title: The value from investments in health information technology at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
abstract: We compare health information technology (IT) in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to norms in the private sector, and we estimate the costs and benefits of selected VA health IT systems. The VA spent proportionately more on IT than the private health care sector spent, but it achieved higher levels of IT adoption and quality of care. The potential value of the VA's health IT investments is estimated at $3.09 billion in cumulative benefits net of investment costs. This study serves as a framework to inform efforts to measure and calculate the benefits of federal health IT stimulus programs.
authors.affiliation: Center for IT Leadership, Partners Healthcare, in Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA. cbyrne1@partners.org
authors.forename: Colene M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.forename: Lauren M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Mercincavage
authors.forename: Eric C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Adam G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Douglas S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Blackford
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Middleton
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D007449:Investments; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000191:economics*; D017149:Private Sector; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs