There have been high expectations on part of the US Federal Government regarding the prospects of computerized patient records or digital health data and this single reason has motivated the government to spend $19 billion for the entire program. Well, any such approach of the government for meliorating both the society and health standard of the nation is always appreciable. However, it seems that a substantial section of the medical fraternity is not ready to share this noble concept of the government and it is giving rise to astute dissensions.

What are the counter arguments therefore? Well, it should be mentioned at the very outset, a fear is emerging that the government has, perhaps, failed to take notice of the possible and formidable obstacles that can thwart the entire bid. In accordance with the reports based on a survey of nearly 3,000 hospitals, only 9 percent of the nation’s hospitals have electronic health records. Besides the quality of these records is not au fait and still there is plenty of room for improvement. It is to be noted that the study was financed by the federal government and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Besides it is regarded as the most definitive measure to date of the use of computerized patient records by hospitals.

As indicated by the authors of the investigation, the study did focus on and determine only the adoption of digital patient records. The survey did not concentrate on the fact whether the electronic records were used to move forward the health policy goals of the federal plan. These included tracking the quality of care and communicating effectively with outside specialists and clinics to coordinate a patient’s care.

Speaking on this Dr. Ashish K. Jha, an Assistant Professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, said categorically, “We have a long way to go. And we did not measure effective use. Even if a hospital does have electronic health records, it does not mean it is sharing information with other hospitals and doctors down the road.”

Last of all, two experts in health information technology at Children’s Hospital Boston have come to the fore with a new revelation. As per them, expense of billions of dollars of federal funds to encourage the adoption of existing forms of health record software would be a costly policy mistake and the State is not geared up yet.