EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The National Progress Report includes a review of progress relative to strategies and actions to utilize health
information technology (HIT) and health information exchange (HIE) to improve healthcare quality, safety and
efficiency. This review was undertaken by over 100 experts representing the spectrum of health and health IT
stakeholders.
BACKGROUND ON REPORT
In 2007, eHI engaged in a six-month process to produce the eHealth Initiative Blueprint: Building Consensus for
Common Action. The groundbreaking report helped guide the efforts of many policymakers and healthcare
leaders. Many of the HITECH Act’s provisions directly relate to—and were influenced by—the strategies and
actions discussed explicitly in the original report.
Much has transpired in the healthcare and health IT arenas since the release of the 2007 report. The inclusion
of over $30 billion in federal funding through the HITECH Act, a component of the 2009 American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has had significant implications for the development of health IT. Even without the
stimulus funding, there has been significant organic advancement in many areas of health IT. In the last two
years, the political and economic climate has changed dramatically. Healthcare reform has risen to occupy a
prominent place on the national agenda, accompanied by rising public awareness of issues related to
healthcare quality, costs, access, and information. In light of this, eHI developed the National Progress Report to
help facilitate a national dialogue vis-à-vis advancing healthcare through health IT.
The National Progress Report is intended to support current leadership efforts, including those involving the
Administration, Congress, and private sector organizations that have been working on healthcare IT for many
years. The National Progress Report does the following:
• Identifies activities and assesses progress against goals set in 2007;
• Highlights key trends, actions and strategies that still need to be addressed;
• Reevaluates plans and priorities in light of developments of the past two years; and
• Creates a framework for a national dialogue among relevant stakeholders.
In the spirit of building social capital and supporting a collaborative agenda for change, the National Progress
Report included the hands-on involvement of leaders from every sector of healthcare. Multi-stakeholder
committees, co-chaired by experts were charged with compiling information and assessing progress in the five
focus areas. The project included eHI’s members –who deliver care, manage care, and pay for care; protect the
public’s health; lead collaborative efforts at the state and local levels; and develop tools, services, and therapies
to support improvements in healthcare. Finally, and most importantly, the project included representatives who
actually receive healthcare – consumers.
SURVEY ASSESSES PERCEPTIONS ABOUT PROGRESS:
As part of this process, the eHealth Initiative conducted an online, informal survey where stakeholders around
the country were asked a series of questions to gauge perceptions of progress. Twelve ordinal questions were
asked, seeking replies using a scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree. The majority of responses were
from the health systems, hospitals and other healthcare organizations, consultant, and clinician categories.
While not conclusive, the survey responses offer a snapshot about the HIT and HIE landscape and provide
valuable insights for further consideration:
• The majority of respondents believe significant progress has been made: 61 percent of
respondents agree or strongly agree with the statement that significant progress has been made in the
successful adoption and use of HIT since 2007.
• The value of HIE is not clearly understood by the majority of respondents: 54.9 percent disagree
or strongly disagree with the statement that the value of HIE is clearly understood.
• The majority of respondents believe outreach to consumers about the value of EHRs and HIE is
not effective: 66.6 percent disagree or strongly disagree with the statement that current outreach to
consumers about the value of EHRs and HIE is effective.
• There are mixed reviews about the effect of differences between federal and state privacy laws:
55.5 percent of respondents disagree or strongly disagree with the statement that differences between

federal and state privacy laws are not a barrier to ensuring protection of consumer’s rights to healthcare
privacy.
• There are mixed reviews about the effect HIT and HIE have had on care delivery: 56 percent agree
or strongly agree with the statement that HIT and HIE have had a positive effects on care delivery.
• The majority believe Regional Extension Centers and the National Health Information
Technology Research Center (HITRC) will be vital to educating providers: 66.1 percent of
respondents agree or strongly agree with the view that Regional Extension Centers and the National
Health Information Technology Research Center will be vital to educating providers about adoption and
meaningful use of health IT.