U.S. military continues plans to launch integrated EHR system
Posted in Health IT Pulse by healthitpulse last updated May 18 2012

By Greg McInerney, Editorial Assistant The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense are moving forward with plans to launch their integrated electronic health record (EHR) system, setting an estimated launch date of 2014. The t...READ MORE

An "Epic" scenario to a real BIG problem!
Posted in All Things HIT by Patrick Howard last updated May 17 2012

The Scenario: Prior to walking in the room, the physician reviewed patient vitals, BMI, and social history, marking them as reviewed in the Epic system to meet the new payor requirements. After reviewing the patients clinical information, especi...READ MORE

Study: It's workflow, not EHR implementation that begets quality
Posted in Health IT Pulse by Don Fluckinger last updated May 17 2012

A three-year study published in the May-June issue of Annals of Family Medicine, at first blush, doesn't make a good case for EHR implementations. Its findings showed that for 16 practices in the eastern U.S. -- treating almost 800 diabetes patients ...READ MORE

Health 2.0 panel: If you could change the health care system
Posted in Community Blog by Jenny Laurello last updated May 17 2012

Yesterday marked the close of the Health 2.0 Spring Fling Matchpoint Boston conference, where I diverged from my standard, end-of-local-conference routine and stayed to catch the final panel. And I'm glad I did. Comprised of top decision-makers from ...READ MORE

Getting to the meat of MUS2: Anticipating meaningful use stage 2
Posted in Community Blog by Jenny Laurello last updated May 16 2012

Guest post by: Ruby Raley, Director, Health Care Solutions, Axway If you're even remotely as interested in meaningful use stage 2 (MUS2) as I am, you're probably on the lookout for related webinars, white papers, blog posts, articles -- anything t...READ MORE

Is increased technology the key to ACO care delivery?
Posted in Health IT Pulse by Craig Byer last updated May 15 2012

With the accountable care organization (ACO) destined to impact health IT strategy, insurer Aetna and Banner Health Network (BHN) -- a non-profit health care system -- are adding technology aimed at expanding its collaborative efforts. The organiz...READ MORE

ONC seeks comments on nationwide health information network governance
Posted in Health IT Pulse by Anne Steciw last updated May 14 2012

The ONC is in the process of shaping the governance structure needed to establish the nationwide health information network, or NHIN, and is seeking comments from the public. This governance structure is necessary to establish a common set of rules f...READ MORE

Is your health care organization all dashboard and no improvement?
Posted in Community Blog by Jenny Laurello last updated May 14 2012

Guest post by: Trevor Strome MSc, PMP, Informatics Lead, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority; Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba Why you shouldn't measure everything (or at least have it...READ MORE

Health Information Privacy and Security measures in the Meaningful Use Stage 1
Posted in Meaningful Health Care Informatics Blog by Reda Chouffani last updated May 13 2012

Privacy and Security continue to be on top of the HealthIT priority list.  And as some of the new measures associated with Meaningful Use Stage 2 open up Electronic Health Information to patients as well as health information Exchange qualified enti...READ MORE

RFI released by the ONC on Governance of the Nationwide Health Information Network
Posted in Meaningful Health Care Informatics Blog by Reda Chouffani last updated May 13 2012

On May 11th, 2012 the ONC published Request for Information (RFI) on governance of the Nationwide Health Information Network (click here) The ONC is seeking to develop a common set of rules to guide the development of a baseline "Rules of the ...READ MORE

Will election influence meaningful use stage 2 release date?
Posted in Health IT Pulse by Don Fluckinger last updated May 9 2012

Here at SearchHealthIT, we're creating an office pool for when the final meaningful use stage 2 rule will drop. National HIT policy leader and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center CIO John Halamka, MD says it's on track for August delivery. Vendor...READ MORE

A different shade of health IT
Posted in All Things HIT by Patrick Howard last updated May 8 2012

When I first started writing my blog a couple years ago, I knew I would write about "All Things HIT", hence the origin of the name. However, I really didn't think about, nor expect, the wide scope of technological advancements, and its effect on he...READ MORE

Patients, providers alike benefit from dermatology rural telemedicine
Posted in Health IT Pulse by Craig Byer last updated May 8 2012

With scores of health IT leaders leaving the ATA's annual meeting at the beginning of May, it is no surprise telemedicine news continues to make headlines -- in particular, to deploy rural telemedicine services for underserved and impoverished areas ...READ MORE

Health Law 2.0: Data exchange spurs HIT compliance challenges
Posted in Community Blog by Jenny Laurello last updated May 8 2012

Guest post by: David Harlow, principal of The Harlow Group LLC, and featured speaker at Health 2.0's Spring Fling Matchpoint Boston conference's special session: Health Law 2.0 on May 14, 2012. Q. Though the health care industry is notorious ...READ MORE

Home health services as a way to help reduce healthcare costs
Posted in Meaningful Health Care Informatics Blog by Reda Chouffani last updated May 7 2012

Baby boomers have started reaching their retirement age in 2011, and with over 78 million of them as patients they will require care during their senior years.  Baby boomers are commonly known as the more self-reliant, gadget early adopters, and act...READ MORE

Top considerations when planning on joining an HIE
Posted in Meaningful Health Care Informatics Blog by Reda Chouffani last updated May 7 2012

More independent physicians are being solicited to connect to a community, local, or state HIE.  Since many of these entities have gone live in higher numbers this past year, and continue to see an increase especially due to the meaningful use stage...READ MORE

Comments closing for meaningful use stage 2 proposed rule
Posted in Health IT Pulse by Anne Steciw last updated May 7 2012

As the meaningful use stage 2 comment period comes to a close, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) will have its hands full gathering and analyzing all the feedback received. Reactions to meaningful use stage 2 from industry st...READ MORE

Telemedicine or telehealth?
Posted in A Physician's Perspective: Meaningful Use of Health Technology by DrJosephKim last updated May 3 2012

I just returned from the American Telemedicine Association 2012 annual conference in San Jose, CA. The conference was packed with people who were excited to share how they were using telecommunication technologies to deliver care. Some amazing demons...READ MORE

UCLA researchers bring gaming, crowdsourcing to telemedicine platform
Posted in Health IT Pulse by Anne Steciw last updated May 3 2012

There are many different telemedicine platforms making their way into the U.S. health care system: Telestroke services, remote patient monitoring and the use of text messaging are just a few. Here's one more that could be joining the forefront: Telep...READ MORE

Alaska telehealth access to specialists beats Boston in-person
Posted in Health IT Pulse by Don Fluckinger last updated May 2 2012

SAN JOSE, CA – Incoming American Telemedicine Association president and CIO of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Stewart Ferguson is a health IT stalwart. Previously, he oversaw the Alaska Federal Health Care Access Network (AFHCAN), Alask...READ MORE

Security challenges in health care social media usage
Posted in Community Blog by Jenny Laurello last updated May 2 2012

Q&A with Jeani Park, senior director of Product Strategy at SpectorSoft, which specializes in computer, mobile device and Internet monitoring 1. What security challenges do social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter present in the heal...READ MORE

VA mental health department scrutinized over performance metrics, care delivery
Posted in Health IT Pulse by Craig Byer last updated May 1 2012

In an effort to bolster data and boost performance measures, managers pushed staffers to create ways that delivered minimum amounts of care to veterans while increasing the number of patients seen for mental health-related services, according to test...READ MORE

ICD-10 transition best practices: Staying ahead despite delays
Posted in Community Blog by Jenny Laurello last updated Apr 30 2012

Guest post by: Wendy Whittington, MD, MMM, Chief Medical Officer, Anthelio Healthcare Solutions, Inc. Waiting for the new ICD-10 implementation deadline feels like waiting in line for something, but not being quite sure what you are waiting for. Â...READ MORE

Medicare Proposed Payment Rule FY 2013
Posted in Meaningful Health Care Informatics Blog by Reda Chouffani last updated Apr 30 2012

On April 24, 2012 CMS issued a proposed rule for the updated payment policy and rates for inpatients stays to general acute care hospitals paid under the hospital inpatient prospective payment system and long-term care hospital PPS (IPPS and LTCH...READ MORE

Are bedside tablets ready for full hospital deployment?
Posted in Meaningful Health Care Informatics Blog by Reda Chouffani last updated Apr 30 2012

Patients who are admitted to the hospital for longer periods of time may benefit from having access to entertainment services as well as health information.    Information in a hospital room can be delivered via interactive TV sets, emails, phone...READ MORE