How electronic records transformed care for veterans

A Q&A with Ken Kizer, dubbed here as the miracle man of US health care. He brought in bold reform that transformed the vast and woeful Veterans Health Administration into an efficient, effective model institution with sky-high patient satisfaction. Starting in 1994, it took him five years to reduce costs and increase quality of care, while nearly doubling the number of patients. Key to the VHA's stunning improvement was the implementation of easily accessible electronic health records (EHRs).

Of EHRs, Kizer says, "It allows you to have all the information you need when you're actually face to face with the patient. It allows you to track and monitor performance and what should be done. Instead of sitting there and reciting a bunch of numbers to a patient, you can show them a single colored graph that shows - for a diabetic, say - all their hemoglobin A1c readings for the last three years. And so much more. It changes the dialogue. It changes the way health care is provided."