Health Affairs

Posting date: May 25, 2004

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Health Affairs, 10.1377/hlthaff.w4.318
Copyright © 2004 by Project HOPE

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Perspective: Translating Ideals For Health Information Technology Into Practice

David J. Brailer ^1*

¹ David Brailer is the Senior Fellow for Health Information Technology and Quality of Care at the Health Technology Center, in San Francisco, California, and is senior advisor to the Santa Barbara County Care Data Exchange.

^*Corresponding author.

Abstract

Standards for communication, content, function, and clinical knowledge are essential for electronic health records and e-prescribing, as well as other health information technologies. The current process for standard setting is competitive and voluntary, and it does not ensure that accepted standards will be incorporated into health information products. A three-tier architecture of development (research and validation), authorization (approval and dissemination), and certification (product evaluation) will make standards a core feature of future health information technology. Patient safety, health information technology uptake, and portability of data would all be enhanced by an orderly standard-diffusion process.

Key Words: Business Of Health, Consumer Issues, Internet And Health, Pharmaceuticals, Quality Of Care, Research And Technology, Health Spending

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