By now, everyone agrees that switching from paper to secure digital health records reduces errors, enhances convenience for patients, and allows doctors to share information on patient status and health status. 

In fact, the stimulus package includes $19 billion in new federal support for the adoption of electronic health records -- up from an average of $15 million annually. 

Senator Warner wants Virginia to become a leader in adopting health information technology.  On Monday, he will host a conference at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, to bring together all the stakeholders -- hospital and health care executives from across the state, as well as federal and state officials -- to learn how Virginia can access these new federal funds and position the commonwealth as a national leader on health IT. 

The conference will include two “heavy-hitters” from the Obama Administration: Dr. David Blumenthal, the President’s designated point-person on health IT, and Tony Trenkle, who heads-up electronic health records for the federal Medicare/Medicaid program.

Dr. Blumenthal’s appearance in Richmond comes on the same day that the Obama Administration is expected to release additional guidance on how this new $19 billion investment in health IT will be distributed.