Martin's Point President David Howes Chosen as Judge for National Health Care Awards Program

(PORTLAND, Maine) - David H. Howes, M.D., president and chief medical officer of Martin's Point Health Care, has been selected as a judge for the Healthcare Innovations in Technology Systems (HITS) "Partnership in Technology" national awards program.

The HITS awards, created in 1992 by the Henry Ford Health System, honor healthcare organizations and technology vendors who have worked together to create innovative uses of new or emerging technology that improve the quality of patient care. The judges are top executives in leading health care facilities across the U.S.

The selection of Howes as a judge is related to his leadership in the area of technology and innovation. Under his guidance, Martin's Point Health Care last year earned a coveted HITS award for Patients Personal Points(TM), its breakthrough, interactive, Web-based service. The service creates a secure cyberlink between doctors, nurses and patients, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It allows patients to discuss medical issues, request prescription refills and appointments, and seek and receive health care information - confidentially - all with the click of a mouse on their personal computers.

Established in 1981, Martin's Point is a non-profit health care provider with facilities in Portland, Brunswick and Windham, Maine and in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Martin's Point has a staff of more than 300 health care professionals and serves 48,000 patients, including retired military and dependants of active military personnel, under all major health plans.

This year, Howes will judge entrants in the category for outpatient facilities with fewer than 50 physicians - the same category in which Martin's Point won in 2000. Winners will be announced at the annual Healthcare Informatics Expo and Conference in Chicago on April 18-19.

"It's gratifying to see Martin's Point Health Care get recognized on a national level for the efforts we have made to use technology and innovation to enhance the services that we provide to patients," Howes said.

Known today as a visionary in the health care industry, Howes has transformed Martin's Point into Maine's largest, non-profit primary care practice by helping create and implement a new strategic plan for the organization. Under his leadership, Martin's Point has received reaccreditation with commendation from the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

A Brunswick resident, Howes is an expert on health care policy who lectures frequently and is often sought out by the media to comment about health care issues.

Martin's Point serves patients in the areas of family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, radiology, cardiology, mammography and other fields. In addition, Martin's Point is known for its innovative approach to health care. For additional information on Martin's Point Health Care, visit online at www.martinspoint.org.

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