Senate: Health care IT bill will ‘end unfair practices’ for patients, providers

The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions unanimously recommended a measure designed to improve health care information technology.The purpose of the "Improving Health Information Techonology Act" (S. 2511) is to simplify information sharing among doctors and allow patients easier access to their own medical records. The bill focuses on the use of the electronic health record — a real-time digital version of a patient’s medical chart — to allow for central record keeping of a patient’s entire medical history, including medications prescribed, treatment plans, immunization records, allergies, radiology imaging and lab results. The goal is to allow immediate and secure access to all authorized users, including patients and providers.