This paper examines health information technology (health IT) within the United States health care system, analyzing how electronic tools and systems are being used to improve care quality, reduce costs, and enhance patient safety. The paper outlines the major problems hindering health IT adoption — including privacy concerns, workforce gaps, and data security issues — and traces the historical development of electronic records from the 1960s to the HITECH Act of 2009. It also compares the U.S. experience with international counterparts, identifies key stakeholders, reviews relevant legislation such as HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act, and offers concrete recommendations for maximizing the effectiveness of health IT programs.
The paper effectively uses a problem-solution structure reinforced by historical and comparative evidence. By establishing the scope of the problem first, then tracing its origins, comparing it internationally, and analyzing policy responses, the author builds a case that both diagnoses and prescribes — a technique well suited to health policy writing.
The paper opens with an introduction that frames health IT within national reform goals, followed by a problem statement section identifying specific barriers. A history section traces development from the 1960s through 2009. An international section benchmarks the U.S. against peer nations. A combined stakeholders and policy section discusses the legislative environment. The paper closes with numbered recommendations and a brief conclusion that synthesizes key takeaways.
An increase in the concentration of health care costs and quality assurance within the context of health reform continues to shift the attention of federal and state governments toward the potential of health information technology. This development seeks to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of health care programs while also reducing health care costs (Lucas Jr. et al., 2013). Federal and state governments likewise focus on improving the quality and safety of medical service delivery.
This paper examines the concept of health information technology by evaluating the major issues and problems related to the field within the health care sector. It also offers a brief history of these problems and compares the U.S. situation to that of other countries. Additionally, the paper examines the role of major stakeholders as they pursue the reduction of health care costs, evaluates the policies currently in place toward achieving the goals of health information technology, and provides critical recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the concept.
Health care information technology — commonly referred to as health IT — involves the use of electronic environments for the purpose of exchanging health information. It is one of the tools implemented by federal and state governments with the aim of increasing the efficiency of health care programs while lowering the cost of health care services and products to better meet patient needs. Computerization of the health care sector is one of the major objectives of the current United States government as it seeks to reduce health care costs and make services affordable to all citizens (Cline & Luiz, 2013). Effective and efficient implementation of health information technology is one of the primary ways through which governors and relevant state agencies can transform care coordination, improve patient safety, reduce redundant testing, and contribute to better population health outcomes.
There are various issues related to health information technology that hinder its utilization toward achieving reduced health care costs. These issues contribute to market failures following the implementation of health IT. The first issue relates to restrictions imposed by the federal government on health IT transactions. For instance, the implementation of federal anti-kickback regulations — designed to minimize fraud and abuse within the health care system — prevents subsidization of health IT acquisition by low-income physicians. Another critical issue concerns the privacy and security of patient information (Rajagopal, 2013). Health IT focuses on transacting and sharing information between patients and health care service providers through computerized platforms. However, this process can compromise the autonomy and privacy of patients by sharing their information across common digital platforms, potentially exposing it to malicious actors and undermining patient security.
Other significant issues include:
The United States sought to address key problems associated with paper-based records used between the 1960s and 1990s, including incomplete, illegible, and inaccessible information. In the 1960s, the federal government utilized the Computer Stored Ambulatory Record (COSTAR) at a site in Massachusetts. Through this initiative, a computer language was developed to provide clinicians with information accessibility, address financial and administrative needs, and respond to user inquiries. COSTAR had five critical features: a data dictionary, a queryable database, integrated administrative and financial and clinical data, user configuration capability, and a structured encounter form for data capture. COSTAR subsequently expanded to other sites and remains relevant in a modern context (Christensen & Remler, 2009).
The Medical Record system (TMR) was developed at Duke University in the 1970s, having originally been created as an obstetric history-taking program. It later expanded to other departments and functions. TMR features five core attributes: modular design, problem-oriented structure, multiple input modes, user configuration, and data definition dictionaries. The Regenstrief Medical Record System (RMRS) was also developed during the 1970s at the Regenstrief Medical Institute. It was expanded to outpatient and inpatient units with the aim of capturing data and providing automated reminders to support clinical decision-making. Since its introduction in 1974, the system has been instrumental in reducing health care costs while improving outcomes. It integrates administrative and financial functions and remains applicable in modern settings.
Another critical development in health information technology is the creation of Personal Health Records (PHRs), which allow individuals to collect, manage, view, and share health information electronically. Currently, the U.S. health sector offers more than 200 PHR products aimed at reducing the cost of health care services. The United States has also made significant advances in implementing Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). Unlike PHRs, which are owned and used by patients, EMRs store health information at the hospital or delivery organization level. Electronic Health Records (EHRs), which have a similar structure to EMRs, add the capability to share information and data across multiple providers and institutions, and are more focused on the patient than traditional EMRs (Christensen & Remler, 2009). The HITECH Act, implemented in 2009, focuses on achieving increased transparency, improved health outcomes, enhanced care delivery, and a stronger capacity to study health care.
Health information technology plays a critical role in improving the quality, safety, and effectiveness of health care, as well as in reducing the cost of health care services and products (Rajagopal, 2013). Continuous application of health IT with the aim of making health care safer and more reliable for patients is essential to realizing the goals and objectives of the United States health sector. Key issues affecting health IT operations include privacy and security concerns, overdependence on technology, an insufficient workforce, and the inability of service providers to fully maximize the output of available technology. Federal and state governments should prioritize the implementation of policies aimed at addressing these issues. The recommendations outlined in this paper provide a concrete path toward achieving the goals and objectives of the U.S. health sector through stronger and more effective health information technology.
You’re 45% through this paper. Sign up to read the remaining 3 sections.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.