A new organization dubbed the Home Care Technology Association of American (HCTAA) has been launched with the mission of increasing the use of technology and telemedicine in home care to boost efficiency, reduce costs, and improve access, according to a release.
   
The announcement was made by Val J. Halamandaris, president of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (HAHC), who emphasized the importance of health information technology to seniors and the association's goal of putting the issues on Congress' radar.
   
HCTAA is a program of the NAHC, the world's largest trade association for home care and hospice.
   
Robert J. "Bob" Waters, a partner in the firm Gardner Carton Douglas LLP, will take the position of HCTAA executive director. Waters was praised by Halamandaris as a strong coalition builder and expert in telehealth issues.
   
The NAHC Board of Directors appointed Advisory Board members include:

• Keith Sturges, CEO, Homecare Systems Business Unit, Misys Healthcare Systems
  
• Craig Frazier, Vice President/General Manager, McKesson Corporation
  
• Keith Crownover, Director Home Health Services, Siemens Health Services
  
• Lisa Cone, Managing Director, Cerner BeyondNow
  
• Jake Levy, President, Carekeeper Software, Inc.
  
• Herschel "Buzz" Peddicord, CEO, Honeywell HomMed
  
• Randall Moore, CEO, American TeleCare
  
• Michael Lemnitzer, CPA, ViTel Net, Inc.