The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 not only set up privacy rules, it was also supposed to require code sets and standards to allow the "Portability" of health care information.
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/TransactionCodeSetsStands/
Also, there are entire companies devoted to using digital technology to offshore medical analysis; so a doctor in India can review your CAT scan or MRI, etc. The pieces are in place; we just need leadership and focus to make something happen in a way that benefits the general welfare.
Slashdot Mirror
The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 not only set up privacy rules, it was also supposed to require code sets and standards to allow the "Portability" of health care information. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/TransactionCodeSetsStands/ Also, there are entire companies devoted to using digital technology to offshore medical analysis; so a doctor in India can review your CAT scan or MRI, etc. The pieces are in place; we just need leadership and focus to make something happen in a way that benefits the general welfare.