[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 147 (Wednesday, October 7, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S7222]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 281--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 5 THROUGH 
OCTOBER 9, 2015, AS ``NATIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WEEK'' TO 
 RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN TRANSFORMING 
AND IMPROVING THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FOR ALL PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES

  Ms. STABENOW (for herself and Mr. Thune) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 281

       Whereas 2015 celebrates the 10th anniversary of National 
     Health Information Technology Week;
       Whereas Congress has emphasized that the use of health 
     information technology is essential to providing coordinated 
     care, expanding access to care, and improving the quality and 
     safety of the mental and physical health of all people in the 
     United States;
       Whereas health information technology is essential for 
     improving patient care, ensuring patient safety, stopping 
     duplicative tests and paperwork, and reducing healthcare 
     costs;
       Whereas Congress has recognized that the convergence of 
     medical advances, health information technology, and high-
     speed broadband networks are transforming the delivery of 
     care by bringing the healthcare provider and patient together 
     virtually, especially those in disadvantaged populations and 
     geographies;
       Whereas by 2020, the market segment for the healthcare-
     related Internet of Things, which allows data to move among 
     people, sensors, and machines, is expected to approach 
     $120,000,000,000;
       Whereas personalized medicine is an important emerging 
     healthcare topic that includes the tailoring of medicines and 
     treatments to the unique genetic blueprint and lifestyle and 
     environmental data of each patient and comparing that 
     information to the information of other individuals to 
     predict illness and determine best treatments;
       Whereas Congress has recognized and taken action to 
     modernize regulations so as to grow the health information 
     technology market, improve the health of all people in the 
     United States, create high-demand jobs, and stimulate market 
     innovation; and
       Whereas it is necessary to continue activities that are 
     foundational to the transformation of healthcare delivery in 
     the United States, including--
       (1) innovation in health information technology;
       (2) opening interoperability between systems and devices; 
     and
       (3) the exchange of health information confidently and 
     securely among different providers, systems, and insurers: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of October 5 through October 9, 
     2015, as ``National Health Information Technology Week'';
       (2) recognizes the value of information technology and 
     management systems in transforming healthcare for the people 
     of the United States;
       (3) encourages all interested parties to promote the use of 
     information technology and management systems to transform 
     the healthcare system of the United States; and
       (4) calls on all people to be engaged in their mental and 
     physical health through the use of health information 
     technology.

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