Former National HIT Coordinator Kolodner Joins ViTel Net

ViTel Net, a provider of clinician-based telemedicine, has announced that Robert M. Kolodner, MD, is the company's new vice president and chief medical officer. The company covers the continuum of care from emergency first responder to mobile health monitoring telehealth solutions.

"Rob Kolodner brings a wealth of clinical experience and knowledge to ViTel Net," says Allen Izadpanah, ViTel Net's president and CEO. "His appointment ensures we continue to anticipate our customers' future needs as well as the needs of other innovative healthcare providers."

"ViTel Net offers the flexible, low cost adaptable technology solutions needed to meet the telehealth requirements of a rapidly changing healthcare landscape," Kolodner explains. "Telemedicine technologies can increase access, improve outcomes, and lower cost across the spectrum of care delivery."

"As our health system becomes person-centered," he continues, "patients will expect to receive more and more of their routine and acute care anywhere they are, anytime they want.  New mobile telemedicine alternatives, such as those ViTel provides, will be part of the suite of health IT solutions enabling healthcare providers to meet patients' expectations."

Rob Kolodner is a visionary leader in health informatics who has been at the forefront of advances in HIT for more than two decades. He is an advocate of "positive disruption," promoting solutions that are better, cheaper, and more convenient for users and customers.

"Joining ViTel Net is consistent with my philosophy of health and healthcare, and with the work I've done throughout my career," he explains.

As National Coordinator for Health Information Technology in the department of Health and Human Services (HHS), he promoted the adoption and use of EHRs and advanced the policies and collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors to develop a nationwide, interoperable HIT infrastructure. His work laid the foundation for the acceleration of national HIT initiatives.

Before his work at HHS, Kolodner was the national informatics leader for the VA's broad range of HIT activities. He was the clinical champion for VistA, VA's award winning EHR system, and oversaw the launch of My HealtheVet, VA's PHR for veterans. In the mid-1990's, he coordinated emerging telemedicine activities at local VA medical centers prior to the creation of VA's national Telemedicine Office. Kolodner is currently an adjunct professor in the College of Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

"Combining Rob Kolodner's seminal expertise in telehealth, electronic health records, and medical informatics with the comprehensive software tool kit developed by ViTel Net will create a powerful synergy," says Jay Sanders, MD, founder and president emeritus of the American Telemedicine Association. "This synergy enables ViTel Net to integrate these disciplines and provide interoperable mobile health solutions that are independent of the devices and platforms used."

Source: ViTel Net