Over half of Americans think the next U.S. President should support. . .access to electronic medical records.

Compared to gas prices, the economy and the war in Iraq, this is, needless to say, a fairly minor issue. Even within the issue of health care reform, access to EMRs, as digital medical records are known, it's small potatoes.

Yet a survey released by Kaiser-Permanente at the Information Therapy Conference in Washington shows that a majority of Americans agreed that providing people with online access to their own medical records should be a "top priority" for the next U.S. President.

It's tough to say what this really might mean. But my guess is it suggests people are frustrated by the mess of papers and records that make patienthood so difficult these days. Whether federal support for a nationwide program is the only or wisest solution is another problem.

The good news is: the conference was about the many different programs that private groups (like Kaiser Permanente) and public agencies (HHS paying doctors up to $50,000 to buy IT equipment for their offices) are pursuing to electrify the medical system, in particular personal records.

And of course Google and Microsoft have just gotten into the business of giving people tools to make and keep their medical records.

But what do the candidates think about this issue? Their responses are consistent with their general policy inclinations.

Barack Obama is for direct government spending. From his site:

Most medical records are still stored on paper, which makes it hard to coordinate care, measure quality or reduce medical errors and which costs twice as much as electronic claims. Obama will invest $10 billion a year over the next five years to move the U.S. health care system to broad adoption of standards-based electronic health information systems, including electronic health records, and will phase in requirements for full implementation of health IT. Obama will ensure that patients' privacy is protected.

John McCain makes a broader, less specific and less enthusiastic statement of support, with big wind-and-nod to "stakeholders," as it were, who oppose federalized medical delivery generally. From his site:

We should promote the rapid deployment of 21st century information systems and technology that allows doctors to practice across state lines.

It's foolish to think that a micro-issue within the macro-issue of health care reform could drive a single vote in November. But whoever becomes the next President should take note: People are frustrated with the day-to-day mess of health care.

Presiding over progress in that area, by any means, will pay off for whoever is running for a second term in 2012.