GAO Fills Vacancy on HIT Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 20, 2013) — Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), today announced the appointment of Alicia Staley to the Health Information Technology (HIT) Policy Committee. Staley will fill one of three committee positions held by advocates for patients or consumers.

“In developing policy for health information technology, it is essential to take into account the views of patients and consumers,” Dodaro said. “A number of individuals with a strong consumer perspective responded to GAO’s request for nominations, and I am pleased that Ms. Staley will be adding her voice to the HIT Policy Committee.”

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 established the HIT Policy Committee and gave the Comptroller General responsibility for appointing 13 of its 20 members. The HIT Policy Committee makes recommendations to the National Coordinator for Health IT, within the Department of Health and Human Services, on the development and adoption of a nationwide health information infrastructure, including standards for the exchange of patient medical information.

Staley will fill a 3-year term on the Committee. A brief biography is provided below:

Ms. Staley is a three-time cancer survivor who has represented the patient perspective in volunteer positions at Tufts Medical Center, including co-chair of the Tufts Medical Center Patient Family Advisory Committee and member of the Tufts Medical Center Board of Governors and its Quality of Care Committee. Ms. Staley is active in moderating and participating in patient discussion sites and has helped Tufts Medical Center in expanding their patient engagement initiatives. She also founded the Staley Foundation, in 2007, a non-profit organization that provides education, advocacy, and assistance for those affected by cancer. Ms. Staley is a co-moderator for The Breast Cancer Social Media Community, where she focuses on building online support communities for cancer survivors. Through Staley Media Services, she advises clients looking to build platforms to interact with consumers and patients by providing an in-depth perspective on health information technology and social media issues facing patients. She received her Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Information Systems from Boston University, Graduate School of Management.

For more information, contact Mary Giffin of GAO’s Health Care Team at (202) 512-7114 or Chuck Young in GAO’s Office of Public Affairs at (202) 512-4800, or visit the GAO Health Care Advisory Committees web page at www.gao.gov/about/hcac.

#####

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, nonideological, fair, and balanced. GAO’s commitment to good government is reflected in its core values of accountability, integrity, and reliability.