This news release informs everyone that Premier Healthcare Alliance VIPs will be making the rounds this month to update everyone about, and continue their push for, GS1 standardization. First up is Joe Pleasant, FHIMSS, senior vice president and chief information officer.

As the release states, Mr. Pleasant …will provide an update on the standardization of data in the supply chain at the World Health Care Congress 3rd Annual Leadership Summit on Healthcare Supply Chain Management on January 20 in Las Vegas. The keynote session will discuss the push towards standardization as a means to improve patient safety while reducing supply chain costs. Sharon Conklin, vice president, Client Engagement and Delivery, will also be speaking at this venue.

The release also reminds everyone that last July Premier became the first major group purchasing organization (GPO) to endorse GS1 standards.

Meanwhile, if I had all the time and money in the world, I’d make a point of getting to a January 27th presentation led by a Premier heavyweight in Philadelphia: Eugene Kroch, vice president and chief scientist, will discuss federal health policy at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania on January 27 in Philadelphia.

[Editor's note: we'd be willing to send someone to blog on these meetings real-time, such as the Philly meeting, if GS1 wanted and would facilitate that happening. We recieve a lot of solid traffic from GS1 organizations and are always interested in insights, communication and helping get the word out]