,Health Information Technology--Electronic Records: A Primer

Health Information Technology--Electronic Records: A Primer


 

Publication Date: September 2008

Publisher: California State Library. California Research Bureau

Author(s): Lucien Wulsin; Adam Dougherty

Research Area: Health; Media, telecommunications, and information

Keywords: Medical Infomatics; Medical Records

Type: Report

Coverage: California

Abstract:

Achieving universal health care coverage will require significant changes in the health care system. There is an expectation that widespread adoption of Health Information Technology-Electronic Medical Records will play an important role in transforming the delivery of health care by improving the quality of care and reducing costs. However physicians lack an incentive to invest since the benefits accrue largely to insurance companies and health care plans.

The role of federal and state governments in establishing standards and providing financial resources for expansion of health information technology is another issue of importance. This background paper reviews and summarizes many of the issues that providers, payers and government will have to address in incorporating health information technology into the health care delivery system.