Health information technology pilot programs struggle with costs

Federal pilot programs established to use health information technology (HIT) to improve patient care and reduce costs are having a hard time meeting the latter goal.

Last year the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) kicked off the Beacon Communities program, which gave federal funds to 17 healthcare communities to develop secure electronic health record and health information exchange systems.

At a recent event marking the effort's 1-year anniversary, several Beacon Communities representatives said they have been unable to sort through and integrate patient data fast enough to affect patient care and reduce costs.