Information Technology Coming To Health Care Industry

Dec 16, 2008 3:21 PM

The resolution of privacy and security concerns might prompt more physicians nationwide to adopt electronic medical records, electronic prescribing and other forms of health care information technology, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said in an address to the Nationwide Health Information Network Forum, CQ HealthBeat reports.

In response to concerns about health care IT, Leavitt recommended that patients have access to their medical records to allow them to correct any errors. He also cited the need to limit the collection, use and disclosure of patient medical records and allow patients to determine who can view the information. Leavitt said that patient medical records should remain stored in a secure database that has "reasonable" safeguards.

"Finding the balance between increased access to information and privacy is very important," Leavitt said. "Consumers shouldn't be in a position to have to accept privacy risks they don't want," he said, adding, "Each consumer should be able to choose products and services that best fit their health needs and privacy preferences."

Leavitt also said that the adoption of health care IT will depend on acceptance by physicians and other stakeholders. He said, "It's not the technology that's going to limit us. It's the sociology."

The Denver Rocky Mountain News recently examined how health care IT has become "one of the hottest discussion points in the debate over how to improve" the U.S. and Colorado health care systems. "Medical organizations have been studying it, private groups have been experimenting with it and experts say it could help to save some $400 billion -- and 98,000 lives -- a year in the U.S," according to the Rocky Mountain News.

Former Senate Majority Leader and HHS Secretary-designate Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) at a recent event in Denver said, "If we don't have health IT, we will not have reform."

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