WASHINGTON – Healthcare leaders expressed optimism with Tuesday's victory of President-Elect Barack Obama and are encouraged by his promise of $10 billion a year over five years to advance healthcare IT adoption to reduce healthcare costs and improve quality of care.

David Brailer, a former federal healthcare IT czar who has offered to advise Obama, said prior to Tuesday that no matter who wins, digital medicine – electronic records, plug-and-play connectivity, telemedicine and new portability and privacy rules – will continue to see progress in the United States.

These innovations will make reform of the healthcare finance and organization easier, cheaper and more effective, he said.

Glen Tullman, CEO of Allscripts-Mysis Healthcare Solutions, was pleased with Obama's victory, and not just because of the promise of healthcare reform.

"This is truly a historic moment for our country, and for the world as well," he said.