02/02/2012
Business students at the University of California-Merced are embarking on a telehealth initiative to monitor patients with gestational diabetes in the Central Valley. The project aims to target women who don't have adequate access to medical care. by Alice Daniel, iHealthBeat Contributing Correspondent
01/27/2012
Giving patients electronic access to their health data could improve the quality and coordination of care, as well as reduce health care spending. Despite increasing patient demand for such access, barriers such as cost and physician resistance have limited progress. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Managing Editor
01/20/2012
The last quarter of 2011 included numerous important federal health IT developments, including the Institute of Medicine's release of a report on patient safety and health IT and HHS' changes to the meaningful use incentive program timeline. by Helen Pfister, Susan Ingargiola and Rachel Sam, Manatt Health Solutions
01/13/2012
The 10-year-old eHealth Initiative has shifted its focus to concentrate on the role health IT can play in addressing chronic diseases, specifically cancer, diabetes and heart disease. At the group's annual conference, physicians, patients and payers discussed how health IT can drive improvements in those areas. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Managing Editor
01/04/2012
We asked National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari and eight other health IT experts representing the provider, vendor and patient advocate community to discuss health IT progress and missed opportunities in 2011 and their hopes for 2012. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Managing Editor
12/21/2011
The federal government is taking steps to balance patient safety with its promotion of widespread health IT adoption. In a recent report, the Institute of Medicine offered a variety of recommendations for ensuring that health IT use does not lead to unintended patient safety consequences. by Helen R. Pfister and Susan R. Ingargiola, Manatt Health Solutions
12/15/2011
The "Free the Data" movement, a national effort to encourage innovation in health care, has sparked a similar campaign to make California health data more easily available. But state laws and regulations may require some extra effort in the Golden State, experts say. by David Gorn, iHealthBeat Contributing Reporter
12/08/2011
Speakers at the recent mHealth Summit touted mobile tools as a way to improve preventive health care, reduce unnecessary physician visits, curb rising health care costs and empower patients. Yet, widespread mobile health adoption has remained elusive. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Managing Editor
11/28/2011
In an effort to overcome existing obstacles, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT recently began a new Data Segmentation Initiative to develop standards to electronically tag and separate sensitive health information. by Helen Pfister and Susan Ingargiola, Manatt Health Solutions
11/14/2011
The unfettered distribution of health information could mean better, more timely care and could be invaluable for public health efforts. But in California's complex and multitiered health system, that's easier desired than done. by David Gorn, iHealthBeat Contributing Reporter
11/10/2011
To help address consumer privacy concerns, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has released a Personal Health Record Model Privacy Notice that allows providers of Web-based PHRs to inform consumers about their data sharing and privacy and security policies. by Helen Pfister and Susan Ingargiola, Manatt Health Solutions
11/01/2011
Health IT has long been touted as a tool for improving patient safety, but some experts recently warned that the country's rapid deployment of electronic health records could jeopardize patient safety. Meanwhile, a new House bill takes aim at EHR errors. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Managing Editor
10/24/2011
There were numerous federal health IT developments during the third quarter of 2011. For example, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT released its final health IT strategic plan, and President Obama proclaimed a week in September as National Health IT Week. by Helen Pfister, Susan Ingargiola and Rachel Sam, Manatt Health Solutions
10/17/2011
California health care providers could corral as much as $1.4 billion in federal incentive money for the meaningful use of electronic health records. The state recently launched a staggered application process for its Medicaid portion of the program. by David Gorn, iHealthBeat Contributing Reporter
10/11/2011
The recently released Federal Health IT Strategic Plan outlines the federal government's goals for using health IT to improve health care over the next five years. The plan incorporates policy priorities included in the HITECH Act and the health reform law. by Helen R. Pfister and Susan R. Ingargiola, Manatt Health Solutions