WEDI News Release   October 21, 2005
2005 WEDI AWARD Recipients Announced

 RESTON, VA-October 21, 2005 - WEDI is pleased to announce this year’s award recipients for its 2005 WEDI Awards Program.  The awards will be presented on November 15, 2005 during the annual Member meeting at the WEDI Fall Conference: Continuing the Quest:  Administrative and Clinical Integration and Interoperability being held in Tampa, FL.

This program identifies and recognizes individuals and organizations in the healthcare industry whose achievements have contributed significantly to the advancement of WEDI’s mission.  WEDI considers nominees that have “contributed to the advancement of EDI and eCommerce technology through the development and implementation of standards for Administrative Simplification or contribution to the application of new technologies in the furtherance or improved operations and cost-effectiveness in healthcare business enterprises.”  Nominees who have made such contributions are reviewed by a cross-discipline jury drawn from the WEDI membership, which makes its final selection of award winners.

WEDI announces the following award recipients at this year’s Fall Conference:

Distinguished Service Award

Peter Barry, Peter T. Barry Company

            Joan Boyle, Trizetto Group, Inc.

            Walt Culbertson, Health Transactions

            Patrice Kuppe, Allina Hospitals and Clinics

            Maria Ward

Award of Merit

Robert Barbour, Montefiore Medical Center

Andrea Danes, Fox Systems, Inc.

James Ferguson, Kaiser Permanente

Martin Jensen, Healthcare IT Transition Group

Lee Ann Stember, NCPDP

Leadership in Technology Award

Simon Cohn, MD, Kaiser Permanente

Corporate Leadership Award

Edifecs, Inc.

Regional Affiliate Achievement Award

UNYPHIED
MOSNIP
Oregon and SW Washington Healthcare, Security and Privacy Forum

The Andrew H. Melczer Excellence in Volunteerism Award

WEDI has initiated a new Excellence in Volunteerism in honor of Andy Melczer, PhD, Vice President, Health Policy Research & Advocacy, Illinois State Medical Society who passed away unexpectedly in February 2005. Andy was a leader and active contributor to a wide range of WEDI and WEDI SNIP activities over the past several years

This award recognizes a WEDI volunteer who has provided exemplary service by giving his/her time to the association or industry activities on a national basis. The award aims to recognize the person whose business philosophy is to make the world a better place by sharing one’s time and talents.

The first recipient of this award is Walter Suarez, MD, Midwest Center for HIPAA Education.

WEDI is a broad based healthcare industry coalition headquartered in Reston, Virginia near Washington, DC.  Inquiries for additional information may be directed to WEDI, c/o James A. Schuping, Executive Vice President, 12020 Sunrise Valley Dr., Suite 100, Reston, VA.  Phone:  (703)391-2716; E-mail:jschuping@wedi.org.