III 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 555 

Designating the week of September 15 through September 19, 2014, as 

‘‘National Health Information Technology Week’’ to recognize the value 

of health information technology in transforming and improving the 

health care system for all individuals in the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 17 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 16), 2014 

Ms. STABENOW (for herself and Mr. THUNE) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week of September 15 through September 

19, 2014, as ‘‘National Health Information Technology 

Week’’ to recognize the value of health information technology in transforming and improving the health care 

system for all individuals in the United States. 

Whereas health information technology is recognized as an 

essential tool for improving patient care, ensuring patient 

safety, stopping duplicative tests and paperwork, and reducing health care costs; 

Whereas the Center for Information Technology Leadership 

estimates that a fully-realized implementation of national 

standards for interoperability and the exchange of health 

information can produce significant savings in health 

care costs; 


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•SRES 555 ATS 

Whereas the use of health information technology is essential 

to providing coordinated care, expanding access to care, 

and improving the quality and safety of mental and physical health care for all individuals in the United States; 

Whereas Congress has a vision for a national technology-enabled health care system that— 

(1) provides access to care that is available at anytime and anywhere; 

(2) recognizes modern, multimodal health care delivery models; 

(3) establishes open standards for connectivity to 

core patient information between health information technology systems, devices, and emerging technologies; and 

(4) leverages technology solutions to analyze and improve treatment trends and highlight cost transparency 

to help combat fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal 

health programs; 

Whereas portable health information, such as cloud-based 

computing and storage systems that can process vast 

amounts of patient information for personalized care, integrated consumer devices, and mobile medical applications, are critical technologies for improving the health of 

all individuals in the United States, creating high-demand jobs, and stimulating market innovation; 

Whereas it is necessary to continue improving the exchange 

of health information confidently and securely between 

different providers, systems, and insurers, a task that is 

foundational to transforming the health care delivery system in the United States; 

Whereas aligning the use of electronic health records with 

other reporting efforts is critical to improving clinical 


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•SRES 555 ATS 

outcomes for patients, controlling costs, and expanding 

access to care through the use of technology; and 

Whereas since 2006, organizations across the United States 

have united to support National Health Information 

Technology Week to improve public awareness of implementing health information technology to achieve the 

benefits of improved quality and cost efficiency in the 

health care system: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week of September 15 

3 through September 19, 2014, as ‘‘National Health 

4 Information Technology Week’’; 

5 (2) recognizes the value of information tech6 nology and management systems in transforming 

7 health care for individuals in the United States; 

8 (3) encourages all interested parties to promote 

9 the use of information technology and management 

10 systems to transform the health care system of the 

11 United States; and 

12 (4) calls on all individuals in the United States 

13 to be engaged in their mental and physical health by 

14 using health information technology. 

Æ 


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