Interoperable Electronic Healthcare Record: A Case for Adoption of a National Standard to Stem the Ongoing Healthcare Crisis

Journal of Legal Medicine, Official publication of the American College of Legal Medicine (ACLM), 2012

49 Pages Posted: 8 Nov 2012

See all articles by Deth Sao

Deth Sao

Pace University

Amar Gupta

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

David A. Gantz

Univ. Of Arizona College of Law; Mexico Center, Baker Institute

Date Written: November 5, 2012

Abstract

Interoperable electronic health records (EHR) have the capacity to deliver health care at optimal costs and quality in the United States, but current private and public initiatives have delayed nationwide implementation by failing to overcome several obstacles. These obstacles include: widespread reluctance in adopting health information technology (HIT); differing technical and semantic standards for communication between vendor systems; and legal challenges, which are mainly based on liability, privacy, and security concerns. This paper examines these challenges and the inadequacies of current HIT-EHR implementation strategies, questioning in particular the validity of privacy and security-based concerns. A comparison with the U.S. finance industry and other nations facing similar challenges not only undermine these concerns, but also point to pursuit of revolutionary solutions when traditional approaches fail. To efficiently and effectively facilitate the development of interoperable EHRs and help stem the crisis of rising costs and discontent in the U.S. healthcare sector, this paper proposes enactment of federal legislation mandating uniform technical standards to maintain and transfer health records as a necessary first step and integral part of a successful solution.

Suggested Citation

Sao, Deth and Gupta, Amar and Gantz, David A., Interoperable Electronic Healthcare Record: A Case for Adoption of a National Standard to Stem the Ongoing Healthcare Crisis (November 5, 2012). Journal of Legal Medicine, Official publication of the American College of Legal Medicine (ACLM), 2012 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2171411

Deth Sao

Pace University ( email )

White Plains, NY
United States

Amar Gupta (Contact Author)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ( email )

77 Massachusetts Avenue
Building 32-256
Cambridge, MA 02139
United States
617-253-0418 (Phone)

David A. Gantz

Univ. Of Arizona College of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 210176
Rogers College of Law
Tucson, AZ 85721-0176
United States
520-490-3004 (Phone)

Mexico Center, Baker Institute ( email )

6100 Main Street, MS-40
Houston, TX 77005
United States
520-490-3004 (Phone)

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