Released: September 27, 2006

E-health records spread state by state

Source: By Reed Abelson, New York Times (Free Registration)

In the nation’s ambitious quest to bring information technology to the practice of medicine, state governments are beginning to play a critical role in shepherding new systems into hospitals and doctors’ offices, health experts say. Governors and legislators, for starters, are embarking on a variety of strategies to encourage the use of electronic health records and other innovations.

“There is a tremendous amount of focus, and it continues to grow,” said Sheera Rosenfeld, a senior manager for Avalere Health in Washington, who helped write a report earlier this year on state initiatives.

The primary effort has been to encourage the use of electronic health records, so that doctors statewide can have access to patient records. State officials have begun convening task forces of hospitals, doctors, insurers and other groups to develop plans for such regional systems.

Many states were prompted to action by the federal government’s call to arms in 2004 to develop electronic patient records throughout the United States. Like the states, the government is trying to coordinate the various efforts under way. Federal officials are also developing national standards for the technology.

More than half the states are in the midst of a planning process, said Janet M. Marchibroda, chief executive of eHealth Initiative, a nonprofit group in Washington that works with a variety of states and communities.

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