Opportunities for Healthcare IT, Quality, and Consumer Empowerment

“It is essential that health IT be harnessed as a tool in transforming healthcare, improving quality by delivering information where and when it is most needed, reducing costs, empowering consumers in their healthcare decisions, and providing for the privacy and security of personal health information.”

Over the last few years, federal and state health care policy has increasingly promoted a move away from the legacy systems and reliance on paper towards a modernized information technology (IT) ecosystem. Both the Recovery Act and the Affordable Care Act, for example, place considerable emphasis on the role of electronic medical records. In particular, the Affordable Care Act’s provision for state health care exchanges creates the possibility for flexibility in the design of geographic areas for health insurance (i.e., subsidiary areas as opposed to statewide), the development of an open navigation tool to provide information and options to consumers, a role for enrollment brokers that can provide information to and counsel consumers, the option of a secure digital medicine home that houses patient records, and online access to determine Medicaid eligibility. As these opportunities are realized, there is considerable opportunity for engaging consumers, placing pressure on providers to be more responsive to quality concerns, and for lowering the costs of health care through smart use of IT.

In contrast to the opportunities facilitated by the Affordable Care Act and otherwise, the health care industry trails most sectors’ use of IT. The ability and incentive to collect data and share health care information through technology, for example, is just taking root. For consumers, this means that the health care equivalent of Yelp! is not yet a regular part of the decision-making process when evaluating which providers to use for what purposes. For health care providers, it means that adoption of IT systems to improve quality and performance through data analysis – standard fare in other sectors – is only in its initial stages. For policymakers, it means determining what health care data should be collected and made publicly available to enable entrepreneurs to better empower consumers in their decision-making.

The benefits of open innovation and open data are becoming more apparent across a number of areas, ranging from informing consumers about what restaurants are not up to par on health department standards to what management fees for 401(k) plans are excessive. With more information available to consumers about quality, they are likely to begin modifying their behavior, for example, trying new providers who excel in important areas – and providers are going to be more motivated to improve the quality of their offerings. Consequently, as detailed health care data becomes publicly available, providers and entrepreneurs will utilize technology to improve the provision of medical care and inform consumers about their options. By so doing, the industry will save more lives, increase care quality, eliminate inefficiencies, and achieve cost reductions.

To explore the relevant opportunities and associated challenges related to using information technology to promote greater quality in health care, the Silicon Flatirons Center will bring together leading Colorado entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, public officials, and academics to advance the discussion around technological progress in the healthcare industry.