VPnet Application Spotlight:

WSU College of Pharmacy to access INHS Meditech® System

WSU and INHS are integrating the Meditech® system as a component of the education experience for the students enrolled in the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Washington State University (and ultimately other health science programs offered by Eastern Washington University and Washington State University at the Riverpoint Campus in Spokane). Access to Meditech® will be beneficial to the students and the health care providers in the region. Developing this type of partnership between INHS and WSU Spokane creates a win-win situation for the health care facilities, students and our community. The implementation of the Meditech® system, leveraging VPnet, allows the integration of healthcare information technology within the curriculum and provide the students with a stronger foundation that should better prepare them for experiential education and should decrease the training time required by the employer after their graduation.

VPnet Funding Update:

VPnet Seeking FY2007 Federal Appropriation Request

VPnet is pursuing a $500,000 federal appropriation request for FY2007. Application packages have been submitted to the offices of Congresswoman McMorris and Senator Murray with the Washington delegation, as well as Senator Craig, and Congressman Simpson with the Idaho delegation.

VPnet pursued a similar request for FY2006, but was not awarded the appropriation. However, with strong support being received from the Washington and Idaho delegations, as well as with the lobbying support from Avista Corporation, VPnet hopes to successfully receive an appropriation for FY2007. Additionally, VPnet members have been encouraged to submit letters to their respective delegates reinforcing the importance and value of VPnet for their research and education activities.

If successful, VPnet plans to use the appropriation in the following manner:

• Upgrade the VPnet network infrastructure to provide members with greater security, redundancy and bandwidth guarantees to support their utilization of VPnet.
• Upgrade VPnet to provide gigabit Ethernet bandwidth across entire network, delivering VPnet’s high-speed capabilities to its members.
• Support VPnet ancillary applications and tools that provide value-added services to its members. Solutions such as video conferencing tools, content archive servers, and others have been identified as providing additional value to VPnet members, thus increasing utilization and collaborative efficiencies across the consortium.

VPnet Elects New Directors and Officers

The VPnet Board of Trustees nominated and elected new directors to the VPnet Board of Directors during the recent Trustees meeting on February 9, 2006. Several Director terms had been completed, and three new Director positions were created, which provides the opportunity for both founding members and new VPnet member organizations to participate on the Board.

The following individuals were nominated and elected to the VPnet Board of Directors:

Mary Doyle, Vice President, Information Systems and Vice Provost, Washington State University, as continuing member of VPnet Board of Directors

Dick Hol, Director of Information systems, Community Colleges of Spokane, as continuing member of VPnet Board of Directors

Ken Pecka, Director of Instructional Resources, Whitworth College;

Harvey Hughett, Executive Director, Information Technology Services/CIO, University of Idaho

Octavio J. Morales, Partner, Liberty Lake Internet Exchange

Randy Wittwer, Director of Technology, Mead School District

Peter J. Mowery, Director of Commercialization Spokane Intercollegiate Research & Technology Institute (SIRTI)

During the March 9, 2006 VPnet Board meeting, the following officers were elected to serve a one-year term:

Jerry Johnson, PNNL - Chair
Ken Brown, SPS SD81 - Chair-elect
Pat Kelley, EWU - Treasurer
Wayne Powell, Gonzaga - Secretary

Additionally, the Technology Committee has a new chair. Octavio Morales, LLIX has graciously agreed to fulfill this role throughout 2006.