Health Information Technology

Background

Computerized systems to store medical records, transmit prescriptions, provide clinical decision support, streamline insurance and provider information, and publish cost and quality data— dubbed health information technology ("HIT")— have not yet been adopted across the U.S.

The employer community supports HIT adoption because it would improve the quality of care employees receive, lower costs, reduce medical errors, improve smart shopping, and help patients and doctors to make better medical decisions.

HIT adoption faces hurdles; in part due to a lack of normal, uniform standards that would allow systems to talk to each other; in part due to the costs of implementing systems and training personnel; and in part due to a lack of awareness on the part of providers, hospitals, patients, employers, and policymakers.

The U.S. Chamber is committed to promoting the adoption and use of HIT by educating stakeholders, advancing policy and legislation favorable to HIT, and working with the public and private sector to implement uniform standards.

U.S. Chamber Position

• Pass legislation that provides standards for secure, uniform, and interoperable HIT
• Electronic mefical records and prescription systems, which leads to standardization so that these systems will be compatible throughout the country
• HIT is a necessary component of a transparent cost and quality information system so consumers have full access to information
• E-Prescribing would help reduce the 1.5 million Americans that are sickened, injured or killed each year by errors in prescribing, dispensing and taking medications. The National Academies reported last year that the extra expense of treating drug-related injuries occurring in hospitals alone is estimated conservatively to be $3.5 billion a year

Chamber Hosts HIT Event

On September 29, 2009, the U.S. Chamber, in partnership with the National Chamber Foundation and Computer Sciences Corporation hosted hosted Health IT: Improving the Health System with Information Technology. The event focused how investing in the health system of tomorrow can improve care, expand coverage, and streamline delivery while protecting the privacy and security of patient information. For more information, click here.