Health IT Hot in the Nation's Capital

There is a lot to keep up with living in DC, but in the recent article, Health IT heats up in Washington Dr. Kevin Fickenscher discuses today’s hot topics in our nation’s capital.  Yes, you guessed it– Health Information Technology is at the top of the list.

Dr. Fickenscher connects the dots between the recent buzz in HIT and the ongoing growth of mobile technologies in our country.  He sheds light on a recent event in which the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) signed a memo of joint cooperation that will allow them to work together to manage wireless medical devices.  “With the FCC already having released the National Broadband Plan, the use of wireless devices in the medical community will only continue to grow and the government needs to be prepared for the huge wave of growth anticipated in the health care arena.  As a tool for reducing costs, enhancing service and driving quality of care, wireless technologies are an imperative for health care innovation.”

Although hype is building, the symbiotic relationship between HIT and mobile technologies has already been proven successful.  Just as mobile online banking applies to the financial industry, e-prescribing is one example of how wireless technology has already worked to enhance all aspects of the health care environment.  Providers can access e-prescribing software via wireless networks to electronically prescribe medicines anywhere, including at the point of care, and send these prescriptions straight to the pharmacy with click of a button.

Washington has played a huge role over the past few years in passing legislation to kick-start HIT adoption, and will surely remain involved as we watch the recently defined ‘meaningful use’ incentives come to fruition.