AHA Reports: More Hospitals Using Health IT to Improve Care

A growing number of hospitals are using health information technology to improve health care quality and support new models of care, according to TrendWatch reports released today by the AHA. “Hospitals and health systems continue to make progress leveraging technology to improve patient safety and quality of care,” said Chantal Worzala, AHA vice president for health IT and policy. “We are also seeing that those engaged in new models of care are driving greater adoption of advanced health IT functions. These systems make it easier for patients to do things like request prescription refills online, and view and download clinical information. These advancements continue to enable patients to play a more informed, active role in their health and health care. They are also enabling hospitals and health systems to move from volume to value, empowering them to offer higher quality, more coordinated care and address broader population health concerns.”