Electronic Health Records and Vital Records Partnerships

With the introduction of the HITECH bill as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, there has been increasing focus on the uses of electronic health information for all impacted stakeholders. The benefits of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are many, yet the adoption has been relatively slow. The transformation that must occur in health care around the use of electronic health information has already been advancing in vital record organizations. Vital records offices have been transforming over the past decades from a predominantly paper-based operation to an automated and digitized operation at the local, state and federal level. Vital records have served as the backbone for population data which has allowed assessment, policy development and assurance over many centuries. There is now an opportunity for vital records to inform Electronic Health records and vice versa through electronic health information exchange. This presentation will address the key advancements and opportunities for partnerships between EHRs and Vital Records so that we may realize the goals of the HITECH bill to focus on public health to improve the health of our nation.