Consumers and Health Information Technology: A Top 10 List

In honor of National Health IT Week (May 14 – 18), a week-long forum dedicated to increasing the awareness and impact of IT for healthcare, QuadraMed compiled a list of the Top 10 reasons consumers should care about medical technology. All the healthcare IT (HIT) vendors are out in force this week pushing their wares but I thought QuadraMed’s focus on why consumers should care was unique.

Consumers and Health Information Technology: A Top 10 List

10. HIT Improves the Quality of Care Received

11. HIT is Critical in the Event of a Nation-Wide Emergency

12. HIT Increases Accountability from Providers

13. HIT Prevents Medical Errors and Saves Consumers’ Lives

14. HIT Can Empower Consumers to Make Smarter Healthcare Decisions

15. HIT Saves Consumers Money

16. HIT Allows Nurses to Spend More Time with Patients

17. HIT Increases the Health of the Entire American Population

18. HIT Keeps Hospitals Profitable

19. HIT Decreases Billing Errors

Now, I’m not sure I agree with all the 10 items but I applaud QuadraMed’s effort to sell this to the consumers. Without consumer action, healthcare IT will be relegated to the backend and won’t really achieve the kinds of results that are possible with consumers in the driving seat. Much as consumers pushed banking and retails systems to open up and has brought auto and home insurance firms kicking and screaming into the 21st century, if consumers really demanded more from their doctors and hospitals we might actually be able to use healthcare IT to do the kinds of things QuadraMed is saying in their top 10 list.