HITECH Endeavors to Improve Health, Not Just Adopt New Technology, ONC Official Says

The goals of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act are not centered on merely improving technology, but are focused on using that technology to improve health outcomes and improve the patient-physician dialog, Joshua Seidman, acting director of the meaningful use division at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, said June 14.

Seidman, speaking at an eHealth Initiative briefing on patients and technology, said there is a real need to create a sense of community among patients and clinicians. He gave several examples of how technology can help do that, including automatically uploading ...