Health Information Technology: HHS Is Pursuing Efforts to Advance Nationwide Implementation, but Has Not Yet Completed a National Strategy

United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2008-02-14 monographic deposited born digital 17 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-499T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-499T P0b002ee180376bdc f:d08499t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-499T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-499T GAO-08-499T Electronic health records Electronic records management Health care planning Health care policies Health care programs Health care services Information management Information technology Managed health care Medical records Preventive health care services Quality assurance Quality control Quality improvement Strategic planning Testimony A80809 Health Information Technology: HHS Is Pursuing Efforts to Advance Nationwide Implementation, but Has Not Yet Completed a National Strategy Health information technology (IT) offers promise for improving patient safety and reducing inefficiencies. Given its role in providing health care in the United States, the federal government has been urged to take a leadership role to improve the quality and effectiveness of health care, including the adoption of IT. In April 2004, President Bush called for widespread adoption of interoperable electronic health records within 10 years and issued an executive order that established the position of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The National Coordinator, appointed in May 2004, released a framework for strategic action two months later. In late 2005, HHS also awarded several contracts to address key areas of health IT. GAO has been reporting on the department's efforts toward nationwide implementation of health IT since 2005. In prior work, GAO recommended that HHS establish detailed plans and milestones for the development of a national health IT strategy and take steps to ensure that its plans are followed and milestones met. For this testimony, GAO was asked to describe HHS's efforts to advance the use of health IT. To do this, GAO reviewed prior reports and agency documents on the current status of relevant HHS activities. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-499T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-499T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-499T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-499T.pdf GAO-08-499T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-499T Testimony GAO-08-499T; Health Information Technology: HHS Is Pursuing Efforts to Advance Nationwide Implementation, but Has Not Yet Completed a National Strategy; Electronic health records Electronic records management Health care planning Health care policies Health care programs Health care services Information management Information technology Managed health care Medical records Preventive health care services Quality assurance Quality control Quality improvement Strategic planning