MALVERN, Pa. -- The following is commentary from Janet Dillione, president, Healthcare Information Technology Division, Siemens Medical Solutions, in response to the August 22 executive order signed by President Bush. The order directs four federal agencies that administer or support health benefit programs to take steps that will result in greater access to healthcare cost and quality information for consumers:

With the federal government paying for nearly half of all healthcare claims in the United States, President Bush's recent move requiring federal agencies to share cost and quality data with consumers is another key step in transforming our nation's healthcare system. The use of healthcare information technology (HIT) is at the core of supporting these initiatives by providing the means for reporting such information.

Beyond the actual reporting, it's also important to note that today's advanced HIT solutions can enhance the coordination and orchestration of complex, interdependent clinical and administrative processes, while also guiding providers in performing the right processes to achieve the best outcomes and lowest costs.

Siemens Medical Solutions is at the forefront of this innovation in HIT, helping our customers deploy next generation technologies that support the continuous improvement of healthcare processes - and therefore, improvements in cost and quality outcomes. Healthcare providers must be able to look at their data in new and meaningful ways in order to measure and improve performance. We take seriously our responsibility to enable our customers to be leaders in meeting the goals stated in the President's order, as evidenced by our substantial investment in bringing new technologies to market.

As the private sector moves to follow the federal government's lead and existing pay-for-performance initiatives are expanded, we will be reminded of the myriad challenges still facing the healthcare industry and the historically slow adoption of technology. Although much work remains to be done on numerous fronts - from defining a common set of quality data to be reported on, to gaining consensus around standards for interoperability - strong industry collaboration and support at the federal level continues to spur progress on these critical issues.

Indeed, the pressure to deliver safe, efficient and effective healthcare has never been greater. Working in partnership with our customers, Siemens remains relentless in our pursuit of helping to build a 21st century healthcare system in which every person can be treated in a safe, high quality care setting. There is simply no price tag that can be put on giving consumers the ability to make the most informed choices possible about their healthcare.

Siemens Medical Solutions of Siemens AG (SI) with headquarters in Malvern, Pennsylvania and Erlangen, Germany, is one of the largest suppliers to the healthcare industry in the world. The company is known for bringing together innovative medical technologies, healthcare information systems, management consulting, and support services, to help customers achieve tangible, sustainable, clinical and financial outcomes. Employing approximately 31,000 people worldwide and operating in more than 120 countries, Siemens Medical Solutions reported sales of 7.6 billion EUR, orders of 8.6 billion EUR and group profit of 976 million EUR for fiscal 2005. More information can be obtained by visiting www.usa.siemens.com/medical-pressroom.

SOURCE: Siemens Medical Solutions