America spends $1.7 trillion on healthcare each year, but the system remains highly inefficient. High-tech treatments abound, but some of the simpler things, such as keeping track of a patient's chart, can be challenging. Healthcare information technology (HIT) is a field that offers a wide range of information technology applications to help administer healthcare more effectively, and CCST has worked over the past year to help California design a framework to enable consistent HIT standards throughout the state.

One of the biggest HIT goals is the creation of a statewide data exchange system and integration of the healthcare system. While there are many logistical obstacles to designing and implementing such a system, this integration could significantly improve the efficiency of healthcare. In one study, according to the California Regional Health Information Organization, physicians could not find information previously recorded in paper charts 30% of the time and weren't aware of 25% of prescriptions given to patients.

At the October 2005 meeting, held jointly with the Institute of Medicine, CCST concluded that the implementation of healthcare information technologies (HIT) in California was both a huge problem and an opportunity for closing inequities in healthcare costs. Subsequently, with the guidance of CCST members Steve Bruckman, Alfonso Cardenas and Steve Ryan, we have been identifying ways for CCST to elevate the awareness and importance of this issue to state legislators and policymakers, meeting with technology experts from private companies such as Google and the Governor's office.

Following the October Council meeting and subsequent discussions with policymakers, Senator Elaine Alquist introduced SB 1338, which would create a California Health Care Infrastructure Authority. The bill would also charge the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a plan to implement electronic health care records for every resident of the state. In July, Governor Schwarzenegger emphasized the importance of this issue by signing an Executive Order which uses much of the language from SB 1338, calling for a "California eHealth Action Forum" to solicit input and participation in the development of a state policy agenda "to improve health and healthcare through the rapid implementation of health information technology." SB 1338 addresses two issues not covered in the Executive Order (workforce development and personal health record access by individuals).