Healthcare IT Isn't Living Up to the Hype

Computerization is slowly improving the healthcare system, but it's a long way from living up to expectations.

...There are positive signs at places like Methodist Dallas Medical Center, which has a nearly foolproof way to make sure the right drug gets to the right patient in the right dose at the right time: It uses bar-code technology to clear all medications through a computerized program.

...While there are many success stories, progress in using IT to improve patient care and cut costs has been slow. Research suggests that healthcare IT has a long way to go to match the hype: