President Obama's economic stimulus plan includes $19 billion to help medical care facilities switch to electronic records. The president's rationale is that a streamlined and consolidated process of tracking patient care will lower administrative expenses, and by extension, the costs of health care overall.
Many health care professionals agree — but there is growing skepticism among doctors, administrators and computer specialists who say the costs of implementing a comprehensive tracking system will outweigh any cost-saving benefits.
Host Liane Hansen speaks with Dr. Jonathan Oberlander and Dr. John Halamka about the efficacy and feasibility of electronic medical records.
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