaches for evaluating promising technologies. Attendees should gain an appreciation and understanding of key factors that drive the development and implementation of these technologies in the life sciences and Health Care markets and the mechanisms for evaluating the cost-benefits of these technologies.T
Charge to Conferees
- Identify the economic realities and gaps in current investment priorities for biomeasurement (biochemical and imaging), bioinformatics, and biologically-based and health information technologies needed to drive the paradigm shift to a patient centric, integrated, distributed health care delivery system that enhances quality and promotes consumer empowerment.
- Develop a long-term strategic investment plan to address the identified gaps.
Topics
- Health Information Technologies in Healthcare Delivery
- Biotechnologies in Healthcare Delivery
- Economics of Bio and Health Information Technologies in Healthcare
- Measurements and Standards as Research Infrastructure for Bio and Health Information Technologies in delivery of Healthcare
- Investment Strategies into Health Information Technologies
- Gaps in Health Delivery Technologies
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