Government Wants to Bring Health Records Into Computer Age

Here’s something that makes sense.

The administration’s strategy, presented in a report to be published today, regards the government’s role as one of mainly setting goals and working with the private sector to establish product and technology standards so the computer systems of doctors, hospitals, laboratories, pharmacists and insurers can efficiently communicate and share information.

The government, according to the report, will also use its formidable buying power as the largest purchaser of health care – through federal Medicare and Medicaid programs – to accelerate the transition to electronic patient records, reversing what the report terms “a previous lack of cohesive federal policies supporting” health information technology.

“There is an absolutely important role for government,” Tommy G. Thompson, the secretary of health and human services, said yesterday.

Because the health care industry is so fragmented, Mr. Thompson said, the government must encourage standards to reduce the risk of technology investments.

“Then,” he added, ” we have to demand that the medical industry invest in technology.”

And, hey, David Neff will be right there with C-Tools!