 and large physicians’ practices in two dozen counties in southeast Texas. But until recently, the network had one serious shortcoming: It lacked two major regional health care providers, Memorial Hermann and HCA Gulf Coast Division Family of Hospitals, which, together, include more than 24 area hospitals. However, in recent months, both have joined the network. Though neither is fully live quite yet (integrating records requires more than just flipping a switch, Bonvino noted), both should come online imminently, he said.

The stakes, federal officials and other experts say, are tremendous. For starters, an inability to share patient data in real time can jeopardize safety and lead to suboptimal care. Longer term, a prolonged period without shared electronic medical information could prevent providers and patients from fully benefiting from the growing power of “big data” and artificial intelligence—twin technological powers beginning to unlock the secrets of diagnoses and treatments.

* * * * *

Nearly 15 years ago, President George W. Bush announced a 10-year plan to create a network that would allow health care providers to share medical records, but that vision still hasn’t fully come to fruition. The aim was for physicians to be able to share patient data easily to prevent medical errors, reduce costs, provide information during emergencies and improve care. The plan, announced in 2004, also envisioned giving patients the option to carry all their health information on a key chain—the modern smartphone hadn’t been invented yet.

So far, regional health care information-sharing networks are making progress across the country, including here in Houston. Still, there are gaps in coverage: Records aren’t connected nationally and patients often lack full access to their own information.

Even today, instances in which patients or physicians have to track down hard copies of records “are unbelievably the norm,” said Hardeep Singh, M.D., a patient safety researcher at the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, based at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine.

Health care providers often order duplicate tests and imaging for data simply because electronic records are not available, several experts say.

“It’s getting better, but I think it’s going to take longer than we thought, and I think we aren’t moving fast enough,” Singh said.

Other experts who place more urgency on the current situation argue that a lack of
and large physicians ’ practices in two dozen county in southeast Texas. But until recently, the net had one serious defect: It lacked two major regional health concern providers, Memorial Hermann and HCA Gulf Coast Division Family of Hospitals, which, together, admit more than 24 sphere hospitals. However, in recent months, both have joined the network. Though neither is in full live quite yet (desegregate record requires more than just flipping a switch, Bonvino noted), both should arrive online imminently, he said. 

 The stakes, federal official and other experts say, are tremendous. For starter, an inability to share patient data in real time can jeopardize condom and lead to suboptimal care. Longer term, a prolonged period without shared electronic medical information could prevent providers and patients from fully benefiting from the growing power of “ big data ” and artificial news — duplicate technological powers beginning to unlock the mystery of diagnoses and treatments. 

 * * * * * 

 Nearly 15 class ago, President George W. Bush announced a 10 - year plan to create a net that would allow health care providers to share medical records, but that vision still has n’t fully come to fruition. The aim was for doctor to be able to share patient datum easily to prevent medical errors, reduce costs, provide data during emergencies and improve care. The plan, announced in 2004, also envisioned giving patients the choice to carry all their health information on a key chain — the modern smartphone had n’t been invent yet. 

 thus far, regional health care data - sharing networks are make progress across the country, admit here in Houston. Still, there be gaps in coverage: Records are n’t connected nationally and patients often lack full access to their own information. 

 Even today, case in which patients or physicians experience to track down hard copies of records “ are unbelievably the norm, ” say Hardeep Singh, M.D., a patient safety researcher at the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, based at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine. 

 Health care providers frequently arrange duplicate test and imaging for data simply because electronic records are not available, several experts state. 

 “ It ’s getting better, but I think it ’s go to take longer than we thought, and I think we are n’t moving fast enough, ” Singh said. 

 early experts who place more urgency on the current situation argue that a lack of
 anf large physicians’ practlces in two dozeu countmes in aoutheasg Texas. But until recently, tie nwtworj had one serious shorgcoming: In lacked rwo nqjor regioizl healbk cars prorivers, Memorial Hgrmann and HWA Gulf Coast Gixidion Family of Hospitals, which, togeeher, invlkde more than 24 ares hoslptcls. However, in recent months, bofh have joined the nrtwork. Though neither is fklly live quite yet (inhegrating rgdorqw requires mure than jlvt flippinf a switch, Bonvino noted), both sfould come onlibe imlhnently, he waid.

Tre stakes, federal ofxicials and other expcrts vay, are tremendous. For svarters, an inability to share pctient data in real tumw can jeo[ardkze raftty ahd leaf tk suboptimzl care. Lonter term, a prolongec [vtiod without shareq qlectronic medical information could prtvent providers and patients from fully benefitinh from thq growing power of “big data” and artificial intellhgencx—tdin tcchnuoohical powers beginning to unlock the secrets jr cisgnoses and trcatments.

* * * * *

Nearly 15 jests ago, Presidevt Geoxfe W. Bush announced w 10-year klan ti create w neywork that would allow healrh care provpderw to share medical records, buc that visipn still hasn’t fully cooe tk fruition. Hhe aim wzr for physicians to ba able to share patient daea easily to 'revent oedival erwors, reducf cosbv, provide informatlon doring amergencied and improve care. The plan, announced in 2004, alsp anvpsioned gnving iatients the opeion to carry cll theix healgh informanion on a key chain—tre modern smasjphone hadn’t ueen invegted yet.

Wo far, fdgional health care information-shqring networks are mayjng progress acxuws the country, oncuudynh iere yt Houston. Sthll, ghefr are gaps in coyerxge: Tecords aren’t connecded hationally and patoekts often lack fujl access to yheir own informatlon.

Evxn todey, insyanses in which patients or physidians havf tj track down hare copies of xecords “are unbelievably the norm,” said Herdeep Singh, M.D., a patignt safety researcher st the Centxr for Innovatimns in Quality, Effecriveness and Safeuy, based at the Michael E. DeBdkey GA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine.

Health care providers oftwn ordxr duplicate festx and iicging fjr dete simply because vlectronic records are not availeble, severdl experts say.

“It’s getting bettrr, but I think kt’s going to take longer than we thought, and I think we aren’t mpving fast enough,” Singh xaid.

Othee expsrts who puace more urgency pn the currwnt sityatiln argue that a kagk of
and large physicians’ practices in two dozen southeast But until the network had two regional health care Memorial Hermann and Gulf Coast Division Family of Hospitals, together, include more than 24 area hospitals. However, in recent months, both have the network. Though neither is fully live quite yet (integrating records requires more just a Bonvino both should come online imminently, he said. The stakes, federal officials and other experts say, are For starters, an inability to share patient data real time can jeopardize and lead to suboptimal care. term, prolonged period shared medical could prevent providers patients from fully benefiting from the growing power of “big data” and artificial intelligence—twin technological powers beginning unlock the diagnoses and * * * Nearly 15 President George W. Bush announced a create a network that would allow health care to share records, but that vision still hasn’t come to fruition. The aim was for physicians be able to share patient data easily to prevent medical errors, reduce costs, provide information and improve care. The announced in 2004, envisioned patients option carry all health information on a key chain—the modern smartphone hadn’t been invented So far, regional health care information-sharing networks are making progress country, here in Houston. there are gaps in Records connected nationally and patients full to Even instances which patients or physicians to track down hard copies records “are unbelievably the a patient safety researcher at the Center for in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, based at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine. Health providers often tests and imaging for data simply because electronic are not available, several say. “It’s getting better, but I think it’s going take than we and I think aren’t moving fast Singh said. Other place more on current a lack of
 and large physicians’ practicEs in two dozEn couNtiEs iN sOuthEast texas. But until rECentLy, the network had one seriOus shOrTComiNG: IT lackEd two maJOr REGioNaL hEalTh CArE provIdeRs, MemorIal Hermann And hCa Gulf Coast DiVIsIon Family oF HoSpitals, which, TogEther, iNcLudE More tHan 24 Area hOspitaLS. HowevEr, in recenT mONths, boTH have joINEd The nEtwork. Though neithER iS Fully live quite Yet (intEgRAtING reCorDs requires MoRe thaN Just fliPPiNG A SwiTCh, Bonvino noteD), both should COme Online ImMinENtly, he Said.

THe STakEs, federal ofFiciAls and othEr expeRTs say, arE TremendOus. For StaRteRs, an INaBiLitY tO ShaRE pAtiENt dAta in reaL tImE can jEopaRDIZE safEty And lEad to Suboptimal carE. LoNger TErm, A prolOnged PeriOd WithoUt sharEd eleCtRonic medical infOrmaTion could PreVeNt pRoViderS And patIenTs fRom fullY benefiTIng FrOM THe Growing power of “big dAtA” ANd ArtificiAl inteLLiGeNCe—twin teChNolOgicAL PowerS begINnIng to unlOck the SEcReTs of diaGnOses anD tReaTmeNts.

* * * * *

NeARly 15 yEars agO, PresideNt GeoRGe W. Bush announcED a 10-year plan to cREaTE A nETworK thAt would alloW heaLTh caRe prOViDerS To shaRe medIcAL rECords, but that vision sTiLl hasn’T fullY come to fruitiOn. The aim waS FOR physiciAns tO Be ABle to share patiEnt daTa easily to PRevent meDical Errors, reDuce costs, PROvide infOrmAtiOn dUriNG EmErgencies and iMPRove CaRe. The plAn, aNnounceD in 2004, AlsO enVisIoNed giving Patients ThE oPtIoN to Carry ALl their hEaLth InForMatioN On a key Chain—The mOdErN SmaRtphone HAdN’T Been InVeNted Yet.

so Far, reGionAL heAlth carE informatIon-SHariNg NeTworks aRe making progrEsS across the CoUntRy, inclUDIng here iN Houston. Still, there are gaPS in coveRagE: RecoRds aRen’t conneCteD natioNalLY and paTients Often LaCk fULL acceSS To TheIr Own informaTIOn.

EVen toDaY, insTances iN which patients or phYSicIans have to traCk dOwn hARD cOpiES oF RecOrDS “arE UNbelievably the nOrm,” said HarDeEP SIngh, M.D., a patIEnt SaFety resEarcher At the cEnter foR InnovatiOns in QualItY, EffECTivEness and SaFety, baseD at the MicHAel E. DEbaKey VA medIcal CeNtEr aNd BayLor ColLEge Of MedIcine.

HEaLth carE provIdErs often Order duplicate tests and iMaging For daTa sImply becaUse ELecTronic recOrds Are not avaiLabLe, sEveraL exPErts sAy.

“It’S GeTtiNG bettEr, buT i think it’s GOiNg tO TAkE longer than WE THouGht, anD I tHInk we aRen’t Moving fast enough,” SINgh said.

Other exPertS WHo pLacE More UrGency on the currEnt SiTUAtion argUe That a lack of
 and large physicians’ pra ctices intwo d oze n c ou ntie s in  southeast Tex a s. B ut until recently, the  netw or k  had on e ser ious sh o rt c o min g:  I t l ac k ed  twomaj or regi onal healt h c ar e providers, Me morial Her man n and HCA Gu lfCoastDi vis i on Fa mil y ofHospit a ls, wh ich, toge th e r, inc l ude mor e th an 2 4 area hospitals. Ho w ever, in recen t mont hs ,  b o t h h ave  joined th enetwo r k. Thou g hn e i the r  is fully liv e quite yet (in tegrat in g r e cordsrequi re s  mo re than jus t fl ipping aswitch ,  Bonvin o  noted) , both  sh oul d co m eon lin ei mmi n en tly ,  he  said.
Th estake s, f e d e r al o ffi cial s and  other expert s s ay,a retreme ndous . Fo rstart ers, a n ina bi lity to share p atie nt data i n r ea l t im e can jeopar diz e s afety a nd lead tosu b o p ti mal care. Longer t er m ,  a  prolong ed per i od  w i thout sh ar edelec t r onicmedi c al  informa tion c o ul dprevent  p rovide rs  an d p atien t s fr om ful ly benef iting from the growi n g power of “b i gd a ta ”  and  ar tificial in tell i genc e—tw i ntec h nolog icalpo w er s  beginning to unloc kthe se crets  of diagnoses  and treat m e n ts.

* *  * * *Nearly 15 year s ago , Presiden t  GeorgeW. Bu sh annou nced a 10 - y ear plan  to  cr eat e a n et work that wou l d  all ow  health  ca re prov ide rstosha re  medicalrecords,  b ut  t ha t v ision still ha sn ’tfu lly  come to fru ition . Th eai m  wa s for p h ys i c ians  t obe a ble  t o sha re p a tie nt data  easily t o p r even tme dical e rrors, reduce  c osts, prov id e i nforma t i on durin g emergencies and impro v e care.  Th e pla n, a nnouncedin2004,als o  envis ionedgivin gpat i e nts t h e  o pti on  to carrya l l t heirhe alth  inform ation on a key cha i n—t he modern sma rtp hone h ad n’t be e n i nv e nte d yet.

So far, r egional he al t hcare infor m ati on -sharin g netwo rks a r e makin g progres s acrossth e co u n try , includin g here i n Houston .  Stil l ,there  ar e gaps  i n c overa ge: Re c ord s are n’t co nn ectednatio na lly andpatients often lack ful l acce ss to  th eir own i nfo r mat ion.

Eve n to day, insta nce s i n whi chp atien ts o r  p hys i cians  hav e  to track do wnh a rd  copies ofr e c ord s “ar e u n believ ably  the norm,” saidH ardeep Singh,M.D. , a p ati e nt s af ety researcher  at  t h e  Centerfo r Innovatio ns in Qu al i ty, E ffecti veness  and Sa f e ty ,  based  atthe  MichaelE.De B akey VA  M ed i cal Ce nter  a nd Bay lor Co l lege o f Medicine.

Hea lth c a r e pro v ide rs of te n order dupl icate test s and imagi ng for  dat a sim ply bec au se ele ctr on ic records are not a vaila ble, se ve ralexp erts s ay.“ It’sgett in g b etter, bu t It hi nk it’ s go ing t otake  longer t h an we th oug h t, andIthi n k  we ar e n’ t moving fas t e nough , ”  Singh sai d .

O t he r  expe rts wh o plac e moreu rge nc y on th e c u r rent situ ation arg u e t ha t alack of
 and_large physicians’_practices in two dozen_counties in_southeast_Texas. But_until_recently, the network_had one serious_shortcoming: It lacked two_major regional health_care_providers, Memorial Hermann and HCA Gulf Coast Division Family of Hospitals, which, together, include_more_than 24_area_hospitals._However, in recent months, both_have joined the network. Though_neither is_fully live quite yet (integrating records requires more_than_just flipping a_switch, Bonvino noted), both should come online imminently, he_said.

The stakes, federal officials and other_experts say, are_tremendous._For_starters, an inability to_share patient data in real time_can jeopardize safety and lead to_suboptimal care. Longer term, a prolonged period_without shared electronic medical information could_prevent providers and patients from_fully benefiting_from the growing power of_“big data” and_artificial intelligence—twin_technological powers beginning_to unlock the secrets of diagnoses_and treatments.

* *_* * *

Nearly 15 years ago,_President_George W. Bush_announced_a_10-year plan_to create a_network_that would_allow_health care providers to share medical_records,_but that vision still hasn’t fully come_to fruition. The aim_was_for physicians to be_able to share patient data_easily to prevent medical errors, reduce_costs, provide_information during_emergencies and improve care. The plan, announced in 2004, also envisioned_giving patients the option to carry_all their health information_on a_key_chain—the modern smartphone_hadn’t_been invented_yet.

So far, regional health care information-sharing networks_are making_progress across the country, including here_in Houston. Still, there_are_gaps in coverage: Records aren’t connected_nationally and patients often lack full_access to their own information.

Even_today,_instances_in which patients or physicians_have to track down hard copies_of records “are_unbelievably the norm,” said Hardeep Singh, M.D.,_a_patient safety researcher at the Center_for_Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety,_based_at_the Michael E. DeBakey VA_Medical Center and Baylor College of_Medicine.

Health care providers often order duplicate tests and imaging_for data simply_because electronic records are not_available,_several_experts say.

“It’s getting better, but I think it’s going to_take longer_than we thought,_and I think we aren’t moving fast enough,” Singh said.

Other_experts who place more urgency on the_current situation argue that a lack of