EVENTS

MAY

Summit on States' Implementation of Health IT Initiatives

Baltimore

MAY

West Coast Summit on Using Health Data To Boost Care

San Francisco

MAY

Briefing on Legal Issues Related to Health IT Use

Washington, D.C.

View All Events

FROM THE FOUNDATION

Informing Choices, Improving Outcomes

The California Joint Replacement Registry collects data on device efficacy, surgical techniques, and patient outcomes for hip and knee replacements. A new report details how this CHCF-sponsored effort is faring.

|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday

FDA Releases Proposed Rule on Medical Device Tracking System

Today, FDA released a proposed rule to create a unique device identification system to track medical equipment. Under the rule, UDI codes would be stored in a public database so regulators, physicians and other entities could monitor safety issues. FDA will accept public comments for 120 days after the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register. Health Data Management et al.

HIMSS Releases Online Tool To Gauge Financial Risks of ICD-10 Shift

An online tool from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society aims to help health care providers assess the financial risks of transitioning to ICD-10 code sets. The tool also offers recommendations for curbing such financial risks. NextGov, PhysBizTech.

Growth of Doctor Rating Websites Prompts Worry Among Physicians

Doctors are concerned about the growth of physician rating websites, which they say can lack accountability and opportunities for doctors to defend themselves. However, a recent study finds that online reviews of physicians generally are positive. Kaiser Health News/Washington Post.

Re-Entering Patient IDs Could Significantly Curb Errors, Study Finds

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association finds that requiring clinicians to re-enter patient identification numbers in a computerized provider order entry system led to a 41% drop in orders submitted for the wrong patient. FierceHealthIT, JAMIA.

Calif. Lawmakers Mull Bill To Limit Patient Record Privacy Law

A California bill would limit a state law allowing patients to take legal action against health care providers if their health records are released without their permission. The bill's author says the legislation would update state law "for the digital age." Healthcare IT News.

Health Care Industry Struggles With Usability of Electronic Health Record Systems

Former National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal, Jacob Reider, acting CMO at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, Matt Quinn of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Rod Piechowski of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society and Joseph Scherger of Eisenhower Medical Center in California spoke with iHealthBeat about efforts to boost the usability of electronic health record systems.

Running Time: 6:01

DATA POINTS

Do Physicians Believe That the Patient Care Benefits Outweigh the Costs of EHR Adoption?

In 2012, 60% of surveyed doctors said they believe that the patient care benefits outweigh the costs of adopting an electronic health record system, down from 68% who said the same in 2011, according to a report by EHR provider athenahealth and online physician community Sermo.

PERSPECTIVES

Upping the Health IT Bar During Cost Containment

by Ernie Hood and Daphne Lawrence

Most CIOs are feeling the need to better manage or reduce operating expense at the very moment when demand for IT services is peaking. How can CIOs manage competing demands -- such as the meaningful use program and ICD-10 -- without compromising performance?

FEATURES

Patients Go Online for Health Data but Afraid To Share What They Know

by Lisa Zamosky, iHealthBeat Contributing Reporter

Patients increasingly are taking a more active role in their own health care and going online to obtain health information. Yet, several new studies suggest that many patients are afraid to discuss what they've learned online or to ask pointed questions during a medical consultation.