Assessing HITECH Implementation and Lessons: 5 Years Later

Abstract

Achieving the expansive goals of HITECH required the simultaneous development of a complex and interdependent infrastructure and a wide range of relationships, some better positioned to move forward than others. To date, it has proven easier to get providers to adopt EHRs, perhaps in response to financial incentives to do so, than to develop a robust infrastructure that allows the information in EHRs to be used effectively and shared not only within clinical practices but also across providers. Effective exchange of data is necessary to drive the kinds of delivery and payment reforms sought nationwide.

Role of Data in Improving Care within a Health System: A Case Study of the Australian Health System

“…Some abandoned (e.g., U.K., Germany, France) their programs temporarily before re-attempting again. Preliminary data [26] indicate that the U.S. is headed in a similar direction. A review of several post-implementation lessons from US [26], UK [32], and Australia [34] indicate that most countries underestimated the complexity of their health systems.…”

“…Preliminary data [26] indicate that the U.S. is headed in a similar direction. A review of several post-implementation lessons from US [26], UK [32], and Australia [34] indicate that most countries underestimated the complexity of their health systems. Within this context, various other shortcomings like haste to implement, trying to achieve too much with limited skill and resources, and underestimation of cultural inertia have resulted in some very expensive experimentations, as seen in Table 2-1 and Table 2-2) in trying to solve some "wickedly" [34] complex challenges of healthcare improvement.…”

“…Even as healthcare spending keep increasing over time [31] investments in data collection and management systems have yet to demonstrate their full value in either clinical [26] or economic metrics [32] [33]. Just about every country (except U.S. which is still implementing) on this list has already struggled major hurdles in their implementation of the EHR systems and grappled with issue like low rates of uptake (France, Australia), low rates of data sharing (U.S., U.K.), and stakeholder resistance (Australia, U.K.).…”

“…Specifically, the study noted issues around slow uptake of EHR systems, unwillingness to devote the time and resources needed to gain facility with EHRs, and failure to successfully reorganize work processes to unlock and optimize HIT potential [33]. A five-year post implementation review [26] of the achievements and challenges produced a verdict of "mixed" success. The review concluded that HITECH Act had been effective in getting healthcare organizations to adopt EHRs and achieving higher degree of information sharing.…”

Status and Direction of Healthcare Data in Korea for Artificial Intelligence

“…Many people believe there is a large amount of data in hospitals based on the wide adaptation of electronic medical records (EMR). They mentioned that the adoption rate of EMR in the United States was dramatically increased to 97% after the introduction of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act [6] and the adoption rate of EMR in Korea is more than 92%. Nearly all hospitals in Korea also use the computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system.…”