Bills aim to cut errors by boosting doctor communication

Better electronic medical records and efficient dissemination of best practices are two goals.

By Michael J. Bernstein, AMNews correspondent. Oct. 14, 2002.

Washington -- When it comes to legislation to reduce medical mistakes, the question of how to develop an error-reporting system has taken center stage over the past few years. But bills wending their way through Congress also contain provisions on a much less glitzy topic -- information sharing -- that could have a major impact on physician practices.

Two virtually identical House measures would require the federal government to develop voluntary, national information-sharing standards to ensure that doctors in all settings can have easy access to the most current information about treatment and diagnosis.

The goal is to develop uniform computer programs that could be readily accessed by all doctors. For example, one aim is to have improved electronic medical records and prescriptions.

Drafters of the legislation also said improved computerized information systems would benefit doctors by reducing paperwork, as well as eliminating redundant record-keeping, medical tests and patient history-taking.

The enhanced information system not only would inform doctors about medical errors, but would also provide them with an easy way to learn about the best current practices and the latest research breakthroughs.

To address the information exchange issue, the House bills would create a Medical Information Technology Advisory Board within two years. The board would be composed of a variety of experts -- from clinicians to government officials to information technology specialists.

It would have 30 months to issue a report recommending the best means of developing computer programs that would contain uniform, clearly written medical information programs for doctors in private practice and in hospitals. Additionally, the report would spell out how to keep medical records secure under any new computer system that enables doctors to share information about patients. [...]