The Role of Information Technology in Advancing Healthcare

Technology Companies and Healthcare Providers Partner to Work Toward Healthcare Reform President Obama's economic stimulus package encourages the use of technology in our nation's healthcare system. For this area of healthcare reform to become a reality, it requires unique partnerships between technology companies and healthcare providers. Information technology (IT), or the sharing of critical information in a hospital, is one way to help transform America's healthcare system. IT is essential in providing high level, high quality healthcare. The partnership between technology giant Siemens and Alegent, the largest not-for-profit healthcare system, has begun to create a completely paperless communication system for hospitals. A paperless system increases patient care by providing an accurate record of a patient's entire lifetime. Utilizing IT in healthcare has also proven to be more cost efficient, accurate and less time consuming for both patients and physicians. Going hi-tech has already improved the overall quality of care in areas of medication administration, allergies and immunizations. Source: Siemens