Health information technology (IT) makes it possible for health care providers to better manage patient care through secure use and sharing of health information. Health IT includes the use of electronic health records (EHRs) instead of paper medical records to maintain people’s health information. More and more, health care providers are using health IT to improve patient care.
But health IT isn’t just for health care providers. Patients can use it to better communicate with their doctors, learn and share information about their health, and take actions that will improve their quality of life. And as the scope of health IT grows, government — the world’s largest IT customer — is driving the adoption of IT in health care.
You may be wondering: What exactly does the government have to do with any health technology that may affect me? Well, clearly the government does not dictate what system doctors or hospitals should use or what types of health IT to invest in. But as HealthIT.gov states: “The government is involved because health IT supports cost-effective ways to improve the quality of care.
This GovLoop guide will take a look at the current state of government health IT, innovations and how government is driving the adoption of IT in health care.
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