One aspect of President Barack Obama's plan is to cut costs by improving the way health care is provided. As a nurse, I observed first-hand how converting to an electronic medical record system increased efficiency while it decreased errors.

By using a computerized immunization tracking system, our agency found that nurses could document immunizations and provide clients with an accurate, up-to-date immunization record in about half the time it took to document by hand.

Specific lot numbers of vaccines are entered into the computer system. Thus, if the nurse accidentally selects an incorrect vaccine she is alerted because the lot number on the vaccine vial doesn't match the lot number in the computer.

Another advantage is that records can be uploaded to the state immunization registry, which makes it possible for people to easily access their records if they lose them. Moreover, medical professionals can locate records if clients don't have them, which means people, especially children, don't get vaccines they have already received.

No plan is perfect, but our current system is costly and extremely inefficient.

President Obama's plan will make a difference in the safety and cost of how we receive health care.

Patricia Hood

Boulder