During the Presidential debates this month, healthcare policy has emerged as one of the top issues of national concern. Both candidates have declared that they are committed to digitizing healthcare in America to curb rising costs and increase patient safety. With this increased focus on technology as a cost-saving measure, it’s important for all of us in the healthcare profession to understand the positions of the candidates and be ready to act as national healthcare policy evolves. After all, we are the ones with the most knowledge and experience in our industry, so we need to lead the positive change.
During the Presidential debates this month, healthcare policy has emerged as one of the top issues of national concern. Both candidates have declared that they are committed to digitizing healthcare in America to curb rising costs and increase patient safety. With this increased focus on technology as a cost-saving measure, it’s important for all of us in the healthcare profession to understand the positions of the candidates and be ready to act as national healthcare policy evolves. After all, we are the ones with the most knowledge and experience in our industry, so we need to lead the positive change.
Senator McCain and his team have stated in numerous settings that they will build off the progress that we have made in recent years regarding healthcare IT, specifically relating to electronic health record (EHR) certification (CCHIT), interoperability (HITSP) and public/private collaboratives (AHIC). These efforts increase patient safety, privacy & confidentiality, consumerism in healthcare, sharing of medical records and are expected to stabilize rising healthcare costs.
Senator Obama and his team are in support of investing up to $50 billion during the next five years in healthcare IT, specifically standards-based electronic health information systems. In variation to McCain’s strategy, the Obama caucus will advocate change in areas where they feel progress has not been as forthcoming as in other areas, such as EHR certification and interoperability standards.
Below are excerpts from Obama and McCain’s second presidential debate demonstrating their focus on healthcare IT. In addition, links to both candidates’ healthcare plans are included for reference. Being informed of the candidates’ positions when you vote in this year’s election will impact future progress toward a national priority – the “health” of the healthcare system.
Our nation’s leaders listen to their constituents, or at least should if they plan to be and remain in office, so here’s what you can do to be part of positive change. Research their plans and contact your representatives to keep them abreast of your specific thoughts and ideas. You never know, some may call on you to provide guidance in the future.
Quotes from the Second Presidential Debate on October 7, 2008
Obama: “And we’re going to do it by investing in prevention. We’re going to do it by making sure that we use information technology so that medical records are actually on computers instead of you filling forms out in triplicate when you go to the hospital. That will reduce medical errors and reduce costs.”
McCain: “And we need to do all of the things that are necessary to make it more efficient. Let’s put health records online that will reduce medical errors, as they call them. Let’s have community health centers. Let’s have walk-in clinics. Let’s do a lot of things to impose efficiencies.”
Obama on Healthcare ~ http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/
McCain on Healthcare ~ http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/19ba2f1c-c03f-4ac2-8cd5-5cf2e...
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