December 9, 2010, Washington, D.C. – The eHealth Initiative today announced its support of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology report on accelerating Health IT adoption and use in the U.S.

“The PCAST report on health IT is an important step forward in refining the work begun by the passage of the HITECH Act in 2009,” said Jennifer Covich Bordenick, eHI’s chief executive officer. “The legislation laid the groundwork for a national initiative; this report highlights areas where we can make improvements that will accelerate the adoption and use of health IT in all areas of health care. eHI is prepared to support the administration and other key stakeholders as they consider how to practically apply this report’s recommendations.”

The report, “Realizing the Full Potential of Health Information Technology to Improve Healthcare for Americans: The Path Forward”, accords with eHI’s core belief that health IT has the potential to revolutionize healthcare in the United States by improving quality and reducing the costs of care.

“There are a number of key recommendations in the report that we are reviewing and will respond to,” said Covich Bordenick. “But the underlying premise that we need to develop a universal language for electronic exchange, improve privacy and security, and enable a seamless information sharing network are spot on. We need standardization that doesn’t prohibit innovation.

“Putting a computer in a bookstore will not magically turn it into an Amazon.com. Similarly, transferring a paper medical record to an electronic health record (EHR) does not suddenly create a wired healthcare system. Patients and doctors need to be able to exchange and access data when and where they need it.”