The order directs the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Business, Transportation and Housing, and the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care, to devise financing strategies to allocate part of at least $240 million to develop public and private financing alternatives to expedite HIT adoption by hospitals, physicians and health care providers. It also directs agencies to report back within 60 days of the forum and, implement a comprehensive HIT program by July 1, 2007.
"This can lead to dramatic savings and to much safer, efficient medical treatment," said Governor Schwarzenegger.
Two examples of HIT are telemedicine centers, which permit doctors to diagnose patients through video conferencing, and networked databases between health care entities like hospitals, nursing homes and pharmacies.
Currently there are numerous and conflicting standards in collecting and reporting personal health information that makes information sharing impossible. For patients, HIT will ensure that accurate, updated medical information is available wherever and whenever they are treated. For doctors, nurses and other providers, HIT will allow for more accurate and timely diagnosis and treatment.
