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David_Blumenthal Why He Matters

http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/David_Blumenthal

Blumenthal has been tasked with bringing America's health records into the 21st century.

While most doctors still rely on paper and pen to record patients' medical information, Blumenthal and the Obama team envision a system of national electronic medical records. Doctors would add new information to a patient's online file at each visit, creating an easily-accessible and complete medical history.

Transitioning to electronic medical records has long been the focus of Blumenthal's work, and as a 2008 Obama campaign adviser, he made the issue a key part of the then-candidate's plan. With degrees in both medicine and public policy, Blumenthal has spent years working on health policy as a Capitol Hill staffer, a Harvard researcher and at foundations dedicated to providing affordable health care.

But while Blumenthal argues an electronic system would save money in the long run, the transition looks to be very expensive for doctors and hospitals. Obama's February 2009 economic stimulus bill included subsidies meant to incentivize doctors' offices to make the switch, as well as money to create the position of national coordinator for health information technology in the Health and Human Services Department. Obama named Blumenthal to that position in March 2009.Goldstein, Jacob, "U.S. Hospitals Slow to Adapt to E-records," The Wall Street Journal, March 26, 2009 (1)