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October 27, 2002
Deja Vu All Over Again
We just the part of the meeting that is both interesting and somewhat depressing: each new CIO introduces themselves and discusses the issues that they're facing. Every CIO here is facing many of the same problems. What's depressing is that this is the third time I've been through it and each time its the same issues.
03:20 PM | Recommend This | Print This
Public Health Infrastructure
Morris from Dept. of Health and Human Services is talking about IT infrastructure for public health. In the face of some skepticism (not from this crowd, but others) he quotes a 1902 article from Harper's Weekly:
The actual building of roads devoted to motor cars is not for the near future, in spite of many rumors to that effect...
He envisions a "weather channel" for public health information that would give real time reports on disease similar to the way to we get weather reports. Most people outside the government would probably be surprised to learn that there isn't a real time public health infrastructure.
02:06 PM | Recommend This | Print This
NASCIO Member Session
I left home this morning at 4am (daylight savings time is my friend) so that I could get to St. Louis in time for the four hour NASCIO member's session this afternoon. This is a business session that is about NASCIO as an organization whereas the rest of the conference is about issues, technology, policy, etc. There are about 30 CIO's here.
After going over the new strategy document, Gerry Wethington (CIO, MO) presented the business plan. The business plan is a good document that identifies major areas of emphasis and where the dollars will come from for those areas. This conference is apparently going to be well attended and this finances look pretty good for now.
One of the pieces of business is the election of the officers for the next year, a process that seems more like common consent that an election. The executive committee puts forth a slate of candidates and we say "aye."
We're in the middle of the Washington Update at the moment including topics on federal legislation, budgets, and NASCIO's DC outreach efforts. We'll hear from Health and Human Services and Homeland Security next.