The White House, President George W. Bush Click to print this document

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 27, 2005

Fact Sheet: Improving Care and Saving Lives Through Health IT

Today’s Presidential Action

E-prescribing: The Newest Step in the President's Health IT Plan

Updating America's Health Care System

Information technology is changing American industry. At the end of the 1990s, most American industries were spending approximately $8,000 per worker for IT, but the health care industry was investing only approximately $1,000 per worker. The United States has always been innovative with medical care, but continues to face major hurdles in our health information systems as we move into the 21st century. Despite spending over $1.6 trillion on health care as a Nation, there are still serious concerns about high costs, avoidable medical errors, administrative inefficiencies, and poor coordination - all of which are closely connected to the failure to incorporate health information technology into our health care system.

The President's Plan to Improve Care and Save Lives Through Health IT

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