FAIRFAX, Va., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today announced that its managing director of healthcare informatics, Joe Nichols, M.D., has received a Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange's (WEDI) 2009 Award of Merit.

The award recognizes Dr. Nichols' meaningful contribution toward standardizing electronic communications across the healthcare industry and the success of WEDI and WEDI Strategic National Implementation Process (SNIP) programs. Dr. Nichols received the award at the WEDI Annual Fall Conference in Baltimore, Md., on Tuesday, November 17.

Dr. Nichols leverages his more than 35 years in the healthcare industry to serve as co-chair for the WEDI/SNIP International Classification of Disease (ICD-10) Crosswalks Sub Work Group. A top priority of WEDI, the ICD-10 is the 10th revision of the worldwide, standard codes used to define patient health, reimbursement, contracting and clinical information. The ICD-10 codes enable the healthcare industry to use data in more meaningful ways, to better understand healthcare delivery and to better track outcomes of care. In his current role, Dr. Nichols provides advisory support around healthcare data management issues and regulatory compliance to customers of General Dynamics Information Technology's ViPS health business sector.

"WEDI's acknowledgement of Dr. Nichols demonstrates the strength of our healthcare expertise," said Marcus Collier, senior vice president and general manager for General Dynamics Information Technology's Civilian and Homeland Security Solutions Division. "He is representative of a team of experts whose deep knowledge of health data management and clinical outcomes deliver advanced ICD-10 advisory support to our healthcare payer customers, both public and private."

WEDI is a public/private task force representing all major components of the healthcare system. It works to reduce administrative costs in the healthcare system, specifically by standardizing electronic communications across the industry.

As a trusted systems integrator for more than 50 years, General Dynamics Information Technology provides information technology (IT), systems engineering, professional services and simulation and training to customers in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, federal civilian government and commercial sectors. With approximately 16,000 professionals worldwide, the company manages large-scale, mission-critical IT programs delivering IT services and enterprise solutions. More information about General Dynamics Information Technology is available at www.gdit.com .

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,300 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.gd.com .

SOURCE General Dynamics Information Technology

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