Health Information Technology
Learn how to improve your workflow with new health IT CME program.
What is health IT?
Health information technology (IT) encompasses a wide range of products and services—including software, hardware and infrastructure—designed to collect, store and exchange patient data throughout the clinical practice of medicine. Health IT is quickly becoming the hallmark of efficient physician practices around the globe.
Why does implementing health IT make sense?
If every physician implemented health IT, patients could seamlessly move between various doctors and specialists and instantly have their updated records follow them. Physicians could prescribe, bill and even obtain patient feedback in real time. Health IT not only saves paperwork, it also reduces errors and allows physicians to make better, more informed decisions in their patient care.
"Information is 'the lifeblood of medicine' and health information technology is destined to be 'the circulatory system for that information.'"
—David Blumenthal, MD, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
How will health IT benefit my practice?
It's been documented that health IT can greatly enhance your practice—from efficiency to cost savings to patient satisfaction—health IT can make a real difference for your patients and your practice.
What do I need to do to get started?
Foremost you need to know if health IT is right for you and your practice. Many physicians worry about cost, return on investment, obsolescence and maintaining privacy for their patients. The AMA's resources can help you sort all of this out. The decision to implement health IT is a major one and taking the first step can be overwhelming. We're here to help guide you through the process.
Whether you simply want to browse various types of health IT or are ready to prepare for, select or implement a system, the AMA can provide you with the resources you need to make smart, informed decisions.
