In the current issue of JAMIA, Friedman and Parrish have crafted an insightful and provocative call for the Population Health Record writ large. This paper contributes in an important way to the literature and appears at a propitious time in our nation’s health policy history. Furthermore, it is appropriate for JAMIA in that the AMIA Board first called for such a development in 1997.
The authors present a compelling case, with sufficient details to make clear exactly what is needed. I will therefore not seek to elaborate upon the paper’s content except to say that I support it wholeheartedly. Rather, I offer some added thoughts related to overcoming critical policy barriers. My comments will deal with understanding our civilization culturally, and touch on the role and importance that health can yet play in our nation’s priorities. Before engaging in these weighty matters, I note that the reason that it took 13 years for this proposal to be so ‘timely’ now has both technical and governmental components.
Abstract
Detmer, Don E., J Am Med Inform Assoc, 17(4), 367-369, DOI: 10.1136/jamia.2010.006098
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