To our health : the role of IT in healthcare

Abstract

Preventable medical complications are afflicting a growing number of Americans. Meanwhile, the field of healthcare has been slow to uptake information technology. This thesis reviews existing literature in order to produce recommendations on how to use information technology to reduce the cost and increase the quality of healthcare in the United States. Current findings and statistics from academic and governmental sources are cited in order to illustrate the present state of the healthcare system. Changes in the healthcare model are advocated on an individual, corporate, and government level. It is proposed that improvements can be made through the metrication of personal health statistics, the use of electronic medical records, and the conversion of American healthcare into a market-based system with widely accessible quality ratings. These recommendations are targeted to voters and policymakers interested in improving the American healthcare system.