Without industry-wide standards, the ability to speed up transactions through automation is more difficult. More encouragingly, though, is that one of the Internet's appeals as a communications network has been its ability to reduce the need to agree on common protocols. The healthcare industry's use of advanced information technologies to complete healthcare related transactions meaningfully alters the institution's traditional norms and practices. The utilization of such technologies compels physicians to develop a minimum level of computer proficiency, while asking consumers to accept substantive changes in the storage and maintenance of medical information. The widespread adoption of IT by the healthcare industry is also limited by political and legal constraints.
States maintain a great deal of responsibility over the regulation of healthcare providers.
Unfortunately, many of these states use this authority to enact legislation and establish regulatory schemes that do not fully appreciate ensuing technological advances. Laws, such as this, retard the development of IT and thereby prevent providers from operating in a more cost-efficient and effective manner. The healthcare industry is comprised of a consortium of independent providers, payers and employers that at times have conflicting goals and objectives. The association represents over 26,000 direct and affiliate member high tech companies. It has been at the forefront of trying to address such issues as the Year 2000 computer problem and the IT worker shortage.