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IT healthcare is the use of information technology solutions within healthcare systems and organizations. This includes three primary IT solutions within:
- Hardware
- Software
- Networking
IT healthcare is designed to further the development and interoperability of electronic medical records (EMR) so that health information exchange (HIE) can increase in order to meet the regulations set forth in the United States Health Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act.
Techopedia Explains IT Healthcare
IT healthcare is on the forefront of many healthcare institutions, organizations and private practices due in part to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, which dictates that all U.S. health agencies must be using EMRs by 2015. Other drivers behind IT healthcare interoperability and HIE include patients who are frustrated with their medical care within large health organizations where they are required to repeat their medical histories over and over to different healthcare providers.
Other reasons driving the IT healthcare movement include the desire for more efficient and productive communication between medical entities such as treating physicians, hospitals, private practices and laboratories.
The IT healthcare infrastructure within the U.S. is especially in need of revamping due to archaic infrastructures, remnant architectures and colossal computer applications. This can prevent positive outcomes in healthcare, cost reduction and caregivers' effectiveness.
The U.S. healthcare system has significant problems including nursing and physician shortages, massive healthcare costs, poor patient care and reduced revenues, which often lead to organizational mergers. As a result of this and other reasons, IT healthcare is more important than ever and the need for IT experts has expanded exponentially in this area.
