Improving Value

Health Information Technology

Electronic health records (EHRs) have provided the health care field with a variety of tools that have a wide array of impacts on the provision of health services. However, when it comes to the effect that EHRs have on costs, evidence is mixed as to the effects that they have had and will continue to have. Despite this uncertainty it is clear that EHRs are necessary and will play an important role in the delivery of health care in the future.

EHRs are permanently engrained in the health care system. To harness the full potential of health information technology (HIT), it is critical to emphasize the need for data security and patient privacy concurrent with expanding interoperability across all provider and patient settings.