The promises and challenges of health information technology in primary health care.

This chapter explores the application of Information Technology to healthcare in the United States. Recent developments and trends in healthcare information technology (HIT) are presented and discussed. Widespread adoption of HIT promises to save lives, save money, and improve health. Definitions, descriptions, and examples of electronic health records (EHRs) and personal health records (PHRs) are provided. The significant efforts to broadly and meaningfully adopt HIT over the next several years are discussed. The significant challenges in implementing EHRs are discussed, including transformation of clinical processes. Finally, the impact of HIT on the concept of ownership of the healthcare record and how it may change the relationship between the patient and healthcare provider are explored. Implementing effective HIT on a nationwide scale will require considerable effort.