Advances in computing technology promise to aid in achieving the goals of healthcare. We review how such changes can support each of the goals of healthcare as identified by the U.S. Institute of Medicine: safety, effectiveness, patient-centricity, timeliness, efficiency, and equitability. We also describe current foci of computing technology research aimed at realizing the ambitious goals for health information technology that have been set by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Health Reform Act of 2010. Finally, we mention efforts to build health information technologies to support improved healthcare delivery in developing countries.National Library of Medicine (U.S.) (grant U54 LM008748)National Library of Medicine (U.S.) (grant R01 LM009723)National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (U.S.) (grant R01-EB001659)United States. National Coordination Office for Information Technology Research and Development (ONR #10510949)