Welcome to my new “HITECH” blog. This blog will track key developments at the federal and state (Kentucky) levels under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) related to that part of ARRA titled, “Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act” (HITECH).  My primary interest in HITECH concerns the stimulus for the adoption and implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) by physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers and suppliers, as well as Health Information Exchanges (HIEs), Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIOs) and others. The scope of this blog also will encompasses the privacy and security requirements and developments under HITECH and HIPAA. 

With healthcare reform also on the horizon, the boundaries of what we are going to see and experience in health IT may be, well, simply . . . limitless!  I equate what we’re about to experience over the next few years in health IT to <em>a roller coaster ride inside a time machine</em>. So hang on to your hat!  It may be a bit bumpy!