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Promotion of Health Information Technology

During the technology explosion of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the ability to use technology to store and manage information became more important to the health care industry than ever. Modern software and technologies streamlined patient care and record keeping while opening new frontiers in research and analysis. In the late 20th century, government agencies and industry experts began to advocate for increasing the use of technology in the field of health care to increase efficiency and save lives.

  1. Industry Opinion

    • Many physicians and researchers contend that the promotion of health information technology could save the industry billions of dollars. A 2005 article in the health policy journal "Health Affairs" estimated that the health industry could save as much as $162 billion annually by adopting emerging health information technologies.

    Government Promotion Efforts

    • In a 2007 "American Medical News" report, Rhode Island senator Sheldon Whitehouse said the lack of widespread adaptation of electronic medical records in the United States was a "giant market failure." According to the same journal, many legislators were introducing bills to promote the adaptation of health information technology in the 21st century.

    Future of Health Information Technology

    • Information technology promises to be an integral part of the health care field for the foreseeable future. A 2010 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, cited health information technology as one of the 20 fastest-growing employment sectors in the country.

      More needs to be done to promote health information technology to reap its full benefits. According to "Health Affairs," what is required is broad adoption of technology along with its effective implementation. For example, hospitals and other care-providing facilities could be given incentives to use electronic medical record systems and to develop electronic networks to exchange information. Such measures would pay for themselves and help to transform the American health-care system, according to "Health Affairs."

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