David Blumenthal MD, MPP serves as the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (or Health IT) under President Barack Obama. Dr. Blumenthal is charged with building a secure nationwide health information system and supporting the widespread, meaningful use of Health IT.

Dr. Blumenthal’s credentials are extensive. He not only was a practicing primary care physician but also is a renowned researcher and national authority on health IT. Dr. Blumenthal serves on numerous national boards and has authored over 200 scholarly publications, including “Heart of Power: Health and Politics in the Oval Office,” which tells the history of U.S. Presidents’ involvement in health reform, from FDR through George W. Bush.

In this podcast, Dr. Blumenthal talks with Helen Osborne about:

• What Health IT is and why it’s needed in healthcare today.
• How Health IT benefits providers, researchers, and patients.
• Concerns about Health IT and work being done to address them.
• What an ideal Health IT world would look like 20 years from now.

More ways to learn:

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Available at http://healthit.hhs.gov/portal/server.pt/community/healthit_hhs_gov__home/1204

2 Comments »

1. 

   Not that it’s specifically related, but the entire idea of using technology to address concerns is fascinating to me. In my class we talk about artificial intelligence and how your pacemaker can now basically tell your cellphone to call your doctor, and report if there’s a problem.

   I find that a fascinating idea. I also gave a talk a while back when I worked for GHA about how hospitals should be monitoring social media for both positive and negative ideas. We had a local hospital that did – and when someone tweeted that she had been waiting for hours in an ER, the hospital’s social media specialist contacted her and got her situation ironed out to her satisfaction. If someone puts on their Facebook page that they are totally peeved with any institution, it should be addressed – just because the audience is enormous.

   Comment by Jan Potter — March 2, 2011 @ 8:32 am

2. 

   Excellent interview! So many times over the years we have wished in our family that doctors and other providers could all access the same information about us. As we move in this direction, that will be a reality. What a wonderful service you are providing with these podcasts, Helen.

   Comment by Lou Heckler — March 3, 2011 @ 11:07 am

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