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Paper to Electronic Charts Made Easy

Community clinics with experience making the transition from paper to electronic records share the strategies, techniques, and insights they learned along the way.

Telehealth Project to Provide Dental Care

Low-income families will receive free dental care, thanks to the Virtual Dental Home, a telehealth project supported by CHCF and other funders. The four-year pilot project will eventually operate in nine California communities.

Take the DiabetesMine Design Challenge

Have a creative idea for a new tool to improve life with diabetes? The 2010 DiabetesMine Design Challenge is offering $23,000 in cash, plus consultations with design experts and other prizes. CHCF is a sponsor; entries are due by April 30.

Hospitals

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03/16/2010

Sutter Health To Restart Electronic Health Record Implementation Project

The California hospital system is investing $400 million to reignite an earlier project to implement electronic health records at all of its 26 facilities. Sutter Health officials identified five facilities that are slated for EHR installation next year. Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Business Times.

03/15/2010

Hospitals Providing EHR Software as a Service for Small Physician Groups

Large hospitals and health care systems can share more patient records by leasing their electronic health record software to smaller physician groups. The practice also makes EHR software more affordable for small-scale health care providers. HealthLeaders Magazine.

03/12/2010

Jobs Bill Would Boost Eligibility for Health IT Incentive Program

A Senate jobs bill passed this week includes a provision that would make it easier for certain hospital-based physicians to qualify for federal incentive payments for the "meaningful use" of electronic health records. Currently, the 2009 federal economic stimulus package excludes all hospital-based physicians from the EHR incentive program. Health Data Management et al.

03/11/2010

Pulling the Plug on VA Replacement Scheduling Program To Save $37M

Officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs confirmed that eliminating the planned redesign of the agency's Replacement Scheduling Application Development program would account for about two-thirds of the expected savings from canceling 12 IT programs. Federal Computer Week.

03/10/2010

AHA: 'Meaningful Use' Could Be Out of Reach for Some Providers

In its formal comment letter to CMS, the American Hospital Association recommended incorporating greater flexibility into federal requirements for the "meaningful use" of electronic health records. AHA warned that health care providers looking to adopt EHRs might be discouraged by the "all-or-nothing" approach and strict timeframes of the regulations. Modern Healthcare et al.

03/09/2010

Group Develops Online Seminars To Engage Stakeholders in NHIN

The National eHealth Collaborative recently launched a no-cost Webinar series called "NHIN University" to educate stakeholders about the Nationwide Health Information Network. ONC officials will offer presentations for the series. Healthcare IT News, Health Data Management.

03/09/2010

Ohio House Passes Bill That Would Reimburse Physicians for Health IT

Ohio's House of Representatives unanimously passed a measure that would reimburse health care providers up to 75% for certain health IT purchases and training. The bill aims to help the state develop and test a patient-centered medical home system. Government Health IT.

03/09/2010

California Taps New Not-For-Profit Group To Run Health Data Exchange

California officials have selected the new organization Cal eConnect to develop a statewide health data exchange. The project aims to help health care providers qualify for incentive payments from the 2009 federal economic stimulus package. San Francisco Business Times, HealthLeaders Media.

03/09/2010

Concerns Raised About Growing 'Digital Divide' in Health IT Resources

Rural health care providers and facilities that have yet to adopt electronic health record systems say they are at a disadvantage for receiving the health IT incentive payments made available through the 2009 federal economic stimulus package. Huffington Post Investigative Fund.

03/08/2010

Report Questions Reliability of Hospital Reporting Systems

A new report by HHS' Office of Inspector General finds that hospitals' internal incident reporting systems might be an unreliable source for information about adverse events. The report also questioned the value of billing data to identify errors. HealthLeaders Media, Modern Healthcare.

03/05/2010

CMS, Blumenthal Seek To Clarify Regulations on Lab Data Exchange

This week, CMS clarified that the 1988 Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments expressly permits the electronic transmission of medical laboratory data. Previously, some clinicians had expressed concern that CLIA hindered lab data exchange. Government Health IT.

03/04/2010

Speakers Highlight EHR Dangers, Innovations at HIMSS 2010 Conference

During the HIMSS 2010 conference, one presentation described how health care providers can avoid lawsuits by maintaining effective health data management systems. Other speakers offered recommendations on health IT purchasing and implementation. Health Data Management et al.

03/03/2010

Blumenthal Announces Proposed Rule on Certifying EHR Systems

During the HIMSS 2010 conference yesterday, National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal announced that ONC has released a notice for proposed rulemaking on electronic health record certification. Also at the conference, the Federal Health Architecture showcased interoperability projects, and several EHR vendors unveiled new applications. Health Data Management et al.

03/02/2010

'Meaningful Use' Tops List of Concerns in New Health IT Survey

Modern Healthcare's annual IT survey finds that the "meaningful use" requirements for electronic health records are dominating the IT priorities for health care providers. Other concerns include data breach notification requirements and information exchange. Modern Healthcare.

03/01/2010

Survey: 'Meaningful Use' Fueling Investment in Health IT Systems

A new HIMSS survey finds that nearly half of surveyed health care leaders say they anticipate an increase in health IT spending as health care organizations attempt to garner federal incentive payments for the "meaningful use" of electronic health records. HealthLeaders Media.

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