Like most other industries, hospitals and health-care facilities are launching themselves into the digital age.

Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and insurance companies are beginning to use electronic medical records to track patient symptoms, prescriptions and treatments. But all of this comes at an huge initial cost to buy, maintain and upgrade.

According to Congresswoman Nita Lowey, the federal economic stimulus package expected to be discussed this week includes $20 billion for health information technology. State may get $2 billion in grants to distribute to health facilities for upfront costs like equipment and training. Another $18 billion would go to Medicare and Medicaid incentives for entities that already implement information technology measures.

“Strengthening our health-care system to cut costs to government and patients is critical to financial security for our families and out overall economy. I will fight to ensure these funds are enacted as part of the final economic recovery package,” Lowey said today at a demonstration of a health technology program at White Plains Hospital Center.