ABSTRACT
Building a strong health information technology (HIT) infrastructure has been a major component of the current federal strategy for increasing quality and reducing cost. HIT includes two components: electronic medical record (EMR) systems used by providers, to replace the current paper record systems, and health information exchange (HIE) that permits providers to exchange electronic information, even if it is generated by different proprietary EMR systems. Estimates of the proportions of providers utilizing EMRs or HIE must be interpreted with caution, because these systems are complex and multifaceted. Some providers may use only the basic components of an EMR system, while other providers may use advanced features. The chapter considers the impact of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act on HIT adoption, the impacts of HIT on outcomes, and the evolution of enterprise HIE operating alongside the statewide HIE organizations that were subsidized under the HITECH Act.
