Organization develops plan fo e-health record adoption
Vermont Information Technology Leaders have developed a plan to provide emergency room doctors with electronic versions of patients' medical histories.
The 140-page plan, developed by Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL), provides the Green Mountain State with a road map for encouraging the use of health information technology and creating a network for exchanging data among healthcare organizations. President Bush has called for the creation of such networks, saying in 2004 that he wanted every American to have a personal electronic medical record within 10 years. Computerized medical records, the President theorized, could help prevent medical mistakes, reduce healthcare costs, and improve patient care.
VITL's plan recommends that Vermont spend at least $1 million annually creating and implementing health information technology programs. The plan estimates it will cost $3 million a year to operate those programs and suggests that funding come from various sources, including transaction fees, contributions, and federal funds.
