Bookmark & ShareFor Immediate Release: 10/06/2010
Contact: Jim Stevenson, 360-725-1915; Sharon Michael, 360-923-2711; Leah Hole-Curry, 360- 923-2748
Marie-Annette Brown, a University of Washington School of Nursing professor, has been appointed to serve on the Health Care Authority’s Health Technology Clinical Committee. The 11-member clinical committee is a critical component of the state’s Health Technology Assessment (HTA) program.
Brown was appointed to an open seat on the committee by Health Care Authority Administrator Doug Porter on Oct. 1. She has been on faculty at the University of Washington in Seattle since 1979 and currently holds the Group Health Endowed Professorship in chronic illness.
Throughout her entire career, Brown has successfully combined research, teaching and clinical practice. She currently practices as a primary care nurse practitioner at the University of Washington Medical Center Women's Health Care Clinic. She is nationally certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Specialist.
Brown is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and has received numerous awards, including American Nurses Association Nurse Practitioner of the Year, Achievement in Research Award and the School of Nursing Excellence in Teaching Award. She was a pioneer nurse practitioner in Washington State when nurse practitioners were first authorized. She is a leader in the nurse practitioner movement on local, state and national levels.
Health Technology Assessment is an innovative program that determines if health services used by state government are safe and effective based on evidence-based research into safety, effectiveness, and cost.
The clinical committee makes coverage and reimbursement decisions about selected health technologies (medical equipments, devices, diagnostic tests) based on published evidence.
The primary goals are to make:
- Health care safer by relying on scientific evidence and a committee of practicing clinicians
- Coverage decisions of state agencies more consistent
- State-purchased health care more cost effective by paying for medical tools and procedures that are proven to work
- Coverage decision process more open and inclusive by sharing information, holding public meetings, and publishing decision criteria and outcomes
Porter said Brown brings additional experience, the unique clinical perspective of an advanced nurse practitioner, advanced education, and knowledge of using evidence in health care to the committee.
