Savings from Health-Care Computerization May Be Overstated

Whizbang computer systems are taken almost on faith as the solution to all sorts of ills in health care. In Washington, just about everyone supports the notion of beefed-up health information technology, at least in the abstract. The pitch has been that innovations like electronic health records and e-prescribing will improve patient care and safety while also saving money through increased efficiency. How much will be saved? Could be around $77 billion a year in all, according to a widely ci