Health Information Technology: Putting the Patient Back into Health Care

(Background: Most government advisory committees are stocked with representatives of corporations and special interest groups who distort government policies, sometimes unconsciously and with good intentions, to fertilize their own turfs. In health information technology, we have a rare chance to ensure that the most affected members of the public actually have their own direct representative. The GAO is directed by law to propose members for a Health Information Technology Policy Committee, and there is an opening for someone who "advocates for patients or consumers." A movement is building in support of Regina Holliday, nationally famous for her work on opening patient data, comments on Meaningful Use, and her images in her Walking Gallery. My letter follows. Letters to the GAO, [email protected], are due May 25.)

Dear Sirs and Madams:

I am writing in support of appointing Regina Holliday as a patient and consumer advocate on the Health Information Technology Policy Committee. I suggest this on two grounds: that she would be an excellent contributor to the committee, and that it is critical for the committee to hear from directly patients rather than the proxies who usually insert themselves in place of the patients...