Keith Cox named CEO to direct Tennessee's Health Information Exchange
January 11, 2011

NASHVILLE, /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Health Information Partnership for Tennessee (HIP TN) has hired Keith Cox, a health IT veteran with 26 years of experience as an entrepreneur and corporate executive, to lead the creation of a statewide health information exchange (HIE) for providers, physicians, hospitals, other health care organizations and consumers.

The HIP TN board selected Cox on as its chief executive officer with responsibility to oversee the $11.6 million federal grant for creating the health information exchange network. Cox will head up the not- for-profit which is working to connect regional health information organizations (RHIOs) across Tennessee and create a network of networks allowing health care providers to share information to improve patient care and outcomes.

"I am excited to be working to move this project forward to improve the technology available for Tennessee's health care system so that patients and providers can have the information they need as quickly as possible to deliver the best health care possible," Cox said.

"Tennessee is recognized as a national leader and I look forward to building a team that will make our state a model for health information exchange."

In October, the HIP TN board contracted with Axolotl Corp., a leader in health information exchange services and solutions, to build the state's HIE infrastructure. Cox will take on the CEO role as HIP TN prepares to meet a July start-up date for the first phase of the health information exchange.

"Keith brings a background in working with startup enterprises and large corporations, as well as a unique blend of experiences in healthcare, technology, and business development that we believe will allow him to lead this extraordinary effort," said HIP TN Board Chair Dr. Robert Mandel.

Cox was selected after a national search by the Buffkin Group, which was contracted by HIP TN for the recruitment and human resource services.

Cox joins HIP TN after serving as Chief Technology Officer for A.D.A.M., Inc. a provider of health information and benefits technology solutions. Prior to A.D.A.M. he was with the Microsoft Corporation, where he was Director of Global Partner Business Development in Developer & Platform Evangelism, a division of Microsoft's Server and Tools Organization.