Health IT Savings May Reach $261 Billion

As the healthcare system braces for a new age, using technology to develop interoperable, patient-centered health information technology systems could yield billion of dollars in savings, a report predicts.

The report, "A 21st Century Roadmap for Advancing America's Health: the Path from Peril to Progress," highlights the role HIT will play in re-engineering healthcare through the adoption of electronic health records, providing better analytics, and driving greater efficiency as the country builds a more comprehensive framework that strengthens the public health infrastructure. Additionally, new systems can create cost savings. "If used in innovative ways, the estimated savings from HIT expansion could reach $261 billion over 10 years," the report said. However, the goal of widespread implementation of EHRs is still in the nascent stages of development, with only 20.5% of physicians and 8-10% of hospitals using basic EHRs. Fewer still are meaningfully applying HIT to advance care coordination, aide clinical decision-making, or report health outcomes, among other practices. However, to gain appreciable benefits from HIT, a comprehensive approach must be adopted.