A Tale of Two Angels
Authors: David Blumenthal
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2013)

Ideas and Opinions19 March 2013A Tale of Two AngelsDavid Blumenthal, MD, MPPDavid Blumenthal, MD, MPPFrom The Commonwealth Fund, New York, New York.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-158-6-201303190-00596 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Imagine Uncle Sam with an angel on each shoulder. In one ear, Angel 1 whispers, “The health care system is a mess. Costs are unsustainable. Quality is inadequate. The Affordable Care Act will dramatically expand coverage and further stress the system. We need to improve the value of care, NOW! But that requires good information about patients at the time of care, and our paper systems aren't up to the task. Americans deserve better. DO SOMETHING FAST! BE BOLD! TAKE RISKS!”Angel 2 whispers in the other ear, “Every federal tax dollar was hard-earned and reluctantly surrendered. If you waste ...References1. Office of the Inspector General. Early Assessment Finds that CMS Faces Obstacles in Overseeing the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. Report OEI-05-11-00250. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept Health and Human Services; 2012. Google Scholar2. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS. Medicare and Medicaid programs; electronic health record incentive program. Final rule. Fed Regist. 2010;75:44313-588. [PMID: 20677415] MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Hsiao CJ, Hing E. Use and Characteristics of Electronic Health Record Systems Among Office-Based Physician Practices: United States, 2001–2012. NCHS data brief no. 111. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2012. Google Scholar4. DesRoches CM, Worzala C, Joshi MS, Kralovec PD, Jha AK. Small, nonteaching, and rural hospitals continue to be slow in adopting electronic health record systems. Health Aff (Millwood). 2012;31:1092-9. [PMID: 22535503] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Schoen C, Osborn R, Squires D, Doty M, Rasmussen P, Pierson R, et al. A survey of primary care doctors in ten countries shows progress in use of health information technology, less in other areas. Health Aff (Millwood). 2012;31:2805-16. [PMID: 23154997] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Committee on Quality of Health Care in America, Institute of Medicine. Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century. Washington, DC: National Academies Pr; 2001. Google Scholar7. Buntin MB, Burke MF, Hoaglin MC, Blumenthal D. The benefits of health information technology: a review of the recent literature shows predominantly positive results. Health Aff (Millwood). 2011;30:464-71. [PMID: 21383365] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Evans DC, Nichol WP, Perlin JB. Effect of the implementation of an enterprise-wide Electronic Health Record on productivity in the Veterans Health Administration. Health Econ Policy Law. 2006;1:163-9. [PMID: 18634688] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Chen C, Garrido T, Chock D, Okawa G, Liang L. The Kaiser Permanente Electronic Health Record: transforming and streamlining modalities of care. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009;28:323-33. [PMID: 19275987] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. EHR Incentive Program, December 2012. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept Health and Human Services; 2012. Accessed at www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/Downloads/Dec_EHRIncentivePrograms_PaymentandRegistration_Report.pdf on 21 January 2013. Google Scholar11. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HHS announces next steps to promote use of electronic health records and health information exchange [news release]. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept Health and Human Services; 23 August 2012. Accessed at www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/08/20120823b.html on 21 January 2013. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From The Commonwealth Fund, New York, New York.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M13-0214.Corresponding Author: David Blumenthal MD, MPP, The Commonwealth Fund, 1 East 75th Street, New York, NY 10021; e-mail, [email protected]org.Author Contributions: Drafting of the article: D. Blumenthal.Final approval of the article: D. Blumenthal.This article was published at www.annals.org on 12 February 2013. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByDiabetes: A Primary Health Care Approach 19 March 2013Volume 158, Issue 6Page: 489-490KeywordsElectronic medical recordsHealth careHealth economicsHealth information technologyMedicareMotivationSafetyShouldersTaxesVeteran care ePublished: 12 February 2013 Issue Published: 19 March 2013 CopyrightCopyright © 2013 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...