What is Health Information Technology?

Health information technology (HIT) refers to the comprehensive systems and infrastructure used for storing, retrieving, and sharing electronic health information across healthcare organizations. This includes electronic health records (EHRs), computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems, e-prescribing platforms, health information exchanges (HIEs), and clinical data warehouses. HIT enables healthcare providers to access complete patient information, reduce medical errors, and streamline clinical workflows while maintaining compliance with privacy regulations like HIPAA.

Why health information technology matters

• Improves patient safety: Reduces medication errors, prevents duplicate testing, and provides clinical alerts for potential adverse drug interactions
• Enhances efficiency: Automates administrative tasks, streamlines documentation, and facilitates faster access to critical patient information
• Supports quality measurement: Enables systematic tracking of clinical outcomes, performance metrics, and population health trends

How Solace can help

A Solace advocate can help you understand your rights regarding electronic health records, ensure your medical information is accurately maintained across different healthcare systems, and navigate technical issues when accessing your health data. Advocates can also assist with coordinating information transfers between providers when you change doctors or health systems.

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