03/11/2013
This year feels like a fork in the road at HIMSS13, with disruptive forces of patients, digital health, mobility and open standards driving innovation and renewed energy at the annual conference. There are two driving forces underneath this quake: growing consumerism in health care and the fact that the U.S. is, in a word, broke. By Jane Sarasohn-Kahn
08/13/2012
In memory of Dr. Stephen Covey, we relate his "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" to health care CIOs and how they manage their IT departments. CIOs have difficult, complicated and stressful jobs. Who could benefit more from a little simplicity? By Doug Thompson
05/07/2012
As the focus on health IT-related safety issues mounts, common non-disclosure and "hold harmless" clauses in electronic health record contracts are sparking debate. Vendors cite their right to protect intellectual property and to manage processes by which problems are reported and addressed. by Bonnie Darves, iHealthBeat Contributing Reporter
12/19/2011
Although political uncertainties might affect health IT in the long term, in 2012 health care providers will continue to make progress in electronic health record adoption, and consumers and caregivers will demand more in terms of access to health information and health IT savvy physicians. By Jane Sarasohn-Kahn
09/14/2011
HHS is making data from its vaults more easily available and accessible to the public and to innovators across the country. The goal is to unleash the power of private-sector innovators and entrepreneurs to create applications, products, services and features that help improve health and health care. By Todd Park
06/21/2011
Right now, health IT purchase and design decisions are being driven by the meaningful use incentive program, rather than the real-world needs of physicians. Policymakers must work with physicians and the private sector to overcome the barriers to health IT adoption. By Andy Slavitt
03/05/2010
Over the past year, the promise of federal incentive payments have motivated many hospitals to adopt health IT systems. The incentives are a good nudge, but greater use of health IT also raises the possibility of hospitals faring better under overhauled payment models and moving into new lines of business. By David Katz, M.D., J.D.
02/23/2010
American businesses are taking a bigger role in the push to make the U.S. health care system more effective and efficient. For example, some businesses are turning to personal health records to give employees better access to their medical information in hopes of helping them make more informed decisions. By Colin Evans and Jacob Sattelmair
02/02/2010
Revolution Health's decision to scrap its PHR doesn't necessarily mean the PHR market is dead, but industry experts say it does indicate that consumers aren't ready for -- or much interested in -- a do-it-yourself model. by George Lauer, iHealthbeat Features Editor
01/13/2010
Regular readers of iHealthBeat are just the target of the slightly bent minds behind SEEDIE and Extormity, satirical Web sites poking fun at the health IT industry. This feature requires a suspension from business-as-usual along with a willingness to laugh (or at least smile inwardly) at yourself. by George Lauer, iHealthBeat Features Editor
10/07/2009
Despite technological glitches, the first day of the Health 2.0 Conference was largely positive, starting with the nation's Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra's urging health entrepreneurs to "invest together in the building blocks of innovation." By George Lauer, iHealthBeat Features Editor
09/16/2009
Dell's decision to move into health IT in the middle of a tough economic climate is seen by some as another sign that health IT may be coming of age as an industry. The maturation process is getting a significant boost in the form of $19 billion in federal stimulus money. by George Lauer, iHealthBeat Features Editor
08/06/2009
The future of electronic health records is filled with acquisitions, labor shortages and a lot of untethered information, according to predictions from a new war game run by health care experts and played by teams of business school students from Columbia, Kellogg, MIT and Wharton. By Leonard M. Fuld and Kim Slocum
10/09/2008
The Waterfront Media-Revolution Health Network merger and WebMD's recent acquisition point to consolidation and increased competition in the rapidly growing online health information market. by George Lauer, iHealthBeat Features Editor