The ambitious goal of setting up a nationwide, interconnected, private and secure electronic health records system isn't yet a reality -- but we're getting closer.
If you live in Texas, your medical records are definitely up for sale by the state. If you live anywhere else in the United States, they probably are for sale there, too.
When Dr. Bradley Block, a family physician in Florida, began to investigate electronic medical record systems for his four-doctor practice, he discovered that many of the largest firms in the field were not particularly interested in his business.
The health care industry is poised to realize huge savings by implementing electronic health records systems, but who really benefits is up for debate.
Creating an electronic health record for every American by 2014 is a big part of Obama's agenda but it may be easier said than done.
Big businesses are battling to take home chunks of the government's billion-dollar stimulus pie and AT&T is among the leaders on the telecom front.
Getting an electronic health record system in place by 2014? Tough.
General Electric is marshalling its considerable resources as it tries to win lucrative contracts to digitize medical records.
Microsoft and Google, the Hatfields and McCoys of the high-tech industry, have carried their scrap into the race to digitize health care.
Everyone seems to think electronic health records are a great idea: going digital cuts down on paper storage, makes it easier to transfer patient information from one provider to another, and ultimately will enable the medical industry to create immense clinical databases. Electronic health records are a key component of the Obama Administration's stimulus plan, and dozens of corporations claim they are lined up to create more jobs when the government releases funds for digitizing medical files and other improvements to healthcare information technology.
First, there were actual human bank tellers and the agonizing ritual of standing in line to withdraw enough money for a burger and a movie. Then came ATM's, and they were good.
When Glen Tullman, the CEO of a health-care IT business called Allscripts, was watching the second presidential debate three months ago, something unexpected happened at the 50-minute mark. Both John McCain and Barack Obama told the audience that they wanted to digitize America's healthcare system. The first step: creating electronic medical records.
President-elect Barack Obama, as part of the effort to revive the economy, has proposed a massive effort to modernize health care by making all health records standardized and electronic.
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