This is critical as it enhances the safety and security of the citizens as they pursue low-cost health care services and products within the context of the United States. The federal and state governments have also been influential in the development and implementation of policies towards addressing security and privacy issues in relation to the utilization of the e-health program (Frimpong et al., 2013). Finally, the federal and state governments have also contributed towards the implementation of the e-health program through interjection of valuable policies in the development of workforce and agency capacity. This is through integration of training and development programs for the healthcare industry with the aim of maximizing the output of the health care service providers.

Policy

There are various policies and legislations that have contributed to the success and operation of the health information technology. One of the essential policies in relation to the concept is the HIPPA Law by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This policy focuses on the provision of electronic health information systems and transactions with the aim of enhancing the operation of the health information technology in the context of the United States. Another critical legislation is the Medical Error Reduction Act 2000 by the Congress. The main objective of this act is to establish reporting systems with the aim of reducing medical errors and improvement of the health care quality within the context of the United States. The United States Congress also implemented another policy in the form of the Patient Safety Act of 2005. This act is vital in the provision of key concepts of the Medicare program with the ability to enhance the availability of the data and information relating to patients and nurse works. In 2009, the United States Congress implemented the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 essentially for the promotion and provision of financial resources for the health information technology.

This act is also vital towards the achievement of meaningful application of electronic health records thus the inclusion of the HITECH Act for effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery. In 2010, the United States came to the limelight through implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). This Act signed by the United States President Obama focuses on the need to promote new electronic systems with the aim of addressing the needs and preferences of the private and public insurance plans. These policies focus on addressing the key issues of health information technology such as privacy and security issues involving sharing of information between patients and health service providers over an electronic medium.

Recommendations

In order to maximize the implementation of the health information technology in the United States, the following recommendations will be essential and crucial

1. Collaboration in relation to the development of key attributes and requirements in association with the aggregation and analysis of non-identified patient...

This collaboration will involve developers, implementers, users, health it experts, and consumers of the product.
2. Developers, implementers, consumers, and PSOs that report patient safety events should focus on the utilization of standardized formats for the maximization of health information technology.

3. The increase in the implementation of the EHRs among the clinicians in the ambulatory settings and given the critical importance of the patients' reports should continue to accelerate the efforts in the development of collective formats for ambulatory care

4. There should be need to explore aggregating patient safety events in relation to the health information technology with the aim of facilitating aggregation and analysis of the data of the patient safety as well as learning on the utilization of the programs

5. There is a need to integrate technologies such as bar code medication administration and tele-health applications with the aim of improving the safety and security of the patients as well as enhancing geographical coverage of the patients in all settings.

Conclusion

Health Information Technology plays a critical role in the improvement of quality, safety, and effectiveness of health care as well as a reduction in the cost of healthcare services and products (Rajagopal, 2013). Continuous application of the health information technology with the aim of making the health care safer and assuring for the patients is essential towards realization of the goals and objectives of the United States' health sector. There are the issues affecting operations of the health information technology such as privacy, security, overdependence, insufficient workforce, and inability of the service providers to maximize the output of the technology. The federal and state governments should focus on the implementation of various policies with the aim of reducing the issues affecting health information technology. There is also need to implement the above recommendations for the achievement of the goals and objectives of the health sector in the United States.

References

Christensen, M.C., & Remler, D. (2009). Information and Communications Technology in U.S. Health Care: Why Is Adoption So Slow and Is Slower Better? Journal of Health

Politics, Policy & Law, 34(6), 1011-1034. Doi: 10.1215/03616878-2009-034

Cline, G.B., & Luiz, J.M. (2013). Information technology systems in public sector health facilities in developing countries: the case of South Africa. BMC Medical Informatics & Decision Making, 13(1), 1-12. doi:10.1186/1472-6947-13-13

Escobedo, M., Kirtane, J., & Berman, a. (2012). Health Information Technology: A Path to Improved Care Transitions and Proactive Patient Care. Generations, 36(4), 56-62.

Frimpong, J.A., Jackson, B.E., Stewart, L.M., Singh, K.P., Rivers, P.A., & Bae, S. (2013).

Health information technology capacity at federally qualified health centers: a mechanism for improving quality of care. BMC Health Services Research, 13(1), 1-

12. doi:10.1186/1472-6963-13-35

Health Care Technology Today. (2013). PT in Motion, 5(1), 37-42.

Lucas Jr., H.C., Agarwal, R., Clemons, E.K., El Sawy, O.A., & Weber, B. (2013).

Impactful Research on Transformational Information Technology: An Opportunity to Inform New Audiences. MIS Quarterly, 37(2), 371-382.

Rajagopal, N.N. (2013). Impact of Information Technology on Service Quality of Health

Care Services. Vilakshan: The XIMB Journal of Management, 10(1), 79-96.

Rajagopal, N.N. (2013). Impact of Information Technology on Service Quality of Health

Care Services. Vilakshan: The XIMB Journal of Management, 10(1), 79-96.

Zhang, N., Seblega, B., Wan, T., Unruh, L., Agiro, a., & Miao, L. (2013). Health

Information Technology Adoption in U.S. Acute Care Hospitals. Journal of Medical

Systems, 37(2), 1-9. Doi: 10.1007/s10916-012-9907-2

Zhivan, N., & Diana, M. (2012). U.S. hospital efficiency and adoption of health information technology. Health Care Management Science, 15(1), 37-47. doi:10.1007/s10729-