Promoting Healthcare Reform Through IT

One could say that when it comes to IT and healthcare, President Obama is taking some of his own medicine. Obama isn't only pushing healthcare providers to adopt IT; Obama is skillfully using technology to promote his healthcare reform plans.A story in today's Washington Post does a good job spotlighting how Obama is going back to a recipe that proved very successful during his presidential campaign--reaching out to voters via the web.

Obama's team is using the Internet, including videos, blogs and a new special site that's being set up, to dispute criticism and "disinformation" it says is being spread by opponents to the President's national healthcare system overhaul efforts.

The country's last major healthcare reform effort by President Clinton was defeated in large part by negative public perception fueled by opponents' "Harry and Louise" T.V. advertising blitz knocking the program.

If the Internet helps Obama regain and rally support for his besieged healthcare reform plans, then this will be one more historically significant example of how technology is dramatically changing politics forever--not to mention healthcare.

There's a big buzz surrounding Government 2.0 -- the revolution that's bringing the principles and value of the Web as a platform to the business of governing. Attend Gov 2.0 Expo Showcase and hear innovators show how this is really happening. At the Washington Convention Center, Sept. 8. Find out more and register.