The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) represents medical groups, including some of the nation’s largest, most prestigious integrated healthcare delivery systems. AMGA advocates for the multispecialty medical group model of healthcare delivery and for the patients served by medical groups through innovation and information sharing, benchmarking, leadership development, and continuous striving to improve patient care. The members of AMGA deliver health care to more than 50 million patients in 42 states, including 15 million capitated lives. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, AMGA is the strategic partner for medical groups providing a comprehensive package of benefits, including political advocacy, educational and networking programs and publications, benchmarking data services, and financial and operations assistance.Please visit www.amga.org for more information.

The Disease Management Association of America (DMAA), a non-profit membership association, represents all stakeholders in disease management and care coordination. DMAA promotes the role of disease management in raising the quality of care, improving health outcomes and reducing health care costs for individuals with chronic conditions. DMAA has more than 200 corporate and individual members representing all aspects of disease management and care coordination-from large health plans, disease management organizations and employers, to individual physicians, researchers and nurses. Learn more by visiting DMAA online at www.dmaa.org.

Edelman is the only communications firm of scale, reach and experience that has remained independent, allowing the firm to proactively invest in the art and science of public relations. Thinking differently than the competitors has enabled Edelman to remain true to its entrepreneurial heritage and lead the way in redefining, expanding and elevating the role PR plays in the health industry. Its 250+ health industry professionals are dedicated to helping clients vibrantly build relationships and business. Edelman has four global health specialty practices: Rx Health, Consumer Health, Life Sciences and Health Policy and Public Affairs, as well as the medical education and publishing firm BioScience Communications.

Edelman is privileged to work with a wide range of clients in the health industry. Highlights from the client list include Abbott, AstraZeneca, Aventis, Cerus, Eyetech, GlaxoSmithKline, Hospital for Special Surgery, International Longevity Center, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Pfizer, Schering-Plough, Serono, Takeda, US Oncology and Wyeth.

The eHealth Initiative -- eHI -- represents the many stakeholders whose mission is to improve the health care system through the use of interoperable information systems. With 176 members including providers, academic and research institutions, hospitals and other health care organizations, clinician groups, employers and purchasers, health plans, health care information technology organizations, and manufacturers, eHI has rapidly become the go-to expert for information on HIT adoption. Through our numerous programs, conferences, activities, and collaborations, we're working towards an interonnected health information infrastructure where consumers, health care providers, and those responsible for population health have ready access to timely, relevant, reliable and secure information and services. For more information on eHI, visit www.ehealthinitiative.org

Government Electronics And Information Technology Association www.geia.org GEIA represents the high-tech industry doing business with the government. Members are companies that provide the government with electronics and information technology (IT) solutions. In partnership with member companies and their government customers, GEIA studies the market for IT, Homeland Security, Federal Health Care IT, and advanced electronics products and services for defense and civil government agencies. GEIA promotes the interests of the U.S. electronics, communications and information technology industries with regard to government markets, requirements, and technical standards. GEIA represents companies that create and apply innovative products, services, practices, technologies and integrated solutions to meet government needs. The Annual Vision Conference held each October is the event held by GEIA to showcase our year’s activities. As part of the Vision Conference GEIA presents annually a 10-Year Defense Electronics Forecast, a 5-year Federal IT Forecast, as well as special market studies such as Services & Support, Information Assurance, Health Care, Homeland Security, etc. GEIA connects industry to government through this unique forecasting process, in which members conduct hundreds of customer interviews. For more information, contact Mike Dooner, Director, GEIA Member Relations, (703) 907-759 [email protected].

The Healthcare Intelligence Network is the first health content provider on the Internet serving subscribers in hospitals, managed care organizations and pharmaceutical companies. Healthcare Intelligence Network serves as a central site providing the most comprehensive source of news and analysis for healthcare and managed care executives currently available in one place online.
The Healthcare Intelligence Network also offers weekly headline news in each of the five major topic areas (managed care/healthcare industry, long-term care, behavioral healthcare, health law and regulation, and hospital and health system management), a bookstore for healthcare professionals, a healthcare conference planner, a personalized health management news service and a rich, searchable archive of health management news.

Healthcare Technology: Steps Toward Developing An Electronic Health Record is a thought-leadership initiative that examines and promotes the huge range of technology solutions now available to the healthcare industry, with a special focus on the steps the industry is taking toward electronic health records (EHRs). The project is sponsored by Accenture and published by Montgomery Research, and provides thought-provoking information directed at top-level management. Find out more at www.hctproject.com

Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 8,200 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,800other health care organizations that provide long term care, assisted living, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also accredits health plans, integrated delivery networks, and other managed care entities. In addition, the Joint Commission provides certification of disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, the Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about the Joint Commission at www.jcaho.org.

Founded in 1977, NCPDP is a not-for-profit, ANSI-accredited, Standards Development Organization with over 1400 members representing virtually every sector of the pharmacy services industry. Our diverse membership provides leadership and healthcare business solutions through education and standards, created using the consensus building process. NCPDP has been named in federal legislation, including HIPAA and the MMA. NCPDP members have created standards such as the Telecommunication Standard and Batch Standard, the SCRIPT Standard for e-Prescribing, the Manufacturers Rebate Standard and more to improve communication within the pharmacy industry. Our data services include the NCPDP Provider Identification Number, a unique identifier of over 68,000 pharmacies and HCIdea, "The Prescriber Identity Solution". For more information about NCPDP Standards, Educational Programs and Work Group meetings, go online at www.ncpdp.org.

NIHCM Foundation is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of America's health care system. The Foundation conducts research, policy analysis and educational activities on a range of health care issues. It fosters dialog between the private health care industry and the public sector to find workable solutions to health system problems. Through a grant from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, NIHCM is studying the role of the private sector in the national battle against obesity. NIHCM’s current work also includes research in the areas of health information technology and maternal and child health. Detailed information about the Foundation's projects and publications is available on our newly designed web site at www.nihcm.org.

Founded in 1982, the New York Business Group on Health (NYBGH) is a not-for-profit coalition of 150 businesses and is the only organization in the New York Metropolitan area exclusively devoted to employer health benefit issues. NYBGH functions as the forum for businesses to explore contemporary healthcare issues and find practical resolutions. Members include employers and health-related organizations. The mission of NYBGH is to provide leadership and knowledge to employers to promote a value-based, market-driven healthcare system. www.nybgh.org

Pacific Business Group on Health is one of the nation's top business coalitions focused on health care. Our 50 large purchaser members spend billions of dollars annually to provide health care coverage to more than 3 million employees, retirees and dependents. PBGH is a respected voice in the state and national dialogue on how to improve the quality and effectiveness of health care while moderating costs. Partnering with the state's leading health plans, provider organizations, consumer groups and other stakeholders, PBGH works on many fronts to promote value-based purchasing in health care.www.pbgh.org

Partnership for Prevention is a nonprofit, membership organization that works on the leading edge of health promotion and disease prevention, developing and disseminating insights that reveal the most effective prevention interventions and investments. Partnership analyzes critical health issues and provides decision-makers with innovative and feasible options for addressing them. www.prevent.org

PR Newswire's media-only Web site provides journalists with immediate access to breaking healthcare news from thousands of companies worldwide. Get the news you need for your beat, delivered according to your preferences. Visit PR Newswire for Journalists at www.prnewswire.com/media to set-up your free, personalized account, and to gain access to images, multimedia news and ProfNet. PR Newswire is the official news service for World Health Care Congress.

Founded in 1944, the World Bank's mission is to fight poverty and help the poor in developing countries by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity, and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors. It is the largest source of development assistance, providing about US $20 billion in assistance for the 4.7 billion poor who live in the Bank's 100 client countries, bringing a mix of finance and ideas to developing countries. The Bank is the largest source external finance for development assistance in the health sector. Annual lending to the Health, Nutrition and Population sector ranges from US $1-2 billion, with a total portfolio valuation between US $12-15 billion. www.worldbank.org