Influencers: Shaping the Future

Dr. Karen DeSalvo Dr. Giovanni Colella Dr. Toby Cosgrove

Dr. Karen DeSalvo

National coordinator for health information technology and acting assistant secretary for health

HHS

The future of health IT

is one where electronic health information is securely, yet seamlessly, shared; where electronic health information can be accessed as easily as an app helps you track your bank account; where we can aggregate health data to tell the long-term health story of a person or community; and where data help us reward quality, not just quantity, of care. This future is possible because of the incredible progress we have made over the past six years: We have tripled adoption of EHRs and virtually every hospitalization has a digital footprint. But the public and private sectors have more work to do. We will move to implement federally recognized, national interoperability standards, including around privacy and security; change the culture around information-sharing, including by combating information blocking; and build the business case, so that the movement of electronic data is vital for market success.

Dr. Giovanni Colella

Co-founder and CEO Castlight Health

The healthcare system in the U.S.

is complex, wasteful and far too expensive, but we are at a fascinating inflection point, and with many new technologies coming online we are hugely optimistic about the future. The convergence of cloud computing and big data will enable greater transparency systemwide, and open up new opportunities to engage patients in preventive treatments and better management of chronic conditions.

It will take time. We are on a journey—a very long journey—but one that is incredibly rewarding. At Castlight, our mission is to radically improve the system by empowering people to make the best choices for their health and to help companies make the most of their health benefits.