There are a lot of reasons that doctors haven't rushed to install computerized medical records. Among them, it's hard. The American Medical Association hopes to make it a bit easier for doctors to get wired.

The AMA has joined up with a software company to launch a new internet service for physicians. It will include e-prescribing (which Medicare is encouraging and will within a few years require) reference materials, and electronic medical records. The new "platform" is intended to allow physicians to utilize health information technology, including electronic medical records and clinical decision support tools. And naturally, the vendor promises there will be "personalized content" and "networking opportunities"("MyCase?").

The federal government, of course, has dedicated some $19 billion of stimulus money to health IT, and it's good to see the AMA helping in the drive to implement health information technology. By improving record-keeping (and hence the information available to doctors) and giving access to up-to-date research and decision support tools, HIT is an important part of how high-quality integrated delivery systems like Baylor do so well by their patients. 

The AMA's action to encourage docs to adopt health information technology follows their endorsement last week of President Obama's eight principles for health reform. In that endorsement, the AMA praised the President for including substantial resources to promote adoption of health information technology in his economic recovery package.

From the AMA's endorsement letter:

The AMA believes that we must enact comprehensive health system reform that will cover the uninsured, improve our healthcare delivery system, and place affordable, high quality care within reach of all Americans. We appreciate the opportunities we were given to participate in the White House fiscal and health summits as well as the meeting with physician leaders, and we commend your Administration on its extensive outreach to the physician community on health care reform. The AMA looks forward to continuing to work with you and the Congress as you develop health system reform policies in keeping with these eight principles.

The AMA has signaled repeatedly that it wants to be a partner in reform efforts this year, much more so than in the Clinton years. There will be challenges as we get past basic principles to the nitty gritty of payment reform, but for now the AMA stance is an encouraging one.