Walter G. Suarez, MD, MPH

Transcription

1 Walter G. Suarez, MD, MPH 711 Carpenter Road Alexandria, VA (v) (f) [email protected] SUMMARY: Over 15 years of health care policy research, planning, and development experience in the areas of health care reform, cost, access and quality of care, data collection and analysis, rural health and primary care, medical informatics, health care electronic commerce and data and network security standards for health care information systems. Extensive experience in quality research design and project management, planning and implementation of large-scale data projects, knowledge of health care markets, and national involvement in the development of standards for the health care industry, including quality measurement standards such as CAHPS and administrative simplification standards such as the ones required under HIPAA. Management experience including program planning, fiscal management and contract administration and evaluation. Executive-level analytical and communications skills. Graduate-level training in public health policy, health services research, and medical informatics. Bilingual: Fluency in English and Spanish. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Institute for HIPAA/HIT Education and Research Alexandria, VA President and CEO 2002-Present Midwest Center for HIPAA Education Bloomington, Minnesota President and CEO Established the Institute for HIPAA/HIT Education and Research (formerly the Midwest Center for HIPAA Education), as private consulting health care education and research company. The mission of the Institute is to provide support to health care organizations plan, manage and implement large-scale projects in the areas of quality measurement, patient safety, health disparities and HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Minnesota Health Data Institute St. Paul, Minnesota Executive Director (1998-Present) Interim Executive Director (1997) Director, Information Systems and Operations ( ) Chief executive officer (and formerly chief operating officer) of this public-private partnership created by the Minnesota Legislature in 1993, with the overall mission of improving the quality and efficiency of health care services in Minnesota.

2 Walter G. Suarez, MD, MPH - Page 2 Responsible for planning, developing, and implementing all activities necessary to achieve the mission, goals, and objectives of the organization. Responsibilities include: 1) management and operations of the organization, including direct day-to-day operations, business planning, budgeting, financial management, contract and grant management, and fundraising; 2) program management and operations, including overseeing and supervising all professional staff, consultants, and vendors in the development, implementation, and evaluation of specific projects and activities related to the Institute s Performance Measurement Program, Electronic Commerce Program, and Data Privacy and Confidentiality policies; and 3) communications and public relations, including managing and implementing all communications, public relations, and legislative initiatives of the Institute. Special projects included: Quality/Performance Measurement 1995 Consumer Survey of Minnesota Health Plans: Provided planning and analytical support to the implementation of the Institute s 1995 statewide consumer assessment of 46 health plan products. 1997, 1999 and 2001 Minnesota Health Care Quality Surveys: Directed the implementation of a biennial survey of Minnesota s public and private employees and public program beneficiaries using the national CAHPS survey instrument and 2002 MSHO Health Care Quality Surveys: Directed the implementation of health care quality surveys among nursing home residents enrolled in the Minnesota Senior Health Options Program Clinic Survey Pilot Project and Consumer Focus Groups: Directed the implementation of a community-wide clinic-level survey project in Minnesota. Health Care Electronic Commerce Minnesota Center for Healthcare Electronic Commerce: Established within the Institute the first education and resource center in the nation dedicated to promoting the use of electronic commerce standards in the health care industry. Currently implementing a comprehensive statewide education program on the Administrative Simplification provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). MEDNET: Designed, developed, and implemented a non-proprietary electronic health care information network for the external communication of clinical, administrative, and analytical information among local health care organizations. Data Privacy and Confidentiality Data Privacy and Access Policies: Extensive experience in the analysis and planning of the implementation of new federal privacy regulations enacted under HIPAA. Reviewed and facilitated a comprehensive analysis in Minnesota of the proposed federal regulations on standards for data privacy of health information under HIPAA. Researched, drafted, and presented legislative initiatives addressing issues related to data privacy protection and data release policies.

3 Walter G. Suarez, MD, MPH - Page 3 Minnesota Department of Health Minneapolis, Minnesota Manager, Health Care Cost Information System Managed the statewide hospital and ambulatory surgery center data system. Administered contract agreement with reporting organization for the collection and analysis of statewide hospital data. Determined operating goals and objectives, established tasks and responsibilities of reporting organization, reviewed and evaluated proposed budget (over $400,000 for FY 93), and performed contract negotiation and evaluation. Conducted analysis and prepared reports on hospital and surgical center cost, utilization, performance, and access issues. Researched and prepared a comprehensive legislative proposal that became the Minnesota Healthcare Administrative Simplification Act of The Act established statewide administrative standards for billing and claims processing, identified and required the use of unique identifiers and health identification cards, and set forth a plan for a systematic phase-in of uniform health care electronic transaction standards for the health care industry in the State, and for the creation of the Minnesota Center for Health Care EDI, a focal point to develop and administer a comprehensive EDI education and training curriculum. Provided lead staff support to establish the Minnesota Office of Rural Health and other rural health initiatives, including the development of a statewide health personnel database. University of Minnesota Graduate School of Public Health Minneapolis, Minnesota Research Associate Conducted and completed the Curriculum Survey of Graduates of the School of Public Health. Performed analytical and administrative tasks including design, development and application of computer models for analysis and evaluation of survey results. Prepared and presented final report and recommendations to the Dean and Faculty of the School. Colsubsidio Children's Hospital Bogota, Colombia Primary Care Physician, Social Service Program Planned, implemented and evaluated community health programs for local, underserved communities, coordinating the activities of newly graduated physicians, nurses, dentists, and bacteriologists. Participated in the strategic planning of service diversification with special emphasis on primary health care, community health education and health promotion/disease prevention projects. Performed analysis, prepared reports, and drafted recommendations on policy issues and legislation regulating health personnel practices. Attended multiple continuing education seminars in the fields of public health, pediatrics, and medical informatics.

4 Walter G. Suarez, MD, MPH - Page 4 EDUCATION University of Minnesota Graduate School of Public Health Minneapolis, Minnesota M.S. in Public Health Administration Relevant courses: Health policy analysis, health care economics, financial management of health care organizations, health informatics Tulane University Graduate School of Public Health New Orleans, Louisiana Master in Public Health Overall GPA 3.8/4.0. Relevant courses: Health and economic development, international health, implementation and evaluation of health care policies and programs, computer applications in public health Colombian School of Medicine Bogota, Colombia Doctor of Medicine Area of Concentration: Community medicine and family practice Graduated in the top 5% of the class PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIPS Public Health Data Standards Consortium, Founding President and Member of the Board of Directors, Health Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSP) Member, Board of Directors Health Information Security and Privacy Collaborative (HISPC), Members, Technical Advisory Board Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco (MPAAT), Member, Board of Directors National Uniform Claims Committee Member and Former Chair, Data Sub-Committee Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI), Member and Chair, Regional Efforts Group, NPI Implementation Workgroup and NPI Outreach Initiative Minnesota Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative, Chair, Advisory Board National CAHPS Benchmarking Database Member, Board of Advisors National Association of Health Data Organizations Member of the Board of Directors Academy of Health Services Research and Health Policy, Member American National Standards Institute Chair, Education Committee Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety Co-Chair, Data Measurement and Reporting Committee Minnesota Administrative Uniformity Committee, Member

5 Walter G. Suarez, MD, MPH - Page 5 RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS Minnesota Physician s Most Influential Health Care Leaders, 1997 and 1998 WEDI Distinguished Service Award, 2004 and 2006 WEDI s Andrew H. Melczer Excellence in Volunteerism Award, in 2005 SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS Braun BL, Kind EA, Fowles JB, Suarez W. Consumer response to a report card comparing health care systems. Health Affairs (under review). Suarez, W., Apold, J., Beebe, T., Kunerth, V Medicaid and MinnesotaCare Health Care Quality Survey Results. Minnesota Department of Human Services/Minnesota Health Data Institute, March, Suarez, W., Apold, J., Jorissen, T., Haugen, D State Employee Health Care Quality Survey Results. Minnesota Department of Employee Relations, September, Suarez, W, Zak, P Medicaid and MinnesotaCare Managed Care Member Satisfaction Survey: Summary Report. Minnesota Health Data Institute, 1997 Suarez, W. Administrative Simplification and Healthcare EDI. Minnesota Physician, October, Sumner, B.M., Thompson S., Suarez, W., et.al. One PRO's Experience in Developing Hospital Peer Groups. Clinical Performance and Quality Health Care, 1993, 1: Uncompensated Care in Minnesota Hospitals. Contributor, Minnesota Department of Health, Providing Medical Care in Rural Minnesota. Recommendations for Meeting Health Personnel Needs. Contributor, Minnesota Department of Health, Hospital Financial Monitoring Report. Principal Investigator, Minnesota Department of Health, Freestanding Outpatient Surgical Centers Report. Principal Investigator, Minnesota Department of Health, Curriculum Survey of Graduates of the School of Public Health: Major Findings and Recommendations. Principal Investigator, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Suarez, W. Fetal Environment and Cocaine Abuse During Pregnancy: The Transition Between Clinical Findings and the Law from a Public Health Perspective. Division of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1989.

6 Walter G. Suarez, MD, MPH - Page 6 SELECTED PRESENTATIONS Testimony on the State of Regional Efforts to Implement HIPAA, National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics, Washington, DC, July, Suarez, W., Apold, J. Differences Across Minnesota Health Plans in the CAHPS 2.0 Adult Medicaid Survey Results by Race, Association for Health Services Research, 17 th Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, June, Suarez, W., Apold, J. Implementation of a Multi-Sponsor Consumer Assessment of Health Care Quality Survey Involving State Program Recipients and State and Commercial Employees Through a Multiple Tier Sampling Strategy, Association for Health Services Research, 17 th Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, June, Suarez, W., Apold, J. Community-wide Assessment of Consumer Satisfaction with Primary Care Clinics: The 1998 Northeast Minnesota Clinic Survey Project, Association for Health Services Research, 16 th Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, June, Suarez, W. Reporting Strategies for a Multiple Sponsor CAHPS 2.0 Survey Project with Sampling and Reporting at the Care Delivery System and Health Plan Levels, Fifth National CAHPS User Group Meeting, St. Louis, MO, October, Zak, P., Suarez, W. The 1997 Medicaid and MinnesotaCare Managed Care Member Satisfaction Survey, Association for Health Services Research, 15 th Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., June, Suarez, W. Zak, P. Community-wide Assessment of Consumer Satisfaction with Primary Care Clinics: The Minnesota Health Data Institute 1997 Clinic Survey Pilot Project, Association for Health Services Research, 15 th Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., June, Suarez, W. The 1997 MHDI Medicaid and MinnesotaCare Managed Care Member Satisfaction Survey, Association for Health Services Research, 15 th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, June, Suarez, W. The 1997 MHDI Clinic Survey Pilot Project, Association for Health Services Research, 15 th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, June, Administrative Simplification and the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Minnesota EDI Healthcare Users Group, Bloomington, MN, June, 1998 The State Role in the Development of a Telehealth Network, Building a Viable Health Care Information Systems and Telecommunications Connectivity, Northern Lakes Health Care Consortium and the National Rural Resource Center, Duluth, MN, April Developing a Central Query System for Electronic Eligibility Verification: A Public-Private Partnership Approach, Annual Conference, National Association of Health Data Organizations, Baltimore, MD, December, 1997

7 Walter G. Suarez, MD, MPH - Page 7 A Public-Private Partnership Approach to Community Health Information, Rehab 2000 Conference, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC, September, Conference Facilitator and Presenter, Health Care Information in an Electronic Age, Regional Conference, National Association of Health Data Organizations, Minneapolis, MN, September, 1997 Testimony on the Role of States in Implementing HIPAA-Related Standard Requirements, National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics, Washington, DC, June, EDI Standards and the Development of a Statewide Integrated Immunization Information System, First Statewide Conference on Immunization Registry Systems, Minnesota Department of Health, Brooklyn Park, MN, November, A Public-Private Partnership Approach to Community Health Information, Annual Conference, National Association of Health Data Organizations, Washington, DC, November, Creating a Community Health Information Network in Minnesota, Conference on Health Information Networks, New Jersey Hospital Association, Princeton, New Jersey, September, 1996.