Stimulus money heightens urgency for health IT guidance

Imagine what would have happened in the early 20th century if the federal government had decided to give the automobile industry a boost with billions of dollars for manufacturers and buyers, even though the industry was just starting to figure out what it was doing. That is an apt analogy for the state of the health information technology sector. The economic stimulus law sets aside a net of about $19.5 billion for health IT during the next 10 years, with hopes of convincing physicians and patients to start using electronic health records and related applications that could improve the quality and reduce the cost of health care.