Chapter 14 - Health information technology and family caregiving: Policy initiatives

Abstract

As health information technology (HIT) has become more commonplace across health care settings, it has also played an increasing role in family caregiving. Health information technology refers to technologies “that are designed for or support the use by health care entities or patients for the electronic creation, maintenance, access, or exchange of health information” (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, 2009, Sec. 3000(5)) and includes electronic health records (EHRs), patient portals, and certain mobile technologies. Federal policies, such as the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010, and amendments to Medicare and Medicaid, have promoted the adoption of HIT throughout healthcare systems with the intent to improve patient safety, quality and efficiency of care (Blumenthal, 2010). These policies also have implications for family caregivers as they use HIT to interact with health care systems on behalf of the person(s) they care for. This chapter will review the role that federal legislation has played in the promotion and adoption of HIT and the implications of these policies—both opportunities and challenges—for family caregivers. It will also outline potential policy solutions for bridging the family care gap to further support families as they care for older adults with complex and challenging chronic care needs.