Political odd couple makes pitch for electronic medical records

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May 18, 2005

Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA) have teamed up to spearhead legislation aimed at increasing federal involvement in implementing electronic medical recordkeeping at hospitals, according to an Associated Press report.

Both Clinton and Gingrich said that the use of paper records led to more errors than an automated electronic medical records (EMR). Aside from reducing medical errors, duplicate procedures and saving time, EMRs can be transferred more quickly between different departments, hospitals, or to insurance companies for billing. Clinton and Gingrich argue it makes economic and moral sense to switch to electronic recordkeeping and want the federal government to help hospitals make that transition.

Legislators are seeking business community support for the measure, which would make passage easier in Congress.

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