Description of the legislation/policy Health information technology can advance the health of individuals and aid with the performance of providers to produce and improve quality and cost savings in patients’ health. In 2009, Congress passed, and former President Obama signed into law the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Buntin, Burke, Hoaglin and Blumenthal, 2011). Authorized by the HITECH Act, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s (ONC) has worked on health IT. The Health IT created legislation and regulations to provide requirements and certification criteria that the EHRs must meet to ensure health care …show more content…
The advantage of legislation such as HITECH Act, FDASIA, HIPPA, and ACA are a step to transform health care. This is done by enhancing privacy and security of patient data, provide better health care in expanding all aspects of patient care, including safety, effectiveness, communication, and education. Another advantage of the legislation is to improve efficiencies and lower health care costs by promoting devices for preventive medicine and improving coordination of medical services. The disadvantage of legislations in place for EHR is the increase in vulnerability for HIPPA and HITECH Act violations. EHRs enables physicians to access patient information anywhere from devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets. This can lead to increased risk of patient data being given into the wrong hands. Providers need to be cautious and make sure that patients are receiving information via email or text message …show more content…
With the use of EHR comes the opportunity for patients to receive improved coordinated care from medical professions and easier access to their health data. The author identifies views about the problems of EHR and the legislation. Health care professionals understand and accept the obligations under the Privacy and Security, patient’s information can still be at breached if those involved in patient health do not make sure that their information is secured. There is an increased risk of privacy violations with EHR if used improperly. Even though there are legislations in place to protect patient’s information, data still can be easily accessed either intentionally or accidental by using improper security measures. EHR has its advantages and disadvantages of implementing new technology in the health care system, EHR can help improve collaboration, communication, performance, and decrease added work. The author believes that the incentives that the government is providing for physicians and hospitals to adopt electronic health records system will help improve accessibility to patient data, improve preventative health, and provide a collaboration from both patients and health professionals to increase patient’s outcomes of their overall