‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—The National Coordinator shall per
form the duties under subsection (c) in a manner con
sistent with the development of a nationwide health infor
mation technology infrastructure that allows for the elec
tronic use and exchange of information and that—
1 ‘‘(1) ensures that each patient’s health informa
2 tion is secure and protected, in accordance with ap
3 plicable law;
4 ‘‘(2) improves health care quality, reduces med
5 ical errors, reduces health disparities, and advances
6 the delivery of patient-centered medical care;
7 ‘‘(3) reduces health care costs resulting from
8 inefficiency, medical errors, inappropriate care, du
9 plicative care, and incomplete information;
10 ‘‘(4) provides appropriate information to help
11 guide medical decisions at the time and place of
12 care;