Costs and Benefits of Health Information Technology

To understand what is new in health information technology (IT), the authors updated a systematic review of health IT with studies published during 2004-2007. From 4,683 titles, 179 met inclusion criteria. They identified a proliferation of patient-focused applications although little formal evaluation in this area; more descriptions of commercial electronic health records (EHRs) and health IT systems designed to run independently from EHRs; and proportionately fewer relevant studies from the health IT leaders. Accelerating the adoption of health IT will require greater public-private partnerships, new policies to address the misalignment of financial incentives, and a more robust evidence base regarding IT implementation.