The first step for reforming the health care marketplace should be finding greater efficiencies that improve care while cutting costs. There are potentially billions in savings available from health information technology including e-prescribing, treatment of chronic disease, promotion of wellness and prevention, greater end-of-life awareness, and greater cost and quality disclosure.
Information is the lifeblood of a strong health care system. We need a secure, uniform, interoperable health care system that securely protects private medical information. Adoption of such a health information technology system will not only reap significant health care savings. It will also save lives and improve health outcomes for many patients.