Incongruent Needs

Health Information Technology (HIT) has the potential to redefine the confines of traditional medicine. Yet, in over a decade, little has been shown in improvements from HIT investments. In order to understand the failures of health IT policy, this chapter examines the diverse priorities of stakeholders in the health system. Using kiviat diagrams as adaptations of the traditional iron-triangle of tradeoffs, the priorities of four stakeholder groups (patients, providers, pharmaceuticals, and payers) are mapped against the priorities of government and public health. The chapter finds that the priorities of these stakeholders within the United States healthcare system are incongruent and in conflict. To better understand the HIT needs of the future, policy makers and public health officials must understand these dichotomous priorities and work to bring them in line.