BUSINESS

AMA policy encourages national infotech standards

The Association plans to work with lawmakers and insurers to examine the cost impact on physicians.

By Katherine Vogt, AMNews staff. July 5, 2004.

Chicago -- The AMA will lead an effort to ensure health care information technology standards are established to allow physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals to share and exchange data, according to a resolution adopted June 15 by the House of Delegates during the American Medical Association's Annual Meeting.

Duane M. Cady, MD, chair-elect of the AMA Board of Trustees, said shared information technology could help increase patient safety and be a cost-effective tool. "This is clearly the future," Dr. Cady said.

The resolution also said the AMA would work with Congress and insurance companies to align incentives as part of the development of a national health information infrastructure so physicians aren't stuck with a disproportionate financial burden when they implement these technologies.

The cost of implementing and maintaining systems has been a concern among physicians. In testimony before the resolution was adopted, Paul Wertsch, MD, immediate past president of the Wisconsin Medical Society, said it is unfair for society to think that physicians can foot the bill for such technology. He called for a system of shared costs.

Dr. Wertsch also said adopting a standard of interchangeable technology was important to alleviate the concerns of some physicians, who have been worried that they "are going to buy a Betamax system while the rest of the world switched to VHS."

[...]

Full text of AMNews content is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.

Access details

Join the AMA