Connected Health pioneer, Dr. Joseph Kvedar, honored for his contributions to the advancemnet of telemedicine and healthcare delivery

BOSTON AND LAS VEGAS, APRIL 29, 2009 -- The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) has honored Joseph C. Kvedar, MD, founder and director, Center for Connected Health, Partners HealthCare, with its Individual Leadership Award, recognizing his significant contributions to the advancement of connected health and telemedicine. The term “connected health” reflects the range of opportunities for technology-enabled care programs and the potential for new strategies in healthcare delivery. The award was presented this week at the 14th annual ATA conference in Las Vegas.

“To talk about giving Joe Kvedar an achievement award is anticlimactic. His entire career has been marked by achievement," said Jay Sanders, MD, president, The Global Telemedicine Group, who sponsors the annual award. "Joe Kvedar has led his organization with a laser pointer directed at bringing quality care to the consumer. Through his work at Partners HealthCare, he has transformed the entire field of telemedicine and allowed it to encompass more, describing it as ‘Connected Health,’”

“Joe Kvedar is an extraordinary leader. His efforts to apply communications and information technology to improve the care of patients have altered the industry - his impact has been substantial and remarkable,” said John P. Glaser, PhD, vice president and chief information officer, Partners HealthCare.

Dr. Kvedar was also one of eight healthcare leaders to be inducted into the ATA College of Fellows.

“I am privileged to work for an organization whose leadership – including Jim Mongan, MD, President and CEO, Peter Markell, CFO, and John Glaser, PhD, CIO – is committed to a vision of delivering care to the patient where they are and when they need it, and who seek to be reimbursed for quality outcomes not just fee-for-service,” said Kvedar. “I am also extremely privileged and honored to lead such a talented, dedicated and resourceful team, as the group of individuals at the Center for Connected Health.”

Dr. Kvedar is internationally recognized for his leadership and vision in the field of connected health and the application of communications technologies to improve healthcare to patients. In his role with the Center for Connected Health, Dr. Kvedar launched the first physician-to-physician online consultation service in an academic setting. He is also leading important research in the use of a combination of remote-monitoring technology, sensors, and online communications and intelligence to improve patient adherence, engagement and clinical outcomes.

Dr. Kvedar is co-editor of the book, Home Telehealth: Connecting Care within the Community, the first book to report on the applications of technology to deliver quality healthcare in the home, published by RSM Press, London. He is a frequent lecturer and has authored over 60 publications on connected health. In 2003, Dr. Kvedar was honored by the New England Business and Technology Association for his extraordinary leadership in the field.

Dr. Kvedar is a past President and board member of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and is also Immediate Past Chair of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Task Force on Telemedicine. Dr. Kvedar is a board-certified dermatologist and Associate Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School.

About the Center for Connected Health
The Center for Connected Health, a division of Partners HealthCare, is creating effective, new solutions and innovative interventions to deliver quality patient care outside of the traditional medical setting. Our programs use a combination of remote-monitoring technology, sensors, and online communications and intelligence to improve patient adherence, engagement and clinical outcomes. The Center also offers expert online second opinions, enhanced medical education and training, and engages in innovative research to discover new pathways to better care, including the use of virtual worlds and online coaching. Visit www.connected-health.org.

Boston-based Partners HealthCare is an integrated health system founded in 1994 by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. In addition to its two academic medical centers, the Partners system also includes community and specialty hospitals, community health centers, a physician network, home health and long-term care services, and other health-related entities. Partners is one of the nation’s leading biomedical research organizations and a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Partners is a non-profit organization. Visit www.partners.org.

About the American Telemedicine Association
The American Telemedicine Association is the leading resource and advocate promoting access to medical care for consumers and health professionals via telecommunications technology. ATA seeks to bring together diverse groups from traditional medicine, academic medical centers, technology and telecommunications companies, e-health, medical societies, government and others to overcome barriers to the advancement of telemedicine through the professional, ethical