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."
05/17/2012
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has announced the creation of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, which will provide a clinical perspective for ONC activities, and the Office of Consumer eHealth, which aims to engage patients. Modern Healthcare et al.
05/14/2012
The Government Accountability Office is accepting nominations for an individual to serve as a patient or consumer advocate on the federal Health IT Policy Committee, which advises the HHS secretary. Nominations are due May 25. Modern Healthcare, Health Data Management.
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.
05/10/2012
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.
05/08/2012
Yesterday, the American Medical Association and 98 state and specialty medical societies sent a letter to CMS indicating that some of the proposed criteria for Stage 2 of the meaningful use program would be cumbersome for physicians to implement. Several other industry stakeholders and consumer advocacy groups also submitted comments on the proposed rules. Healthcare IT News et al.
04/12/2012
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is inviting developers to create health IT applications that could make it easier for health care providers to report patient safety events. Submissions are due by July 23. Health Data Management, Government Health IT.
04/05/2012
Yesterday, the Health IT Policy Committee discussed the proposed requirements for Stage 2 of the meaningful use program. The panel weighed issues related to the proposed Stage 2 criteria on data collection and information exchange. Government Health IT, Healthcare IT News.
04/03/2012
Yesterday, the National eHealth Collaborative released a roadmap to help stakeholders develop, implement and operate health information exchanges. The roadmap describes existing public and private health data exchange efforts and also lays out a four-phase plan designed to help health information exchange initiatives advance and become sustainable. CMIO et al.
03/30/2012
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has released health IT training materials for the general public and higher education institutions. The materials are from ONC's community college-based health IT workforce training initiative. Health Data Management.
03/27/2012
In a recent CMS blog post, National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari and CMS Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner wrote that they have set a goal of helping 100,000 health care providers qualify for meaningful use incentive payments this year. Mostashari and Tavenner also outlined the progress that states are making in the meaningful use program. Modern Healthcare.
03/27/2012
National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari recently announced the winners of a contest for software applications aimed at improving heart health. The first place prize of $50,000 went to THUMPr, an app that provides users with customized heart health recommendations. Modern Healthcare.
03/20/2012
In a Health Affairs article, experts identify ways to integrate health IT-related training into medical education and professional development programs. For example, the authors recommend integrating health IT-related questions into medical licensing board exams. CMIO.
03/19/2012
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has released Connect version 3.3, the latest version of its open-source software that lets organizations exchange patient data through the Nationwide Health Information Network. Government Health IT, Health Data Management.
03/13/2012
The authors of a Health Affairs study -- which suggested that electronic health records could encourage doctors to order imaging tests more often -- have responded to criticism from National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari. The authors wrote that some of Mostashari's assertions are "mistaken." Boston Globe's "White Coat Notes," Health Affairs' "Health Affairs Blog."