Health Information Technology For Economic And Clinical Health Act

What does Health Information Technology For Economic And Clinical Health Act mean?

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act is a comprehensive federal law enacted in 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It aims to promote the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology (HIT) in the United States healthcare system.

HITECH provides incentives for healthcare providers to adopt Certified electronic health records (EHRs) and engage in electronic health information exchange. It also includes a wide range of provisions aimed at strengthening the privacy and security of health information, improving the quality of care provided to patients, and reducing healthcare costs.

The HITECH Act is a critical Component of the federal government’s efforts to modernize the healthcare system and improve the delivery of care. It has been instrumental in driving the widespread adoption of EHRs and has helped to establish a national Framework for health information exchange.

Applications

The HITECH Act has a wide range of applications in the healthcare industry, including:

• Improving the quality of care: HITECH-certified EHRs provide clinicians with access to a patient’s complete medical history, which can help them to make more informed decisions about their care. EHRs also support clinical decision support tools that can help clinicians to identify and address potential problems.
• Reducing healthcare costs: HITECH has helped to reduce healthcare costs by enabling providers to Share patient information more efficiently. This can reduce the need for duplicate tests and procedures, and can help to prevent medical errors.
• Improving patient safety: HITECH-certified EHRs include features that can help to prevent medication errors and other safety hazards. For example, EHRs can alert clinicians to potential drug interactions and can help them to track patients’ allergies.
• Increasing patient engagement: HITECH-certified EHRs provide patients with access to their own health information, which can help them to take a more active role in their care. Patients can use EHRs to view their test results, medications, and appointments, and to communicate with their providers.

History

The HITECH Act was developed in response to the growing need for health information technology in the United States healthcare system. The law was based on the recommendations of the Health Information Technology Policy Committee, which was created by President George W. Bush in 2004.

The HITECH Act was introduced in Congress in 2007 and was passed with bipartisan support in 2009. The law has been implemented in stages, with the final stage of implementation scheduled for 2021.

The HITECH Act has been a major success in terms of its impact on the healthcare industry. The law has helped to drive the widespread adoption of EHRs and has established a national framework for health information exchange. HITECH has also played a key role in improving the quality of care, reducing healthcare costs, and improving patient safety.