Social Media Portal interview with Lisa Pierce Reisz co-editor of HealthHITech Law blog

Profiled - Lisa Pierce Reisz co-author of the HealthHITech Law blog

Social Media Portal (SMP): What do you do there at the HealthHITech Law blog?

Lisa Pierce Reisz (LPR): I'm partner in the health care and litigation groups, blog editor

SMP: Briefly, tell us about Vorys, what is it and what does the organisation do?

LPR: Vorys was established in 1909 and has grown to be one of the largest Ohio-based law firms with nearly 375 attorneys in six offices in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Akron in Ohio, Washington, D.C., and Houston, Texas. Vorys currently ranks as one of the 200 largest law firms in the United States according to American Lawyer magazine.

SMP: Who are your target audience and why?

LPR: We hope the blog provides timely and valuable information to health care executives, other attorneys and the countless others who are affected by the constantly changing environment of health information technology.

SMP: You?ve recently launched a new blog called HealthHITech Law, when did it launch and why have you decided to create it?

LPR: The blog launched on Thursday, June 14, 2012.  We?ve created the blog to provide interesting and pertinent analysis on a variety of issues involving health information technology, specifically developments in HIT privacy and security including HIPAA/HITECH, HER use and implementation challenges, review of new HIT tools, and status of health information exchanges.  

SMP: How will you initially attract users to the HealthHITechech Law blog? and how will you do it in the future?

LPR: Initially, we started by promoting the blog to the firm?s health care and health care services clients, since they will be most interested in the content.  In the future, we?re hoping that through the use of SEO and other social media tools, such as Twitter the blog will build readership and attract subscribers.    

SMP: What are the low moments of what you have been doing so far (in terms of creating the new blog)?

LPR: I didn?t realize how much time is involved in getting a blog up and running.  We?ve had the idea for several months but had to develop the blog, the design, and plan our content/topics before we could announce it and go live.

SMP: What are the high moments of what you have been doing so far (in terms of crating the new blog)?

LPR: It has been both professionally and personally rewarding to hear from readers who are grappling with the same health information technology issues that Liam and I are dealing with in our daily practice.  I love being able to share pertinent information in the area as well as be a part of the dialogue.

SMP: What do you see as your biggest challenges and opportunities in regards to the blog?

LPR: While the content will be very timely and interesting, we?re not blogging about pop culture.  There is a much smaller group of professionals that are truly interested in following health information technology trends and we need to make sure those individuals find our blog topics helpful.   We also need to make sure that they find our blog.

SMP: What are the next moves for HealthHITech Law blog in terms of social media, how will you use it?

LPR: Right now our plan is to continue to post frequently about health information technology topics.  

SMP: What?s the next big step for social media and networks and what impact are they having upon the areas of HIPAA and HITECH?

LPR: HIPAA/HITECH places significant limitations upon provider?s use of social media.  Although more and more individuals use social media as a primary means of communication, providers must be aware that HIPAA?s privacy and security provisions limits the dissemination of PHI on social media.

SMP: What was the most challenging part of building the blog?

LPR: The development of  interesting and timely content is challenging.

SMP: What?s going to be the most interesting aspect regarding social media / technology throughout 2012 and into 2013 for Vorys and the blog you curate / write?  

LPR: HIT issues will continue to dominate the health care landscape in 2012 and 2013.  Meaningful use incentives will continue to drive providers? transition from paper to paperless records, and HIPAA/HITECH compliance will continue to grow up with this transition.  Also, providers will continue to grapple with HIPAA security issues involved in securing PHI in the increasing use of portable technologies.

SMP: Best way to contact you and HealthHITech Law blog?

LPR: Our contact information is available at: http://www.healthitechlaw.com/contact/

SMP: This is Vorys fifth blog, can you tell us what the others are called?

LPR  replies with:

Vorys on Labor: http://www.vorysonlabor.com/
Mass Torts State of the Art: http://www.masstortsstateoftheart.com/
Vorys Energy and Environmental Law Blog: http://www.vorysenergy.com/
Vorys Health Care Advisors? Blog: http://www.voryshcadvisors.com/

SMP: Anything else you?d like to add?

LPR: I am very excited to be involved with the launch of Vorys? 5th blog.




SMP: What did you have for breakfast / lunch?

LPR: Salad

SMP: What?s the last good thing that you did for someone?  

LPR: We brought dinner over to our neighbours whose new baby just arrived.

SMP: How many hours to you work a week?

LPR: 50 hours.

SMP: If you weren?t managing and writing for the HealthHITech Law blog what would you be doing?  

LPR: Attending my daughter?s soccer game.

SMP: When and where did you go on your last holiday?

LPR: Disney World.

SMP: What?s the first thing you do when you get into the office of a morning?

LPR: Review Google Reader.

SMP: If you had a superpower what would it be and why?  

LPR: The ability to fly which would enable me to avoid all traffic and arrive at all meetings on time.

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