Health Care: Benefits and Barriers to Automated Medical Records
(Testimony, 05/06/94, GAO/T-AIMD-94-117).

In 1994, health care costs are expected to reach more than $1
trillion--one-seventh of the total U.S. economy.  This level of
spending, its continuing growth, and the lack of standardized health
care information on the types of care being provided and measurable
results, raise concern about whether the United States is getting full
value for each health care dollar spent.  Information systems technology
offers health care providers many opportunities to improve care, control
costs, and report results.  However, most health care providers today
maintain medical records in manual, paper-intensive systems that are
difficult to retrieve information from and require huge amounts of
physical storage space.  The barriers to automating medical records and
developing a systems framework to support health care reform include the
lack of standards, cost of automation, security and privacy issues
arising from the use of automated medical information, and the
reluctance of health care professionals to use new technology.  Any
health care reform proposal will greatly benefit from access to timely
information that can be used to manage and oversee the program.  Strong
federal leadership will be required to ensure that adequate steps are
taken to design, develop, and implement a systems framework that
supports a nationwide program.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-AIMD-94-117
     TITLE:  Health Care: Benefits and Barriers to Automated Medical 
             Records
      DATE:  05/06/94
   SUBJECT:  Medical records
             Computerized information systems
             Medical information systems
             Health services administration
             Health care cost control
             Patient care services
             Reporting requirements
             Records management
             Systems design
             Medical research
IDENTIFIER:  Health Security Act
             DOD Composite Health Care System
             National Health Care Reform Initiative
             Clinton Health Care Plan
             CHCS
             
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