04/11/2013
Physician education is one of the most difficult challenges in preparing for the transition to ICD-10. Hospitals should provide such education to their medical staff through a phased approach utilizing learning management systems and expert content delivered via a peer-to-peer, physician-to-physician format. By Paul L. Weygandt
04/08/2013
HHS is seeking feedback on ways to accelerate electronic health information exchange within the health care industry. One of the policy changes HHS is considering is requiring health care providers to engage in electronic HIE in order to participate in Medicare. by Helen R. Pfister and Susan R. Ingargiola, Manatt Health Solutions
02/14/2013
Data mining has received its fair share of negative press, but the use of electronic health record data for secondary purposes could be a boon for health care research. For the next generation of health professionals, data mining will not have a negative reputation and instead will be viewed as an essential skill. By John Sharp
11/26/2012
A variety of health information exchange activities are under way that will help facilitate the exchange of health data to improve care coordination, boost health care quality and ultimately lower costs. However, there's a great deal of work left to make this vision a reality. By Brian Ahier
11/19/2012
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has taken steps to introduce some uniformity on "meaningful choice" in health information exchanges' use of patients' personal health data, but many issues still must be resolved. by Ken Terry, iHealthBeat Contributing Reporter
10/12/2012
At the 6th annual Health 2.0 Conference, speakers stressed the importance of making health care data meaningful, accessible and actionable, while adhering to regulatory requirements, supporting evidence-based medicine and satisfying providers, patients and payers. by Rebecca Vesely, iHealthBeat Contributing Reporter
08/20/2012
The Direct secure clinical messaging protocol is attracting attention throughout the country. Observers say that what appears to be the most elementary form of health information exchange could actually have a big effect. by Ken Terry, iHealthBeat Contributing Reporter
08/15/2012
At a recent conference hosted by the eHealth Initiative, experts touted the importance of data and analytics in health care. However, they also discussed their current limitations and challenges, highlighting how far the industry still has to go to fully realize the benefits. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Managing Editor
06/22/2012
The health information exchange market is poised for spectacular growth over the next couple of years. However, the propensity to pursue over-architected HIEs -- those that try to do too much for too many with not enough money or time -- raises concerns. By Micky Tripathi
06/11/2012
Stakeholders warn that the proposed Stage 2 meaningful use criteria for clinical quality measure data collection will be difficult for vendors and health care providers to achieve. CMS is withholding comment on the issue until it releases its final rule, which is expected this summer. by Ken Terry, iHealthBeat Contributing Reporter
06/04/2012
While it is too early to speculate what the ultimate Nationwide Health Information Network governance system will look like, a request for information released last month by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is an important step toward enabling trusted and interoperable health information exchange on a nationwide scale. by Helen Pfister, Susan Ingargiola and Rachel Sam, Manatt Health Solutions
05/11/2012
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT's proposed rule outlining standards and criteria for the certification of EHRs under the meaningful use program is a step in the right direction, but it doesn't go far enough in creating true flexibility. By Marie Copoulos
04/30/2012
Recent federal regulations -- including the Stage 2 meaningful use and 2014 electronic health record standards and certification proposed rules -- are advancing HITECH's vision for an interoperable, nationwide health information network that improves the quality and efficiency of health care. by Helen Pfister, Jonah Frohlich and Susan Ingargiola, Manatt Health Solutions
04/12/2012
The success of California's health information exchange depends in part on the coordination and guidance of Cal eConnect and its energetic new CEO, Laura Landry. She said California is "on the verge of a breakthrough" in health information exchange. by David Gorn, iHealthBeat Contributing Reporter
04/09/2012
Last month, CMS pushed back for the second time the enforcement date for the transition to HIPAA 5010 transaction sets. Observers say the delay -- as well the extension for ICD-10 implementation-- raises questions about the validity of future federal deadlines. By Fred Bazzoli