Today is the official holiday for the Fourth of July--Independence Day in America. Having watched all the celebrations and fireworks on the actual Fourth—yesterday—sets the stage for a bit of reflection as we navigate a quiet holiday when banks, government, and some businesses are closed in observance.
Hearing some of the recounts of history this weekend reminded me just how much our ancestors were willing to risk making a change that changed the course for this country. Had our country’s leaders not taken the bold action to make us a free country, one has to wonder where we would be now.
We presently are in a period of navigating significant change and of a variety of uncertainties across our country due to the economic crisis, continued challenges both from human decisions (war, oil spill) and from natural events (floods, hurricanes, etc.) Conversations with neighbors and friends these days invoke a multitude of emotion and opinions. It is often the nature of our personality that provides a glimpse of our outlook on the future. I am hopeful for improved focus and quality of life for my children and grandchildren’s generations. We all have the capability to make a difference by doing more than voicing our angst or fear. Such is the case for improving health care through the adoption of electronic health records. The unprecedented collaboration of government, public, private, large and small, subsidized or not—have the power to change health care.
The HITECH Act is driving actual decisions on a direction of health care standards and processes so we all will understand more how to take good care of our health. The initiatives of the HITECH Act are now “going community” as the Beacon Community Programs, Regional Extension Centers, Health Information Exchanges, and Workforce Development begin their exciting programs in our states. In the words of Mahatma Ghandi--someone who fully understood the true meaning of independence and endorsed the power of gentle change--perhaps we should all “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”