HITECH Act developed to support adoption of electronic health records

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) legislation was created in 2009 to stimulate the adoption of electronic health records and supporting technology. President Obama signed HITECH into law on Feb. 17, 2009, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 economic stimulus bill. Sharing of health data—through electronic health records and health information exchanges—has changed the way the health care field, including the Kansas City safety net system, has functioned on a daily basis. While not all organizations have had access to the resources to adopt new applications and maintain pace with the systematic changes, those that have managed to secure funds have seen significant benefits.