The Economist on Health 2.0

Digitised health-care records have the potential to improve the efficiency and quality of care and to help patients manage their own health. Over the next few years, patient and provider use of health information technology will have a powerful impact on day-to-day health-care administration. It will be real health reform. A digital health-care system can offer greater privacy protection to patients than paper records do today. The transition, however, will require the right mix of government regulation, technology choices and patient education. Some difficult policy decisions will need to be made, and many of the conversations leading up to those decisions are happening right now.