Many of the problems with the U.S. healthcare system were exposed after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita when paper health records were lost and victims were unable to access their health information or provide complete medical histories to caregivers. It's clear that establishing a healthcare network that utilizes information technology to improve care, reduce errors and cut costs is critical. An effective, efficient system is not only important to advancing the health of our society, but also to our economic well-being and long-term competitiveness.