title: Promoting health information technology: is there a case for more-aggressive government action?
abstract: Health information technology (HIT) could save $81-$162 billion or more annually while greatly reducing morbidity and mortality. However, gaining these benefits requires broad adoption, effective implementation, and associated changes in health care processes and structures. The policy options that could speed the adoption of HIT and the realization of these benefits include incentives to promote standard-based electronic medical record (EMR) system adoption; subsidies to develop information-exchange networks; and programs to measure, report, and reward performance. Investments in these and other identified policy options should pay for themselves while also laying the foundation for needed transformation of the U.S. health care system.
authors.affiliation: RAND, Santa Monica, California, USA.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bower
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Girosi
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bigelow
authors.forename: Kateryna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fonkych
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hillestad
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D035082:Federal Government; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011050:Policy Making; D014481:United States