Government has set a goal for every American to have a secure electronic health record by 2014. Eventually, hospitals and doctors will be able to instantly share patients’ clinical information online. That could prevent life-threatening medical mistakes like giving a patient unconscious in the emergency room a drug to which he or she is allergic. It could also save money by cutting duplicative lab tests and scans.

The government is instituting rewards and penalties to encourage hospitals and doctors offices to adopt electronic medical records.
Incentive payments could total as much as $27 billion over 10 years. Providers who insist on clinging to paper records will eventually face cuts in Medicare payments.
Meaningful use of an electronic health record system. Under the economic stimulus plan physicians who implement EHRs and meet HHS “meaningful use” criteria starting in 2011 can qualify for HITECH incentives of $44,000 or more.