As a sign of its importance the Annals of Internal Medicine has published, a month in advance of its print date, an important systematic review of the Impact of Health Information Technology on Quality, Efficiency, and Costs of Medical Care. This is a crucial review and establishes that, at least in some circumstances, there are positive impacts on quality, efficiency and costs from the implementation of Health IT.
The evidence for such value in organisations with a high level of IT sophistication was very compelling indeed and given the expertise deployed in undertaking the review can be considered definitive. In the hands of experts Health IT makes a significant positive difference.
The less good news was that, while the value appeared to obviously be available to smaller and less advanced organisations, evidence this was actually the case was lacking.
The authors then go on to, very sensibly in my view, recommend more work to adduce the required evidence and ensure the business case for Health IT deployment is as robust as possible in all sensible settings - especially in the community ambulatory setting.
What this review and the body of evidence it collects shows is that Health IT works. It is now up to those with the relevant responsibilities to learn the lessons available from this work and move forward for the good of all of us.
David
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