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10ULRICH MEDICAL CONCEPTSHHS Secretary Says Health Information Technology Should Be Urgent PriorityHHS Secretary says health informationtechnology should be urgent priorityHealth & Human Services Secretary MikeLeavitt recently issued a report citinginvestment in information technology (IT) as anessential, high priority for the American healthcare system and the U.S. economy.“Information technology is a pivotal part oftransforming our health care system,” SecretaryLeavitt said. “We are at a critical juncture.Working in close collaboration, the federalgovernment and private sector can drivechanges that will lead to fewer medical errors,lower costs, less hassle and better care.”The report, “Health Information TechnologyLeadership Panel: Final Report,” was releasedat the Business Rountable’s Chief ExecutiveOfficer (CEO) Health Care Summit whereSecretary Leavitt and Treasury Secretary JohnSnow discussed the burden of rising health carecosts on the U.S.economy and globalcompetitiveness and therole of health IT inmanaging these costs.The meeting was chairedby Michael B.McCallister, CEO ofHumana, Chairman ofthe Roundtable’s Healthand Retirement Task Force, and leader of theRoundtable’s efforts to improve the health caresystem.In April 2004, President Bush called forpersonal electronic health records for mostAmericans within 10 years and nationwideadoption of health IT. Answering this call, HHSissued the Framework for Strategic Action inJuly 2004. The Lewin Group, a health carepolicy consulting firm, which was the HHScontractor, convened the Health InformationTechnology Leadership Panel. The report wasprepared by the Lewin Group.In the report, the Leadership Panel stated thewidespread adoption of interoperable health ITshould be a top priority for the U.S. health caresystem. The investment in health IT is urgentand vital to rising health care demands, businessinterests and the broader US economy. Despitethe initial costs, health IT will become anessential means — among others — formanaging health care costs. The panel assertedthe potential benefits of health IT far outweighmanageable costs.“The Leadership Panel asked the Federalgovernment to approach health care in a newway — as a catalyst for change and as acollaborator,” said National Coordinator forHealth Information Technology, David J.Brailer, M.D., Ph.D. “The panelists’Toll Free 866-885-1150recommendations verify the need for sharedpublic and private investment and ongoingcollaboration to achieve the President’s visionfor widespread health information technologyadoption.”Panelists specifically suggested several actionsthe government could take to help lead theadoption of health IT. Specific recommendationsincluded: making changes to policies andprograms that would take the form of incentivesand rewards for health IT adoption in the privateindustry; continue to strengthen efforts tocoordinate the adoption and use of interoperablehealth IT across the federal enterprise; takesavings from streamlining investments andreinvest them back into additional health ITimplementation; continue to promote theadoption of harmonized standards; and, finally,continue funding demonstrations andevaluations of interoperable health IT.A copy of the “Health Information TechnologyLeadership Panel: Final Report” is available athttp://www.hhs.gov/healthit/HITFinalReport.pdf.According to the Office of the NationalCoordinator for Health Information Technology,We Need to Bring Every Doctor, OutpatientOffice, Hospital and Nursing Home intoInformation AgeContinued On Next Page