Wisconsin Celebrates Advances in Using Health Information Technology

In honor of National Health IT Week, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is celebrating advances in health technologies that connect members and providers. Health information technology (Health IT) improves the quality of health care delivery, increases patient safety, and decreases medical errors. Wisconsin was recently ranked #2 nationwide in a critical measure of Health IT used by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

“Health IT strengthens the relationship between patients and health care providers across Wisconsin’s health care systems,” said DHS Secretary-designee Andrea Palm. “Most importantly, health technology enables us to modernize health care delivery to improve care and promote the health and well-being of all Wisconsinites.”

Nationally, Wisconsin has achieved the second highest rate of eligible health care providers who use electronic health records (EHR). In Wisconsin, 78% of providers use EHR compared to the national average of 55%. Wisconsin is also ranked in the top ten states for providers who have completed all steps toward meaningful use of Health IT. Across Wisconsin, 97% of non-federal acute care hospitals and 93% of physicians have adopted a certified EHR. This means that more providers can securely exchange patient health information, use EHRs to facilitate clinical decision-making, and use technology to better coordinate care.

Wisconsin providers have made significant progress in utilizing Health IT to improve patient care. They are using innovations such as remote monitoring and data analytics to identify interventions to improve health equity. Today’s Health IT advances are centered around the unique needs of individual patients. In the ten years since the Recovery Act provided a boost to Health IT, Wisconsin providers, health plans, and patients have partnered with DHS to embrace a modern technology infrastructure for health care that promotes health for all Wisconsinites.

During National Health IT Week, follow DHS on @DHSWI and #NHITWeek on Facebook(link is external), Twitter(link is external), and Instagram(link is external) to learn how advances in Health IT have transformed the lives of patients across Wisconsin.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.