Health IT for You and Me
Health Information Technology (Health IT) is upgrading our health care system for the 21st century. Today’s technology is converting the information in our paper records into an electronic format that allows you and your doctors to have access to your health information when and where it’s needed.
Watch this video (3 minutes) from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) to learn more about how Health IT is improving health care for you.
Local Perspectives
Health IT is one of several essential tools to improve health care and, ultimately, health. When Health IT is effectively combined with the other essential tools — access to primary care, patient-centered values, a culture of continuous improvement, and inclusive leadership — it helps drive improvements in patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, provider satisfaction, and cost reduction.
Sharon H. Vitousek, MD
Board President, Hawai‘i Island Beacon Community
Director, North Hawai‘i Outcomes Project
A‘ohe hana nui ke alu ia
No task is too big when done together by all.
The whole idea behind Beacon — whether through Health IT, care coordination, or clinical transformation — is to handle the huge task of health care for Hawai‘i Island, which can only be done by all of us working together!
Michelle Malia Hiraishi
Executive Director
Hui Mālama Ola Nā ‘Ōiwi
Health IT helps us merge our clinical efforts with appropriate documentation so that we are able to accurately capture data for internal and external quality improvement efforts. By having access to all of our information electronically, we are able to be more efficient and effective in managing patient care through improved communication and the ability to track patient outcomes.Melissa Corrao
Medical Home Program Coordinator
Bay Clinc, Inc.
Health IT is important to our organization and to me because it will allow sharing of my and other patients’ health information electronically with other health care providers. This will improve our health and the quality of care we receive when we go between providers and facilities. For example, when I am referred to a specialist or go to the Emergency Room, all can access the same data as my Primary Care Physician. There will be less chance for medical errors and easier reporting of accurate statistics.
Kimberlin Barnes
Informatics Specialist II
Bay Clinic, Inc.
Ka'u Rural Health Community Association, Inc. 