A Message from Dr. David Blumenthal, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

July 13, 2010

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, provides for an unprecedented amount of funding to improve the quality and efficiency of our health care system through health information technology. The HITECH Act’s historic investment in HIT will advance health care in our country through adoption and use of EHRs and other tools of our digital age. As the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, it is my job to facilitate this effort and help health care providers, and the American people, realize the full value and benefits of electronic health records and digital technology.

The publication of the meaningful use final rule and the standards and certification criteria final rule marks the official launch of EHRS in this country. Health care providers now have the guidelines they need to not only implement electronic health records on a widespread basis, but also to use them in a way that improves care for their patients. Standards and certification criteria help ensure that Certified EHR Technology on the market can maintain data confidentiality, share information securely, and perform a well-defined set of functions to help physicians and hospitals realize the full potential of electronic health records and health information exchange.

For those just beginning the transition to electronic health records, the change can be challenging. Providers may not see themselves as technology experts and may be anxious about learning a new system. Patients may have never thought about how their information is stored, and about how the move to electronic data could improve their health care.

I’d like to share with you a few of the many benefits I believe electronic health records can offer providers and their patients:

Complete and accurate patient information
With electronic health records, providers have more accurate and complete information about their patients, enabling them to provide the best possible care. Providers will know more about their patients and their health history before they walk into the examination room.

Better access to health information
Electronic health records facilitate greater access to health information. Providers can diagnose health problems earlier and improve the health outcomes of their patients. Electronic health records also allow information to be shared securely and more easily among doctors’ offices, hospitals, and across health systems, making for better coordination of care.

Patient empowerment
Electronic health records will help empower patients to take a more active role in their health and in the health of their families. Patients can receive electronic copies of their medical records and share their health information securely over the Internet with their families.

On a broader scale, electronic health information exchange will improve tracking of public health trends such as flu epidemics, health disparities, and gaps in health care. These data that are captured, analyzed, and shared will help us understand which interventions lead to better health outcomes and which areas need significant improvement.

Nearly 200,000 providers have already adopted EHRs and are using them at various levels of technological sophistication and ability. With the support of the President, I have pledged to help the rest of America’s clinicians and hospitals join their ranks. I am confident that the majority of adopters will agree that electronic health records have increased efficiencies and improved care.

I encourage health care providers to become a part of the future by becoming a meaningful user of certified electronic health records.

Sincerely,

David Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P.
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) encourages you to share this information as we work together to enhance the quality, safety and value of care and the health of all Americans through the use of electronic health records and health information technology.

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