US State Governors Demand Action on Health IT

A new report on Health IT directions from US State Governors was released recently. Here is some of the coverage.

State Alliance calls for state action on healthcare IT

By Bernie Monegain, Editor 09/23/08

The State Alliance for e-Health, made up of governors and state officials from across the country, is calling on states to support e-prescribing and address medical privacy and security issues in order to boost healthcare IT.

Healthcare IT and health information exchange are tools of transformation that could lead to improved care as well as savings, the alliance asserts in a 60-page report released Tuesday called "Accelerating Progress - Using Health Information Technology and Electronic Health Information Exchange to Improve Care."

…..

Privacy and security rank No. 2 on the alliance's list of recommendations for state action.

The top recommendation is to provide leadership and support for e-health efforts in each state, especially on e-prescribing.

The others are:

• Promote the use of standards-based, interoperable technology;
• Streamline the licensure process to enable cross-state e-health;
• Engage consumers to use HIT in managing their health and healthcare; and
• Develop workforce capacity to support electronic HIE efforts.

…..

The alliance contends that health information technology and health information exchange are tools of transformation that could lead to improved care as well as savings.

The report notes that the use of IT and data exchange may also result in:

• Higher quality care through adherence to treatment protocols and guidelines;
• Reduction in adverse drug events;
• Fewer duplicative treatments and tests;
• Administrative efficiencies through decreased paperwork;
• Improved coordination of treatment through timely access to health information;
• Early detection of infectious disease outbreaks around the country;
• Disease management tracking; and
• Improved research capabilities.

Full article is found here:

http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=10013

Further coverage is found here:

State Officials Push E-Prescribing

September 24, 2008

The State Alliance for eHealth has issued its inaugural report, emphasizing the importance of electronic prescribing as a first step toward broader use of information technology in health care. An initiative of the National Governor’s Association, the alliance comprises a variety of state officials, including governors, legislators, attorneys general and commissioners.

“The State Alliance believes that, at this time, the highest priority should be given to e-prescribing and the privacy and security of health information” the report states.

“E-prescribing is critically important to the advancement of e-health. Although the necessary infrastructure and standards for e-prescribing exist across the nation, the rate of adoption has been slow. The State Alliance recognizes e-prescribing as a gateway to other advances in e-health. Therefore, the State Alliance calls on states to lead these efforts and take action to drive adoption of e-prescribing.”

More here:

http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/e-prescribing26997-1.html?ET=healthdatamanagement:e619:100325a:&st=email&channel=policies_regulation

To read the full report, “Accelerating Progress: Using Health Information Technology and Electronic Health Information Exchange to Improve Care,” click here.

The Headings of the recommendations tell the story the Governors want to pursue (in addition to e-prescribing).

Calling States to Action: Recommendations from the State Alliance for e-Health

Recommendation 1: Provide Leadership and Support for E-Health Efforts

Recommendation 2: Address Health Information Privacy and Security

Recommendation 3: Promote Interoperable Technology

Recommendation 4: Streamline the Licensure Process to Enable Cross-State E-Health

Recommendation 5: Engage Consumers to Use HIT and HIE in Managing Their Health and Health Care

Recommendation 6: Develop Workforce and Agency Capacity to Support Electronic HIE Efforts

Essentially this document is a National E-Health Strategy for the US and as such is well worth a browse as there is much here that is quite relevant to Australia in terms of thinking, priorities and frameworks. Would be amazing to see our hopeless premiers do something half as useful but I sure will not hold my breath!

David.