ST.LOUIS- At least 50,000 Americans die needlessly each year due to incorrect or inaccessible medical information.  A rare congressional field hearing is coming to St. Louis to learn how a secure network of electronic healthcare information could save lives and precious healthcare dollars.  The hearing, which will be convened by Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri and Congressman Jon Porter (R) Nevada, is set for Friday, September 1st, in the Eric Newman Education Center located at Washington University Medical Center, at 1:00p.m.  The public is invited to attend. 

“Patients shouldn’t die because their doctors can’t access their healthcare information,” said Clay. “The federal government needs to take the lead in helping healthcare providers create a new way of managing patient records to produce better outcomes and save precious healthcare dollars.  This legislation will affect every American and I’m pleased that this important hearing is coming to Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis.”

Expert witnesses from both government and the private sector will offer testimony about the critical issues facing healthcare providers as they attempt to create a secure electronic record system.  They will also discuss pending legislation sponsored by Congressman Clay and Congressman Porter to jump-start this national effort.  It is estimated that a secure national electronic health information network could save a least 50,000 lives each year and also save an estimated $80 billion in annual healthcare costs.  Much of those savings could be applied to covering uninsured Americans and closing the healthcare disparities gap that still afflicts minorities and lower-income patients with higher rates of chronic diseases and early death.

For more information, or to RSVP your attendance at this important event, please call Congressman Clay’s St. Louis City office at (314) 367-1970.