05/20/2013
During a House committee presentation last week, IBM representatives showcased the health care knowledge of its supercomputer Watson. Lawmakers at the event expressed support for Watson and health care innovation. Washington Post's "Innovations."
05/17/2013
An Institute of Health Technology Transformation report finds that data analytics is critical to the success of population health management and accountable care organizations. The report lists several steps that are key to the effective use of health data analytics, such as building partnerships with health plans to obtain claims data. HIT Consultant, Clinical Innovation & Technology.
05/20/2013
A coalition of consumer groups -- led by the Campaign for Better Care and the Consumer Partnership for eHealth -- has sent a letter arguing that delaying or postponing the meaningful use program would stifle innovation, hinder interoperability and limit cost savings. The letter comes in response to a call by six GOP senators to revamp the incentive program. FierceEMR, EHR Intelligence.
05/22/2013
HHS has exceeded its goal of 50% of eligible physician offices and 80% of eligible hospitals using electronic health records by the end of 2013. HHS data released today show that as of the end of April, 55% of eligible physicians and about 80% of eligible hospitals have received meaningful use incentive payments. Wall Street Journal, HHS release.
05/21/2013
Three groups have responded to calls from Republican senators to revamp the meaningful use program. The HIMSS Electronic Health Record Association defends the program, while the American Hospital Association says the initiative should be examined closely. The Healthcare Innovation Council says the program should be overhauled or suspended. Health Data Management, Healthcare IT News.
05/21/2013
Startups are working to develop technology that could help patients better adhere to medication regimens. Such tools include sensors that transmit pill digestion data and a pill bottle that glows colors when a medication dose should be taken or is missed. Wall Street Journal.
05/22/2013
In a memo on Tuesday, Department of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel wrote that his agency will consider a commercial electronic health record system as part of its efforts to establish an integrated EHR system with the Department of Veterans Affairs. NextGov.
05/23/2013
PatientsLikeMe, a social network for patients to share health information, is piloting a platform to examine new ways of measuring patient outcomes. The website says the platform will save researchers time because they will not have to organize their own studies. InformationWeek.
05/20/2013
IDC Health Insights has released an accountable care organization guide to help health providers make IT and business funding decisions. The guide emphasizes the importance of analytics, workflow and patient engagement technologies. Clinical Innovation & Technology et al.
05/21/2013
The Boston Police Patrolmen's Association argues that the Boston Public Health Commission violated the HIPAA Privacy Rule when it requested that hospitals provide medical data without patient consent on victims of last month's marathon bombings. Health Info Security.
05/22/2013
The use of health information exchange and data warehousing has kept the medical records of more than two million patients of Moore Medical Center in Oklahoma safe after the health care facility was damaged during a massive tornado on Monday. Modern Healthcare.
05/22/2013
Mount Sinai Medical Center CEO Steve Sonenreich says that he plans to publish online the prices that the hospital charges commercial insurers for diagnoses and care. Other health systems also should disclose such data, Sonenreich says. Miami Herald, Bloomberg Businessweek.
05/22/2013
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society and the Texas Medical Association have sent separate letters commenting on a white paper and a letter by six Republican senators who say that the meaningful use program should be revamped. Modern Healthcare.
05/17/2013
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office is reviewing a five-year, $8.9 million contract under which Truven Health Analytics would build the platform for a new health information exchange in the southeastern region of the state. Government Health IT, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
05/23/2013
A new study finds that access to online pharmacist care helps patients with hypertension sustain low blood pressure. While some experts say such interventions are costly, the study authors say they are inexpensive considering the potential health improvements. Reuters, FierceHealthIT.