Future of Medical Records in Digital Age

" health -- is obviously one of the big topics that we talked but the Federer is overrated but health -- is one of the biggest topics in this country right now and one of the biggest players in that debate. If doctor David Blumenthal he heads up the information -- the information the administration's efforts on in. Formation technologies try to get us a -- got eight. I got it but he's got it. Foxbusiness.com. Why don't go."

" The want to love -- not come -- the national coordinator for Health Information Technology that's a full title. A doctor David Blumenthal is joining us now for the very first time I can see doctor. Thank you for having me we have we set the top of the show that affectionately. Sent me refer you it'd be held right he's our. And we'd love to get your perspective on an. Where this stated that the stated how IT at this time to transition. From some of the records being paper records now being online -- where where -- it."

" Well we -- there really historic point in the evolution of our health care industry and health care sector because the congress and administration. Have watched a very bold new agenda. To bring electronic health records the benefits of electronic health records to all Americans over the next to five to seven years. And we are. Working as fast as we possibly can to roll out that agenda taking very carefully. The privacy and security. Of the information. Respecting the rights of positions in the rights of patients. In this process but we're optimistic that we can make a big difference so in terms of."

" So we've got stabbed because they don't even know how you would that you start to approach this. This type of undertaking what is the very first thing he sure you know."

" Sure. Well who brought -- fortunately we have a water implement and the law put aside. About 45 billion dollars over five to seven year period. For incentives. For doctors and hospitals. That become what are called meaningful users of electronic health records. And in addition to that those incentives which go to hospitals and doctors who pick up this technology in use it effectively. We have about two billion dollars worth of funds to assist them in making that transition."

" Our god those funds are sufficient by the way -- and money wise to mean the number Sam well here -- the two billions enough for now. It's a great start. Then I think we can make a lot of progress -- another was only more at some point we'll need to did it because it cost a lot upfront writes about the ideas they yield need to. When will we need to add to that if we're going to really be realistic about getting it done."

" Well you know I think physicians and hospitals want to do this as well and they will bring a lot of resources to the table in the process so. I think it's not a foregone conclusion that we will need more money. This is the pump priming -- activity it's an incentive it provides. And an extra push. I'm an evolutionary path that I think we were already on I think it'll mean we'll get there faster but I'm not at all sure that we will need more money to get there. That the health reform bills that are pending if they were enacted I think would. Give a big boost along this way just by emphasizing primary care more by emphasizing. Cost reduction. And Health Information Technology is a very important mechanism. For achieving. Cost reduction and efficiency improvement. The avoidance of fraud waste and the also the improvement of the quality and health care and the health of populations as well."

" You know -- he would ever decide whether stimulus and I'm bill though seems like a lot of money though in the stimulus dissent has -- no forty point eight billion dollars allocated for the health care information information technology. I'm where I'm always talking about bringing this back the business world as well. What kind of boost do you think this would be for the economy do you have to hire people consulting and -- It -- kind of business cited this as we understand they can make -- doctor's offices more efficient and and -- to doctors' offices good to right now that are all. Electronic and it is very very efficient. But it's far -- to boost the economy that's where we were looking at the scene has what do you think that benefits."

" Well we think that being a health care. Information technology specialist. Is going to be a very very important occupation going forward. The congress directed us to help train and Health Information Technology workforce. And we are making plans to assist with that. Through educational supports through community colleges and other and other educational institutions. So if you are planning a new career right now and our interest in computers and shouldn't health -- not this is a great field to be and because it's going to be here for the rest of our lives and for the rest of time. This is a longtime modern way. Well c'mon this is the modern way. To handle health information. And I don't think we're going to go back from this sure you know the web and and the web and other technologies will. Become part of this process right again we're we're going to be protecting security and confidentiality of course. But. I think that there will be lots of new jobs in the area of health informatics."

" Okay you hit a one of the key question marks I mean not that this widespread agreement that. Technology as a general statement that helps health care and you know of -- streamlining records and everything else is there is generally accepted as being a pretty good idea but the concern everybody brings up. In the next sentence is all what about security is my information secure online. What's the latest in that debate in what are you telling people."

" Well we are committed to. First of all enforcing a whole series of new laws that were enacted by the congress as part of the stimulus bill. To increase the privacy and security of information and to punish. People who intrude in an unauthorized way on the health information so that's number one. Number two would know when there's going to be forced. To allow their personal health information to be processed electronically you're gonna have to give your permission for that to happen. And we are also looking at all the latest encryption. Technologies. That our intelligence communities and others have come up with. To try to make sure that we have the most modern. Protections."

" But this is a look at that down the line do you think -- people carried erratic Cardin in his Middle East ways of thrown around about how we're going to keep it secure is it did some military credit card is -- different anatomy and how how we get them. Identify ourselves for doctors. You know years down -- and all this is implement it."

" Well I'm not I don't have a crystal ball on this and I'm not going to predict exactly what are very innovative technology industry is going to create. But I can guarantee you that we're going to keep up with those latest technologies. To make sure that we have put them in place as part of the health information system in the United States. "

" Is there any preference for what systems that doctors use when they set -- let's say doctors transition -- during this time period and they want to put all of their medical records online or. An electronic system. I'm do you have referred different systems are different technologies that are out there it is it is there incentive changed with. What system they decide to go it."

" No it doesn't Riordan is completely neutral with respect to the different technologies we really want to create. Vibrant marketplace. In which industries compete to meet the needs of of patients and physicians. Another health care professionals. We think that's the best way to meet people's needs. We do you have to create certain basic standards. That allow records to talk to one another just like we have basic standards that. Allow the Internet to work. So that information can pass. In an intelligent and intelligible way over the Internet. We're going to need some basic standards so that one electronic record or one. A personal health record can talk to another. That's actually critical congress passed us with that. But aside from those basic standards. We're going to let. The market determine the winners. In this effort to make electronic health records and that's Health Information Technology. Much more broadly available."

" But doctor we appreciate you joining us today and -- in this question venture will have a lot more fill out we look forward to tap into again. Nice to be here."