| Specifically the technology, which is essential to | | | | up to protect the privacy of individually identifiable |
| the healthcare system, brings about the exchange | | | | information and to set national standards for the |
| of health information in an electronic environment. | | | | security of electronic protected health information. |
| It has been planned to improve the quality of | | | | This market also offers one of the fastest |
| care, prevent medical errors, enhance email | | | | growing job markets in the country. Most staff |
| communication and expand access to affordable | | | | work in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, nursing |
| care. | | | | homes, health insurance organizations and medical |
| Many private and public organizations are focused | | | | offices. |
| on finding effective uses for health information | | | | Workers in the field coordinate medical information |
| technology that will lower health care spending and | | | | and maintain and analyze patient medical |
| improve the efficiency and quality of medical care. | | | | information. They also organize data and put |
| Some of the uses focus on advances in this | | | | statistical reports in order to study health care. |
| technology, such as personal health records, | | | | Experts predict the demand for well-trained health |
| electronic medical records and e-prescribing. For | | | | personnel will grow rapidly. |
| example, electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) | | | | The high costs of electronic health record |
| systems allow physicians to enter prescription | | | | systems for providers of care, which includes the |
| information for patients into an electronic system | | | | upfront capital investment and ongoing |
| rather than writing out a prescription while some | | | | maintenance, have prevented the rapid distribution |
| e-prescribing systems have the capacity to | | | | of technology systems. Even so, two of the |
| cross-check with other patient medications. | | | | country's largest health care systems have fully |
| Electronic medical and health records, which are | | | | implemented electronic medical record systems, |
| primarily intended for health care providers, are | | | | the federal Veteran's Administration and the |
| similar to the old paper medical chart. They can | | | | private Kaiser Permanente systems. |
| be used to link data from a number of providers | | | | It is imperative the privacy and security of the |
| to present a more comprehensive view of a | | | | technology be ensured as the information is |
| patient's health record. | | | | maintained and transmitted electronically. US |
| As privacy continues to emerge as a top concern | | | | healthcare spending, which was reported to be |
| about the technology, the Health Insurance | | | | $2.1 trillion in 2006, is projected to grow to $4 |
| Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) Act was set | | | | trillion by 2015. |