Issue #4
Question: How will the Stimulus plan impact health information technology decisions now?
Answer: The Administration believes the federal money and standards setting provisions in the new law will be the force that breaks the barriers that have kept the electronic health record system adoption at relatively modest levels. Part of the law includes a total of $17.2 billion in Medicare reimbursement to doctors and hospitals that show ‘meaningful use’ of a ‘qualifying’ electronic health record (EHR) by 2014. While many groups are weighing in on these definitions, there is not yet a definition for meaningful use or parameters around what qualifies an EHR solution. Partners in the healthcare space are collaborating to define these terms and monitoring closely the requirements that will be set-forth in the HITECH Act.

Issue #3
Question: How can health information technology positively impact the quality of patient care?
Answer: Health information technology has been promoted as significantly improving the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, quality and safety of patient care. The primary goal of automating surrounds efforts to provide high quality care.

One of the substantial benefits of health information technology is the enhancement to clinical decision making. Technology promotes data exchange, integration and connectivity. Through forms automation and clinical data repository storage, patient data becomes readily accessible for pertinent health care providers to make timely, accurate clinical decision making.