[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12566-12567]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 DESIGNATING MAY 14, 2007, THROUGH MAY 18, 2007, AS ``NATIONAL HEALTH 
                     INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WEEK''

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 202.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 202) designating the period beginning 
     on May 14, 2007, and ending on May 18, 2007, as ``National 
     Health Information Technology Week.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, the Senate passed a resolution designating 
May 14 to 18, 2007, as National Health Information Technology Week. In 
connection with this resolution, it is important to recognize the 
leadership and progress that the Department of Veterans Affairs has 
shown in the area of health information technology.
  By passing this resolution, the Senate has recognized the tremendous 
importance of information technology in improving health care for all 
Americans. RAND Corporation has estimated that by improving health 
information technology and practices more than $81 billion can be saved 
annually in the United States.
  Such savings are only one aspect of the promised impact of better 
health information technology. The other, more important aspect is that 
improved health information technology can help save lives by providing 
health care providers with more accurate and timely patient 
information.
  As an increasing number of veterans return from the current conflicts 
in Iraq and Afghanistan with complicated injuries, they must receive 
the quality care earned through their service. Information technology 
helps VA provide that care.
  Over the past decade, VA has become a leader in the use of electronic 
health records. Through VA's veterans health information system and 
technology architecture, commonly referred to as VISTA, clinicians can 
access and update electronic health records throughout the Nation's 
largest health care system. Clinicians can also view medical images, 
such as x rays, pathology slides, and other critical records that can 
be placed immediately into a patient's record. In addition to their 
electronic records system, VA is reducing medication and prescription 
errors through a point-of-care system to verify that patients receive 
correct dosage at correct times, visually alerting staff when errors 
are made. For its development and employment of this system, VA was 
awarded the 2006 Innovations in Government Award, sponsored by Harvard 
University.
  While VA's health care system is by no means perfect, its use of 
health information technology has improved the quality of care received 
by veterans, while reducing the costs to our taxpayers. I hope the 
Department will continue on their path of progress, and I commend VA 
for its work thus far.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be 
laid on the table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed 
in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 202) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 202

       Whereas the Healthcare Information and Management Systems 
     Society has worked collaboratively with more than 48 
     stakeholder organizations for more than 45 years to transform 
     health care with improved uses of information technology and 
     management systems;

[[Page 12567]]

       Whereas the Center for Information Technology Leadership 
     estimated that the implementation of national standards for 
     interoperability and the exchange of health information would 
     save the United States approximately $77,000,000,000 in 
     expenses relating to health care each year;
       Whereas the RAND Corporation estimated that, if the health 
     care system of the United States implemented the use of 
     computerized medical records, the system could save the 
     United States more than $81,000,000,000 each year;
       Whereas health care information technology has been shown 
     to improve the quality and safety of the delivery of health 
     care in the United States;
       Whereas health care information technology and management 
     systems have been recognized as essential tools for improving 
     the quality and cost efficiency of the health care system;
       Whereas the President and Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services have made a commitment to leveraging the benefits of 
     the health care information technology and management systems 
     by establishing the Office of the National Coordinator for 
     Health Information Technology and the American Health 
     Information Community;
       Whereas Congress has placed an emphasis on improving the 
     quality and safety of the delivery of health care in the 
     United States; and
       Whereas organizations across the country have come together 
     to support National Health Information Technology Week to 
     improve public awareness relating to the potential benefits 
     of improved quality and cost efficiency that the health care 
     system could achieve if health information technology were 
     better utilized: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the value of information technology and 
     management systems in transforming health care for all people 
     in the United States;
       (2) designates the period beginning on May 14, 2007, and 
     ending on May 18, 2007, as ``National Health Information 
     Technology Week''; and
       (3) encourages the use of information technology and 
     management systems to transform the health care system in the 
     United States.

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