It is relatively straightforward for closed systems like KP or Geisinger to demonstrate what they have. Interestingly, a vast majority of clinical care occurs outside of such institutions – in small community-based practices. Even NYC’s project was almost entirely funded by the City, per my recollection. So it is not entirely replicable in the community setting.

The excitement of the IT community can only shared by the clinical community when their products and services make sense both in terms of usability as well as affordability. Just today, Wal Mart announced that it would start selling computers preloaded with EMR software (the same used by NYC). This just goes to show how little the IT and other industries understand about utilizing IT in the delivery of health care. If it were as easy as picking a product off the shelf, there would be a lot more willing clinicians lining up to buy such products. In my observation over the past 7 years, the IT industry has some way to go to meet the needs of the health care community. Perhaps, that does not matter, as long as tax dollars are flowing into the coffers of the IT companies….hence this excitement.