02/08/2010
A new report released by the Office of Personnel Management
lists 45 health plans in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program that
offer personal health records and online tools for accessing health care cost
and quality information. NextGov, Federal
News Radio.
02/08/2010
This week, New Hampshire legislators are scheduled to hear a
bill that would provide patients with greater control over their electronic
health records. The measure aims to restore state protections that existed
prior to the 2003 federal HIPAA privacy rules. Laconia Citizen.
02/05/2010
Many physicians in small practices are delaying electronic health record adoption because of uncertainties about the federal "meaningful use" rules. Physicians also have expressed concerns that some systems might not meet federal standards for interoperability or certification. HealthLeaders Media.
02/04/2010
A new Web site profiles 16 health care organizations that have used digital technology to improve health care efficiency, quality and safety. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society and the American Society for Quality launched the site. Health Data Management.
02/04/2010
National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal writes that the primary purpose of the HITECH Act is to improve health care quality and efficiency. Blumenthal also describes how the act aims to help health care providers adopt health IT tools. New England Journal of Medicine.
02/03/2010
Anthony Guerra of healthsystemCIO.com writes that hospital executives are expressing concerns about "meaningful use" provisions that exclude "hospital-based" physicians and require health care providers to meet all objectives before receiving incentive payments. InformationWeek.
02/03/2010
For fiscal year 2011, the Department of Defense is seeking $1.5 billion for electronic health record projects and other health IT initiatives. Meanwhile, the Department of Veterans Affairs is requesting $1.3 billion to improve its HealtheVet system and advance its Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record project. VA also announced plans to sign a five-year licensing deal with Oracle. NextGov.
02/03/2010
The latest Journal of the American Medical Association includes a perspective piece calling for a framework to monitor electronic health record safety. Another commentary looks at EHRs in the context of new social networking tools. Journal of the American Medical Association.
02/03/2010
This month, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is slated to award its first round of grants to establish regional health IT extension centers. ONC also plans to survey patients about their experiences with electronic health records. Health Data Management.
02/02/2010
Steven Schiff -- medical director of invasive cardiology and chair of medical informatics at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in California -- argues that electronic health record adoption is key to allowing "patients to become more active participants in the care process." Huffington Post.
02/02/2010
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has launched a new program that provides primary care physicians with electronic health records in an effort to help combat preventable health conditions. Pfizer provided most of the funding for the EHRs. United Press International.
02/02/2010
The Social Security Administration has awarded $17.4 million to help 15 regional health information networks accelerate electronic disability claims processing. The projects will build on SSA's collaboration with Virginia's regional health information exchange. Government Health IT.
02/01/2010
A new Government Accountability Office report finds that the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have achieved interoperability between their electronic health record systems. However, the report also found that the agencies have many challenges to overcome before they can debut their joint virtual lifetime EHR project. Federal Computer Week, Government Health IT.
02/01/2010
NIH has announced a new policy that would require manufacturers of CT scans and other imaging tests to implement software that would track the amount of radiation patients receive. NIH physicians would record the radiation exposure data in patient EHRs. USA Today, Reuters.
02/01/2010
Industry analysts are raising concerns that heath care providers are purchasing expensive electronic health record systems from vendors that might go out of business. Some say that federal officials should review health IT vendors' financial viability. Huffington Post Investigative Fund.