Examining the Influence of Information Technology on Modern Health Care

Examining the Influence of Information Technology on Modern Health Care

Edward T. Chen
Copyright: © 2016 |Pages: 27
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-9961-8.ch006
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Abstract

Health care costs continue to rise at a level that far exceeds the rate of inflation. IT will be necessary in the computation and organization of complex algorithms presented in bundled payments and other initiatives. Currently in health care, a patient's medical history is not easily accessible by physicians and other medical personnel. IT can play the pivotal role in rectifying this problem in tracking the record in a universally designed environment. Advanced databases are needed to integrate facilities within health care systems. This chapter is to explore the current framework of Information Technology in the U.S. health care industry and to examine the topic covering the following areas: (a) IT's influence on the Affordable Care Act, (b) the emergence of the Electronic Health Record (EHR), also known as the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), and (c) the integration of databases across health care organizations through advanced systems like Epic.
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Recent Government Developments On Health Care It

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was signed by President Barack Obama on March 3, 2010 and upheld by Congress on June 28, 2012. The act mandates that all Americans are required to be insured with health coverage or pay a penalty to the government beginning in 2014. Another provision includes the expansion of Medicaid to adults whose incomes are at a defined rate at or below the federal poverty limit. Furthermore, the act seeks to decrease the cost of health care (Nussbaum, Tirrell, Wechsler, & Randall, 2010; Rosenbaum, & Margulies, 2011).

Exchanges have been established in the majority of the states either on their own or with the assistance of the Federal Government. The exchanges represent online marketplaces where participants can shop for health insurance plans. The exchanges also provide online resources that allow users to determine their eligibility for a federal subsidy (Carey & Appleby, 2013; Najaftorkaman, et al., 2015).

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