Health Affairs

Posting date: January 19, 2005

This Article Reprint (PDF) HTML Version Submit a response to this article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Comments are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services E-mail this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Archive Download to Citation Manager Reprints & Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Brailer, D. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Brailer, D. J. Related Collections Health Reform Internet And Health Business Of Health Quality Of Care Research And Technology Consumer Issues

Health Affairs, 10.1377/hlthaff.w5.19
Copyright © 2005 by Project HOPE

Web Exclusives

Interoperability: The Key To The Future Health Care System

David J. Brailer ^1*

¹ David Brailer is national health information technology coordinator in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C.

^*Corresponding author.

Abstract

The United States is building a point-of-care health information system to rival the worldwide network of electronic banking. Through health care information exchange and interoperability, clinicians will have access to a longitudinal medical record. This interoperability is a fundamental requirement for the health care system to derive the societal benefits promised by the adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs). The paper by Jan Walker and colleagues highlights some of these benefits. One critical question is whether the adoption of EMRs needs to wait for interoperability standards or whether it can proceed efficiently without them.

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

                      What's this?