Health Information Technology (HIT) policy needs to focus on improving patient medication adherence in order to realize the goals of improving patient health and achieving cost savings in the US health care system, according to an expert panel convened by NEHI (Network for Excellence in Health Innovation) and Prescriptions for a Healthy America.
The roundtable explored the potential of HIT to improve patient care, outcomes, safety and to lower costs through improved medication management and adherence. Expert speakers debated which innovations should be prioritized in technology adoption to meet the needs of all stakeholders.
In particular, the panel said the two highest priorities for HIT should be providing electronic access to accurate mediation lists and complete drug formulary information for prescribing physicians.
Just as important, according to the panel, users and patients should redouble efforts to win a realignment of payment priorities that will support utilization of numerous HIT capabilities that already exist but are lying dormant.
"There is room in HIT policy for specific priorities that will sharpen the focus on patient medication adherence,” said NEHI executive director Valerie Fleishman, “but our panel also made clear that much can be done to exploit existing HIT capabilities and existing sources of data that are not being utilized for lack of payment support.”
The discussion took place at “Connected Health, Better Adherence”, a roundtable at the Pew Conference Center in Washington, DC hosted by NEHI, a national health policy institute, in partnership with Prescriptions for a Healthy America.
The panels consisted of a number of national health care leaders, including Joel White of the Council for Affordable Health Coverage, Tom Hubbard of NEHI, Jodi Daniel of the ONC, Lindsey Ferris of the Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP), Dr Tejal Gandhi of the National Patient Safety Foundation, Dr Robert Popovian of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Mark Savage of National Partnership for Women and Families and Shelly Spiro of the Pharmacy HIT Collaborative.
Health Information Technology, Network for Excellence in Health Innovation, NEHI, Valerie Fleishman
