Ind. appoints first medical records technology chief; will help decide who gets stimulus funds

Ind. names first medical records technology chief

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana has named its first coordinator for overseeing efforts to shift the state’s hospitals and clinics from paper medical records to electronic files.

Beginning next month, Andrew VanZee will be responsible for managing the allocation of $10.3 million in federal stimulus funding the state received in March.

He will work closely with the state-designated Indiana Health Information Technology Inc. and its directors to determine the best uses for that funding. Those could range from paying for electronic medical record software to helping hospitals set up electronic record exchanges.

Family and Social Services Administration Secretary Anne Murphy says electronic medical records are reducing medical errors, lowering costs and making tracking records easier.