Obama's e-Health record plan faces obstacles

The economic stimulus package, approved by Congress, includes billions of dollars to spur the creation of electronic health records, with the lion's share allocated as economic incentives for health care providers so that they will embrace information technology. These incentives may help eliminate some of the reluctance on the part of providers to join the 21st century, but there could be many other roadblocks that will impede rapid progress. 

Infoworld.com points out that there are still major technical issues including the creation of inter-operable systems that can talk to one another and share information.

There also are unresolved questions regarding the adoption of uniform technical standards and the need to help small medical groups manage and maintain electronic systems. On top of these factors, one must also account for serious privacy concerns and questions of security that will require a lot of work.

There is little doubt that electronic health records will become the norm, and that the Obama administration's push through the stimulus spending will speed the process. But it will not be easy or happen overnight.
 
For more on electronic medical records:
- see this InfoWorld.com article

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