Groups launch Health IT week

More than 170 organizations launched the fifth annual Health Information Technology Week this morning with a briefing at the Ronald Reagan building. The goal of the week of advocacy and outreach to lawmakers is to raise awareness about the role of Health IT, such as electronic medical records, and discuss ways to do it right.

"Health information technology holds enormous potential to transform the practice of medicine," Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Penn.) said in advance remarks to the event. "National Health IT Week highlights the commitment by the government and private sector to ensure health information technology is integrated, interactive, interoperable, and intelligent to provide the best patient outcomes."

Murphy co-chairs the 21st Century Health Care Caucus, along with Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.). Last year's recovery act set aside more than $20 billion for HIT.