To date, Canadian healthcare provider organizations, along with provincial and federal governments, have made significant financial commitments to e-health. The US government is providing billions of dollars to support the adoption of "meaningful use" of technology applications in that country's hospitals and physician practices. Canadian public and political awareness of the potential role of information technology to improve healthcare is higher than it has ever been. The claims of e-health proponents are that the use of information technology to support clinical practice will positively impact health outcomes.