Health Information Technology

Implementation of health information technology (HIT) has been touted as an opportunity for cost savings (estimated at greater than $77 billion in annual efficiency savings¹, reduction of adverse health care events, and quality improvement; however, only 1.5 percent of hospitals use comprehensive electronic health record (EHR) systems²; less than 5 percent of smaller physician practices have fully adopted EHRs; and less than 15 percent of large group practices have adopted EHRs 3. Major barriers to adoption include cost and interoperability³. HIT includes electronic health records, electronic medical records (EMR), computerized provider order entry (CPOE), and e-prescribing.

Footnotes:
¹ Rand Health, Can HIT lower costs and improve quality?, http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9136/index1.html
² New England Journal of Medicine, Use of Electronic Health Records in U.S. Hospitals, http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/NEJMsa0900592?resourcetype=HWCIT
³ Alliance of Chicago Community Health Services, LLC, Physician Adoption of HIT, http://www.ahrq.gov/about/annualmtg07/0926slides/rachman/Rachman-1.html

Resources

HIT Overview (ama-assn.org)

Official Web Site for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs (cms.gov)

Explanation of ARRA HIT Provisions (ama-assn.org PDF)

Concise Guide to CCHIT Certification Criteria (CCHIT.org PDF)

15 Questions to Ask Before Signing an EMR Agreement (ama-assn.org PDF)

Recommendations for defining and demonstrating meaningful use of certified electonic health records (PDF)

The RFP Process for EHR Systems (ahima.org)
June 2007

Meaningful and Transitional Relationships Presentation (PDF)
David R. Hunt, MD, FACS
CMO and Acting Director, OHITA
June 2009