Article at a glance:

IT remedies for US health care: An interview with WellPoint's Leonard Schaeffer

• The US health care industry faces a number of difficult issues, including rising costs, inconsistent care, and a lack of data on outcomes.
• Information technology will play a critical role in addressing these issues and transforming the industry—but how it will do so remains an open question.
• Insurers, hospitals, and other key players would do well to look outside their industries for fresh ideas.
• The opportunities are huge for smart companies with innovative approaches to the complex problems of health care.