Can health information technology programs give a new dimension to the existent scenario? Well, a number of deliberations are going on at least in this regard but it should be accepted that there is no dearth in the number of optimists. In accordance with a study by investigators at Weill Cornell Medical College, the health information technology programs that were implemented in the state of New York are vigorous and functioning a full two years after being established. What’s more, they have the potency to serve as models for new federal initiatives.

Well, the best assessment, in this context, has been done by Dr. Rainu Kaushal, who happens to be Chief of the Division of Quality and Clinical Informatics and associate professor of pediatrics, public health and medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. In keeping with the discretion of Dr. Kaushal, “Programs such as these could transform the way health care is delivered nationally and locally.” What does this indicate? This points towards a rosy future and states categorically, information technology (IT) systems including electronic health records, if implemented in the approved manner, have the potency to develop quality of care, increase efficiency and cost savings, trim down medical errors, and enhance continuity of care.

“Ideally, a doctor treating a patient will have access to the patient’s entire medical history at the point of care,” says lead researcher Dr. Lisa Kern, assistant professor of public health and medicine and the Nanette Laitman Clinical Scholar in Public Health–Clinical Evaluation at Weill Cornell Medical College. “For example, I’m better able to avoid an adverse drug event if I know what the patient’s cardiologist prescribed the patient yesterday.”

What is your viewpoint therefore? Don’t you think that we are on the threshold of another leap? It seems so and the state of New York is ahead of others in this regard owing to approximately $250 million allocated for health information technology and, in particular, electronic health records that can connect to other health IT systems through the statewide health information exchange network, or “interoperable” health IT.