In Harnessing Openness to Transform American Health Care, the Digital Connections Council of the Washington-based Committee for Economic Development explores how the healthcare system in the United States can become more efficient, accessible and responsive by more openness via digital technologies.

The continued growth of information and communications technology and electronic commerce -- visible in areas that range from biomedical research to the emergence of electronic health records -- can stimulate innovation, lower costs, reduce errors and close the gap between discovery and treatment deliver, according to the report.