Dear Representative,

There is a vast amount of information that exists today and is being created as we speak that can't be used as a source for a person's health information. The reason for this is that each software vendor that handles health information has their own proprietary database design which is not compatible with other similar vendors. And the vendors creating Personal Health Record/Electronic Health Record services are doing the same thing......creating a variety of database designs. It basic common sense that with no common backbone as a basis for integrating these differing sets of health information the cost to attempt creating a health record is going to be astronomical and it will never end because it's simply not effectively possible. We need to require the companies that are selling these products to transition to a more common database design that has a common core backbone of health information, with a common design and commonly defined data elements. The remainder of the database for each vendor can reflect their individual needs and preferences. This common backbone of information would create a common framework for the integration of health information from across any source, greatly facilitating the creation of the much needed health information records. The cost to create these records and to maintain then over time would be greatly reduced. and the information in them will be much more complete than we will otherwise have. Now is the time. There is more effort and investment being directed at building more and more of these applications than ever before. If we don't mandate a standard that is enabling to the creation of a health record, and do it now, the investment in these many different data frameworks will be too large in the future to consider. A relatively small investment by the federal government to catalyze this transition now can make the difference between success and failure in the future.

[Your name here]