Final answer:
Health Information Technology (HIT) is used to improve coordination of care among providers by integrating electronic health records and other digital tools to enhance quality, access, and cost management in healthcare.
Step-by-step explanation:
Improving coordination of care among healthcare providers and facilities is indeed a function of Health Information Technology (HIT). HIT encompasses a variety of technologies, including the sharing of digital records, to enhance healthcare quality and efficiency. As healthcare systems evolved to cope with increasing demand due to America's aging population and other factors, HIT has played a pivotal role in facilitating the consolidation of providers and the move towards more efficient care delivery methods such as telemedicine and artificial intelligence.
The integration of electronic health records (EHRs) is a particularly important aspect of HIT, improving the continuity of care by allowing providers to easily exchange patient information. This not only helps in reducing costs and avoiding duplicative services but also supports more informed decision-making by healthcare professionals. The ultimate goal of HIT is to achieve a healthcare system that balances quality, access, and cost, as evidenced by the challenges faced by the U.S. healthcare system in providing high-quality care while controlling expenses and ensuring accessibility.
Despite these advancements, policies addressing the cost of treatments, quality of life for patients, and the risks to individual privacy are still in need of development. As the use of HIT expands, these issues become increasingly important for balanced healthcare reform.