Leavitt: U.S. Needs Uniform Health IT System

Washington

HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt said adopting a standardized information technology health system is key to improving care and lowering costs.

“Information technology is a pivotal part of transforming our health care system,” he said following the release of the Health Information Technology Leadership Panel’s final report in May. “We are at a critical juncture. Working in close collaboration, the federal government and private sector can drive changes that will lead to fewer medical errors, lower costs, less hassle and better care.”

If the federal government does not step in soon, Leavitt said the country could end up with a number of incompatible technology systems as more hospitals, physicians and others use IT in health care. “It’s a massive number of systems that can’t interact with each other,” Leavitt said at the American Hospital Association annual membership meeting, Washington Technology reported.

Both federal and state governments — which have different requirements on privacy and security — will need to work together with private industry to develop standards that everyone can agree upon and follow, he said.

Last year, President Bush called for electronic health records for most Americans within 10 years and the increased adoption of health IT.