Electronic records could be key to reducing healthcare costs

The key to reducing U.S. healthcare costs, some argue, could lie in the adoption of electronic health records (EHR).

“Americans spend an extraordinary amount of money each year on health care, but unfortunately access and quality of care is frequently marginalized by the inefficiencies and errors in the system,” said Senator Judd Gregg in front of the Senate Budget Committee.

In addition to holding down costs, improved electronic record-keeping and communications would reduce medical errors, lead to better care and give decision-makers more data to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments, Gregg said.

In similar testimony, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse cited studies that estimated health IT could help the medical community save between $81 billion and $346 billion annually.