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SALT LAKE CITY -- The government's point man when it comes to health information technology [HIT] was in Utah Thursday.
Dr. David Blumenthal is the National Coordinator for health IT and visited the state to discuss Utah's role as a Beacon Community. The 15 communities around the country will work to bring doctors, hospitals, federal programs and patients together to design new ways of improving quality and efficiency to health care, while also improving safety and cost.
"There are enormous benefits to having electronic health information so information can follow patients," explained Blumenthal. "But we know that the American public wants to be assured that when their information is available in electronic form that it will be secure."
Utah will use federal funds for the health IT program to increase employment and infrastructure.
