Electronic Health Records Taskforce

Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich signed House Bill 2345, Public Act 94-646, creating the Electronic Health Records Taskforce on Aug. 22, 2005. The taskforce is to create a plan for the "development and utilization of electronic health records (EHR) in the state in order to improve the quality of patient care, increase the efficiency of health care practice, improve safety, and reduce health care errors." The EHR plan is to be submitted to the General Assembly by Dec. 31, 2006.

Taskforce membership is to include representatives of physicians, hospitals, pharmacies and long-term health care facilities, academic health care centers, payors, patients and consumers, and information technology providers.

EHR Taskforce Issues Final Report and Plan

The EHR Taskforce approved the final report and plan at its Dec. 18, 2006 meeting. One of the taskforce's recommendations call for the creation of a not-for-profit organization, the Illinois Health Information Network (ILHIN), to establish a state-level health information exchange. The Illinois Department of Public Health would form a public-private partnership with ILHIN to advance EHR and health information exchange initiatives within the state if taskforce recommendations are enacted. A copy of the full report can be viewed by clicking on the link below.

Illinois Electronic Health Records Taskforce Report and Plan: December 2006