NHC UPDATE
Electronic Health Records -June 2009
As the largest segment of consumers of health care, patients with chronic diseases and disabilities are logically the most likely candidates to benefit from electronic health records (EHRs). Almost half of those with chronic conditions have multiple medical co-morbidities which means the use of EHRs becomes even more important and timely. As Capitol Hill faces the twin challenges of health care reform and the economic crisis, implementing key provisions in the stimulus bill regarding EHRs becomes all the more pressing and significant.
The National Health Council and eHealth Initiative are planning to collaborate on a project to explore care coordination model programs powered by health information technology and the use of comprehensive patient assessment tools. The project will evaluate a discrete number of these models to ensure that the EHR systems address the patients’ interests and desires.
Considerable research is being focused on how best to configure the system for the provider, but the interest of the patient must not be lost and must be a driving force. The NHC and eHealth Initiative plan to evaluate the most favorable approach to capturing the patient voice in the development and use of electronic health records.
