Health Reform Report Light on I.T.

HDM Breaking News, November 18, 2008

Twenty-eight stakeholder organizations have published a report identifying and endorsing six national priorities to transform the health care industry.

The report endorses widespread use of information technologies to support the organizations' goals, but is very light on specifics. It notes, for instance, that "aggressively moving toward more electronic data sources will allow measures to be more easily collected as part of the care process."

Other sections of the report endorse actions that increasingly are supported by I.T., but no mention is made of the technology. For instance, participants endorse the following as part of a national priority to improve coordination of care: "Medication information will be clearly communicated to patients, family members and the next health care professional and/or organization of care, and medications will be reconfirmed each time a patient experiences a transition in care."

Other national priorities identified in the report include engaging patients and families in decision making; improving population health; improving safety and reliability; guaranteeing appropriate and compassionate end-of-life care; and eliminating inappropriate or excessive care.

Participants worked under the umbrella of the National Quality Forum, created to develop a national strategy for health care quality measurement and reporting. Participating organizations have pledged to work to implement the national priorities.

For a copy of the report, "Aligning Our Efforts to Transform America's Healthcare: National Priorities & Goals, click here.

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