05/23/2012
Yesterday, HHS announced that the U.S. and Mexico have agreed to adopt technical guidelines on sharing information for various public health activities. Mexico also has become the fourth country to join CDC's international Laboratory Response Network. Modern Healthcare, Examiner.
05/22/2012
The Oregon Health Authority has contracted with Harris Healthcare Solutions to launch a statewide health information exchange. Officials say the data exchange will improve communication, reduce duplicate orders and support meaningful use requirements. CMIO et al.
05/22/2012
HealthCor Management -- one of the largest shareholders of health IT firm Allscripts' Healthcare Solutions -- has filed a lawsuit after Allscripts CEO Glen Tullman refused HealthCor's demands that he resign. The suit is asking the court to postpone Allscripts' June 15 annual meeting so HealthCor can nominate candidates for vacant positions on Allscripts' board. Reuters et al.
05/21/2012
Individuals who undergo genetic tests do not seek significantly more or less follow-up care, according to an NIH-led study. NIH said the study is the first to use electronic health records to measure how genetic testing affects health care behaviors. Modern Healthcare et al.
05/21/2012
A contest launched by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT seeks applications that could improve interoperability between ophthalmologists' examination devices and their electronic health record systems. Modern Healthcare, ONC's "Health IT Buzz."
05/21/2012
A report by research firm KLAS finds that physicians see certain advantages in using software-as-a-service electronic health record systems. The report notes that such systems are appealing because they are easy to use and involve relatively low hardware costs. InformationWeek et al.
05/16/2012
In a new issue brief, the National Association of Public Hospitals & Health Systems offered several recommendations for increasing flexibility in the meaningful use program, such as allowing a three-year timeframe between the Stage 1 and Stage 2 deadlines for the program. FierceHealthIT.
05/15/2012
A Journal of the American Health Information Management Association article questions whether state-level health data exchanges will become obsolete over the next few years as more private organizations claim a share of the health information exchange market. CMIO.
05/15/2012
An Annals of Family Medicine study finds no correlation between physicians' use of electronic health record systems and improved adherence to clinical guidelines for diabetes care. The study offers recommendations for improving the effective use of EHR systems. Modern Healthcare.
05/15/2012
The Department of Veterans Affairs has released a plan to ensure the privacy and security of data in its Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program. The plan recommends various policies, such as regulating data access with security software. Government Health IT et al.
05/14/2012
A new study by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania finds that an accountability tool embedded in an electronic health record system could reduce unnecessary CT scans among emergency department patients with abdominal pain. United Press International, CMIO.
05/11/2012
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is seeking comments from stakeholders on the establishment of a governance mechanism for the Nationwide Health Information Network. The governance structure would include rules on technical, business practice, privacy and security requirements to establish a common trust framework for the exchange. Health Data Management.
05/11/2012
A new Chilmark Research report notes that the proposed rule for Stage 2 of the meaningful use program and payment changes are driving growth in the health information exchange market. However, challenges to more robust HIE remain. Healthcare IT News, FierceHealthIT.
05/10/2012
The California Health Information Partnership and Services Organization has signed up more than 7,700 health care providers seeking to adopt electronic health records. It says members have earned more than $65 million in federal incentive payments. Healthcare IT News et al.
05/10/2012
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has launched a new Health IT Dashboard, which offers data on grant programs and other health IT activities. The dashboard includes more than 150 maps showing ONC data at different regional levels. NextGov et al.