Vermont Academy of Family Physicians

John K. Evans, MHA, FACHE, has been appointed the president and chief executive officer of Vermont Information Technology Leaders, Inc. VITL is a non-profit organization that operates the statewide health information exchange, a secure network that enables health care organizations to exchange clinical and administrative health data needed at the point of care, for clinical decision support and to manage population health. VITL also assists Vermont health care providers with the selection and implementation of electronic health records systems and other health information technology.
Evans has extensive experience in developing and implementing health information exchanges around the country, having worked as a consultant to the industry since 2006. As president of Strategic Alliance Advisors, Inc., d/b/a s2a, Evans provided leadership for statewide HIE initiatives in Arkansas, Kansas, Michigan, and New Hampshire, as well as regional HIE projects in New York and northern Michigan. His firm’s work included assisting both rural and urban HIEs with project management, technical architecture development, vendor selection, sustainability planning, and developing security and privacy policies.
Before starting his consulting firm, Evans was deeply involved in Vermont’s efforts to develop a statewide health information exchange, as senior vice president and chief technology officer at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington. He also served as the first chair of VITL’s board of directors, when the public-private partnership became an independent non-profit in 2005.
“John Evans brings to VITL a deep knowledge of the best strategies and practices for operating a health information exchange, having been successful with this type of business in many places around the country,” said Don George, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont and the current chair of VITL’s board. “He also is a Vermonter and has a detailed understanding of our state’s health care system, which will be very important as VITL continues to play a critical role in enabling Vermont’s health care reform efforts.”
Prior to Fletcher Allen Health Care, Evans served as chief operating officer at hospitals and health systems in Connecticut, where he led several successful turnaround efforts, often leveraging the use of information technology and clinical technology to improve clinical and financial performance. Evans also served as vice president for Strategic Solutions, a division of Siemens Healthcare in Malvern, Pa., a global leader in health care technology, as well as president and CEO of NovaMed, a technology and diversified health services company, located in Bridgeport, Conn.
Evans earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont, and his master’s degree in health administration from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, a member of UVM’s Vermont Regional Board, and is a retired Army officer. He and his wife Ellen reside in Charlotte, Vt.