How does the HITECH Act improve healthcare?

The HITECH Act significantly improves healthcare by enhancing the adoption of health information technology. This act, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, was designed to promote the use of electronic health records (EHRs) and encourage healthcare providers to utilize health information technology to improve patient care and streamline processes.

By incentivizing healthcare providers to implement EHR systems, the HITECH Act aims to improve health information exchange, increase patient safety, and provide better clinical outcomes. When healthcare providers adopt these technologies, they can more effectively share patient information, reduce errors, and enhance overall care coordination. The emphasis on standardized electronic health records also leads to a more efficient healthcare system, where data can be accessed and analyzed more readily.

While the other options may connect to broader goals within the healthcare system, they do not specifically capture the core focus of the HITECH Act. For instance, lower medical costs and expanded insurance coverage, though important for improving healthcare access and affordability, are not directly the primary objectives of the HITECH Act. Similarly, the act does not explicitly target patient wait times, although improved technology may indirectly lead to efficiencies that could reduce those wait times in practice.