05/30/2013
Physicians are doing their best to successfully adopt health IT, but more must be done to advance usability and interoperability. Federal officials should work to make certified electronic health record systems more user friendly and meaningful use Stage 2 requirements more flexible. By Steven J. Stack, M.D.
05/02/2013
Patients' active, thoughtful self-care and investigation online should not only be commended, it should be celebrated, integrated and prioritized. There is a new set of responsibilities unfolding for physicians, and care cannot and will not be limited to 15 minute-visits in the office. By Wendy Sue Swanson
04/29/2013
Recent studies show growing dissatisfaction among physicians with their electronic health record systems. Experts say the rapid adoption of EHRs in response to the federal government's EHR incentive program may have exacerbated some of the usability issues. by Ken Terry, iHealthBeat Contributing Reporter
04/11/2013
Physician education is one of the most difficult challenges in preparing for the transition to ICD-10. Hospitals should provide such education to their medical staff through a phased approach utilizing learning management systems and expert content delivered via a peer-to-peer, physician-to-physician format. By Paul L. Weygandt
04/02/2013
What does a successful prototype of a cancer care database mean for the future of medicine? Experts say the effort could bring the concept of a rapid learning health system to life by allowing health providers to tap into the collective experience of millions of patients to inform care delivery. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Managing Editor
02/25/2013
Physician rating websites haven't caught on with the public in the same way that online restaurant and hotel review sites have, nor are they well regarded by physicians. Still, experts see a future in which doctors' performance will increasingly be subject to evaluation in online forums for the public to see. by Lisa Zamosky, iHealthBeat Contributing Reporter
07/23/2012
Older physicians are lagging behind in electronic health record adoption. Some say doctors who are close to retirement age should be exempt from penalties under the meaningful use program, but others argue that physicians of all ages should pursue the goals of health IT and meaningful use. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Managing Editor
04/05/2012
Several recent surveys show that electronic health record adoption is growing across the country -- a possible indication that the federal government's meaningful use program is working. However, a closer look at the numbers indicates that EHR adoption still has a long way to go. by Ken Terry, iHealthBeat Contributing Reporter
02/21/2012
As part of HIMSS12, health care CIOs and information management executives heard from experts about how data can transform health care. Speakers at the 2012 CIO Forum also discussed how social media tools can help address an overabundance of health information. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Managing Editor
07/11/2011
The Supreme Court's recent decision to strike down a Vermont law that prohibited the use of prescribing data for marketing purposes should not be viewed as a threat to well-crafted privacy laws. The law failed because it aimed to control specific speech by specific speakers. By Deven McGraw
06/23/2011
A new study finds potential biases in online physician ratings, but not in the way that many doctors predicted. Researchers say that physician ratings still can be valuable but that patients should use such websites with caution. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Managing Editor
06/09/2011
Health care provider groups say they welcome CMS' proposed adjustments to its electronic prescribing incentive program, but some groups still have lingering concerns and are calling for additional clarification on certain issues. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Managing Editor
06/01/2011
A lot has changed in the health policy world over the past 32 years, but at least one thing has remained the same -- the debate over whether the public should have access to the Medicare claims database. A new lawsuit and legislation have put the issue back in the spotlight. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Managing Editor
05/17/2011
It's well known that small physician practices are less likely to have electronic health records, but a new study goes a step further and identifies the unique barriers that small practices face. If these practices are left behind in the push for meaningful use, most patients will be, too, as the majority of physician visits occur in small practices. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Senior Editor
05/05/2011
Surveys show that most Americans want the ability to e-mail with their physicians. However, recent research finds that the percentage of physicians who expressed a future interest in using e-mail to communicate with patients actually has decreased. Meanwhile, adherence to best practices is declining among physicians who do use e-mail. By Nir Menachemi