Hospital information systems and the development of a national health information system.

Hospitals require information to support medical quality assurance, cost containment, productivity improvement, utilization analysis, program planning and evaluation, research, and education. Although hospitals could benefit from participation in a national health information system, many would be reluctant to participate particularly if participation were federally mandated. Incentives to participation should include funding of developmental costs, standardized computer software, guarantees of system stability, and prompt reporting back to participating hospitals.