JCL Roundtable: Health information technology in the management of lipoprotein disorders

One of the most serious challenges to all physicians is the maintenance of therapy for those chronic disorders that at present cannot be cured. Elevations of low-density lipoprotein and very low-density lipoprotein are among the most common of those disorders. We are now in an era in which 2 fundamental developments of modern technology have come together. These are the supply of effective and safe lipid-lowering drugs as well as the ability to closely monitor pertinent measures in our patients. The rapid conversion of our health care systems into large teams of professionals with direct support from third-party payers has made it possible to coordinate chronic care through electronic medical records and electronic communication. As a result, with effective planning and organization, we can guide our patients toward better adherence to successful medical regimens. These issues are evolving rapidly and have been presented in some detail in the December 2013 issue of the Journal. I was joined in this Roundtable discussion by 3 health professionals who have had extensive experience with the application of health information technology. They are Dr. Karen Aspry and Dr. Alan Brown, both clinical cardiologists, and Dr. Matthew Ito, a Doctor of Pharmacy.