36-40 E-health Supplement- Cost Savings

This article looks at how healthcare IT can save hospitals and health services valuable funding and how these saving compare to the costs involved. The chief barriers to success and possible solutions to these difficulties are outlined. The author also points to the need for government intervention in implementing healthcare IT on a board scale. RICHARD HILLESTAD, PHD SENIOR MANAGEMENT SCIENTIST, RAND GRADUATE SCHOOL Percent of GDP Country Per capita ($PPP) 9.1 Australia* 2,504 9.6 Canada 2,931 6.1 Mexico 553 7.7 United Kingdom 2,160 14.6 United Sates 5,267 Source: Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD Health Data 2004 (Paris: OECD 2005). Notes: PPP is purchasing power party. GDP is gross domestic product. *2001 Table 1: Per capita health spending in Organization for Econonmic Cooperation and Devlepment (OECD) countries, 2002 36-40 E-HEALTH SUPPLEMENTCOST SAVINGS 26/6/06 2:54 pm Page 36