Technology And The Successful And Sustainable Sharing Of Health Information

By Gary Palgon, Vice President of Health Systems, Liaison Healthcare Informatics, Alpharetta GA

As we approach National Healthcare IT Week in the U.S., The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) have attempted to move the nation toward impactful healthcare reform. In my opinion, true reform is impossible without system-wide adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) and nationwide health information exchange.

Healthcare providers today have the same goals as they always have—to deliver high-quality care that produces the best patient outcomes. Until recently, medical practices and hospitals were designed to offer patients the best staff, technology and clinical care as defined by providers. The Affordable Care Act, however, is already changing the way care is given and reimbursement is determined, which can either be a good thing, or bad thing depending upon how it is administered.  And that’s where Meaningful Use comes into play in a big way. Meaningful Use requires system efficiencies that reduce costs while optimizing clinical outcomes.

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