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Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.
Healthcare data storage options
The volume of healthcare data is growing exponentially, and organizations have to figure out how to store it all. This guide looks at possible healthcare data storage options. Continue Reading
population health management (PHM)
Population health management (PHM) is a discipline within the healthcare industry that studies and facilitates care delivery across the general population or a group of individuals. Continue Reading
ICD-10-PCS
The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) is a U.S. cataloging system for procedural codes that track various health interventions taken by medical professionals. Continue Reading
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Patient matching algorithms tackle medical record duplication
Duplicate records are an unfortunate reality for hospitals and can be harmful to patients. An MPI is one way to ensure that patients only have one record in a health system. Continue Reading
U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM)
The U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) is the largest biomedical library in the world. Continue Reading
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Definitions to Get Started
- problem list
- pharmaceutical detailing
- medical transcription (MT)
- electronic intensive care unit (eICU)
- protected health information (PHI) or personal health information
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
- telemedicine (telehealth)
- Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO)
A guide to healthcare IoT possibilities and obstacles
This essential guide explores the potential of the internet of things in healthcare, as well as some of the obstacles that may hinder its wider adoption.Continue Reading
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Promoting a healthy general public and sharing data about chronic diseases are main goals of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Continue Reading
Hospital uses intelligent virtual assistant for more accurate order entry
When physicians juggle a lot of tasks, they can forget to place a necessary order. Artificial intelligence is helping one hospital system remedy this and avoid medical mistakes.Continue Reading
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is a professional organization that promotes the business and clinical uses of electronic and paper-based medical information.Continue Reading
revenue cycle management (RCM)
Revenue cycle management (RCM) is the financial process, utilizing medical billing software, that healthcare facilities use to track patient care episodes from registration and appointment scheduling to the final payment of a balance.Continue Reading
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national provider identifier (NPI)
A national provider identifier (NPI) is a unique ten-digit identification number required by HIPAA for covered healthcare providers in the United States.Continue Reading
PHI breach (protected health information breach)
A PHI breach is unauthorized access, use or disclosure of individually identifiable health information that is held or transmitted by a healthcare organization or its business associates.Continue Reading
Artificial intelligence makes scanning medical records easier
Medical-records scanning can be costly and time-consuming for healthcare organizations that want to go paperless. Artificial intelligence can ease the process.Continue Reading
Interoperability may be in sight as Epic and Cerner work together
As two of the largest EHRs in the healthcare space, Epic and Cerner have often appeared to be at odds with each other. But that seems to be changing via an ONC initiative.Continue Reading
athenahealth Inc.
athenahealth Inc. is a developer of cloud-based practice management, point-of-care mobile applications and electronic health record (EHR) systems for small to medium-sized (SMB) physician practices and hospitals.Continue Reading
PatientPing helps with coordinating care among healthcare providers
In this Innovation Spotlight, SearchHealthIT features PatientPing, a startup in Boston that provides technology to improve coordinating care.Continue Reading
eClinicalWorks
eClinicalWorks is a Massachusetts-based company that sells electronic medical record (EMR), practice management (PM) and personal health record (PHR) software and services to reportedly more than 115,000 physicians and 70,000 facilities in the ...Continue Reading
FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) regulates the production and sale of food, medicine, health technology and cosmetic products. The FDA, also called the USFDA, approves drugs and medical devices for sale and recalls unsafe products.Continue Reading
meaningful use stage 3
Meaningful use stage 3 is the third phase of the federal incentive program that details requirements for the use of electronic health record systems by hospitals and eligible healthcare professionals. However, the new MACRA law will change the ...Continue Reading
US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level agency in the executive branch of the federal government. Its mission is to enhance and protect the well-being of all Americans by providing effective health and human ...Continue Reading
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the wing of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that runs healthcare reimbursement and health IT programs.Continue Reading
information blocking
Information blocking occurs when a person or entity purposely and unreasonably interferes with the sharing or use of electronic health information.Continue Reading
Meditech (Medical Information Technology Inc.)
Meditech (Medical Information Technology Inc.) is an electronic health record vendor that holds a 19% market share in the hospital industry, but faces intense competition.Continue Reading
SaaS app built on cognitive computing platform helps with medical codes
Data analytics and cognitive computing are helping one hospital ensure the correct medical codes are being assigned for Medicare reimbursement via a SaaS application.Continue Reading
With healthcare disaster recovery systems, storage options evolve
As cyberattacks continue to hit health data networks with alarming frequency, providers are increasingly turning to hybrid cloud and other forms of healthcare disaster recovery.Continue Reading
Patient matching technology helps HIE reduce duplicate records
In this Innovation Spotlight, SearchHealthIT looks at how an HIE reduced duplicate patient records by using NextGate's patient matching technology.Continue Reading
Visual data analytics make genomics in healthcare possible
To fully realize genomics in healthcare, the right technology is needed to effectively leverage and use genomic data. One hospital is taking steps toward that goal.Continue Reading
Cloud medical imaging storage is the way of the future
PACS and VNAs are the image storage standards in healthcare. Cloud medical imaging storage presents benefits that may intrigue healthcare providers to ditch PACS and VNAs.Continue Reading
McKesson Corp.
McKesson Corp. is a provider of medicines, pharmaceutical supplies and health information technology including nursing automation, practice management, clinical decision support systems, secure online healthcare communication and electronic health ...Continue Reading
The diverse use cases for cloud in healthcare
Healthcare cloud services come in various forms, including analytics models and system backups. Those are two of the reasons cloud has the attention of health IT professionals.Continue Reading
A last-minute guide to the ICD-9 to ICD-10 transition
The ICD-9 to ICD-10 transition has been a long time coming in the U.S. This guide examines the increase in codes and what providers did to prepare.Continue Reading
Wearable health technology in medical and consumer arenas
The future of wearable health technology in the medical space may depend on if providers can make a business case for the use mobile devices.Continue Reading
The ICD-10 release date: Here are important facts to know
The ICD-10 implementation date is fast approaching, and providers should know what to expect. Here are some important facts from CMS' ICD-10 resources.Continue Reading
SERMO
SERMO is an online social network of verified physicians where they can anonymously discuss patient cases and non-medical subjects.Continue Reading
Wearable health technology and HIPAA: What is and isn't covered
Healthcare data many think is protected by HIPAA may not be. With wearable health technology, some experts are concerned by what's not covered.Continue Reading
computer assisted coding system (CACS)
A computer assisted coding system (CACS) is medical software that reviews healthcare forms, including electronic health records, and assigns appropriate medical codes to its findings.Continue Reading
Joint Commission
The Joint Commission is an independent group that presently accredits 20,500 healthcare facilities in the United States by performing onsite evaluations.Continue Reading
Bar Coded Medication Administration (BCMA)
Bar Coded Medication Administration (BCMA) is a hospital inventory control system that uses barcodes in the distribution of prescription medications with the goal of ensuring the patient is receiving the correct medication.Continue Reading
laboratory information system
A laboratory information system (LIS) is software that collects, stores and produces reports from medical test data.Continue Reading
HL7 (Health Level Seven International)
HL7 (Health Level Seven International) is a set of standards, formats and definitions for exchanging and developing electronic health records (EHRs).Continue Reading
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes are a uniform medical code set maintained and copyrighted by the American Medical Association and used to describe medical, surgical and diagnostic services.Continue Reading
Clinical Document Architecture (CDA)
Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) is a markup standard created by Health Level 7 International (HL7) that defines the structure of discharge summaries, progress notes and other medical records.Continue Reading
Radiology Information System (RIS)
A RIS is the traditional core software system for electronically managing medical images, scheduling and billing in hospital radiology departments and physician practices.Continue Reading
Healthcare CIO (healthcare chief information officer)
A healthcare CIO is a healthcare executive with an influence over technology purchasing and other IT business decisions.Continue Reading
Guide to healthcare compliance resources and agencies
There are a handful of groups that function as healthcare compliance resources and regulate rules and programs such as HIPAA and meaningful use.Continue Reading
American Medical Association (AMA)
The American Medical Association (AMA) is a physician group that works for healthcare reform and publishes a collection of medical journals.Continue Reading
SERMO more than a social network for doctors
SERMO, a social network exclusively for physicians, is a place for docs to hang out in cyberspace, but also to seek out and share medical opinions and diagnoses.Continue Reading
medical 3-D printing
Medical 3-D printing is a growing field dedicated to creating medical implants, devices, prosthetics and even human tissue using 3-D printing technology.Continue Reading
Wearable technologies, cloud guide the future of healthcare
The advancement of cloud, artificial intelligence and analytics will go a long way in determining the future of health IT.Continue Reading
medical scribe
A medical scribe is a healthcare employee that assists medical professionals with documenting patients' medical histories.Continue Reading
Six components of a healthcare data analytics strategy
A successful healthcare analytics strategy combines six important pieces that our expert explains. Also learn pointers on how to carry out this data analytics plan.Continue Reading
The top six priorities of a new healthcare CIO
Assessing performance strengths and identifying any gaps should be part of a healthcare CIO's plan of attack when joining a new organization.Continue Reading
ICD-9-CM (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification)
ICD-9-CM is the current medical coding standard used in hospitals in the United States. It is scheduled to be replaced by ICD-10 by Oct. 1, 2015.Continue Reading
clinical documentation (healthcare)
Clinical documentation (CD) is the creation of a digital or analog record detailing a medical treatment, medical trial or clinical test.Continue Reading
medical device class (MDC)
Medical device class (MDC) is a category that defines the amount of risk involved with a medical device in the United States and the proper procedures that must be followed when manufacturing and using the device.Continue Reading
clinical document (HL7 clinical document)
A clinical document is a written, printed or electronic record that provides evidence of medical care.Continue Reading
Next for Direct: Apps to enable health data exchange
Getting patients involved in Direct(ing) exchange of health data is coming in 2015, when developers finish their applications.Continue Reading
Five areas of focus for a healthcare business intelligence program
Defining healthcare business intelligence is the first step towards its use. A book on the subject has all of its definitions covered.Continue Reading
Quiz: The continued development of big data and healthcare analytics
Are you using healthcare analytics to its full potential? Take this quiz to find out.Continue Reading
Quiz: PACS integration with other imaging systems and EHRs
Implementing a PACS requires preparation and adjustments to be made along the way. Take this quiz to test your knowledge of hospital imaging systems.Continue Reading
meaningful use attestation
Meaningful use attestation, in a health information technology (HIT) context, is a process that documents that an organization or individual has successfully demonstrated meaningful use and is successfully fulfilling the requirements for electronic ...Continue Reading
OpenEMR
OpenEMR is free, open source software for the health care industry. OpenEMR integrates medical practice management, electronic medical record (EMR), patient scheduling and electronic billing functionality.Continue Reading
health care cloud
A health care cloud is a cloud computing service used by health care providers for storing, maintaining and backing up personal heath information (PHI).Continue Reading
common working file (CWF)
A common working file (CWF) is a tool used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to maintain national Medicare records for individual beneficiaries enrolled in the program.Continue Reading
The predicament for providers, patients in stage 2 meaningful use
For physicians and hospitals, achieving stage 2 meaningful use under the proposed rules means relying on patients to do their part. This is easier said than done.Continue Reading
American Telemedicine Association (ATA)
American Telemedicine Association (ATA) is a non-profit organization that strives to promote telemedicine (medical care delivered through the use of telecommunications technology).Continue Reading
Federal Health Information Exchange (FHIE)
Federal Health Information Exchange (FHIE) is a health information sharing project that allows the Department of Defense to share service members’ personal health information in a joint storage area also accessible by the Veterans Health ...Continue Reading
formulary
A formulary is a list of prescription drugs that are covered by a specific health care plan.Continue Reading
National Alliance for Health Information Technology (NAHIT)
The National Alliance for Health Information Technology, or NAHIT, was formed in 2002 in an effort to promote the use of health IT.Continue Reading
medical transcription software (MTS)
Medical transcription software (MTS) is a specialized speech recognition program that includes a database of medical terminology.Continue Reading
Bidirectional Health Information Exchange (BHIE)
Bidirectional Health Information Exchange (BHIE) is a health information sharing project that builds on the previously established Federal Health Information Exchange (FHIE) program. The BHIE allows for two-way sharing of PHI data between the ...Continue Reading
Meaningful use stage 2 deadlines: Giving way to ICD-10 implementation?
Those folks reading HHS's meaningful use stage 2 deadline announcement last week as an ICD-10 deadline extension can give up hope on that.Continue Reading
Industry reacts: Meaningful use stage 2
Concerns about meaningful use stage 2 so far suggest that the requirements either go too far or not far enough. Beyond that, surprises were kept to a minimum.Continue Reading
Got a meaningful use stage 2 comment?
Believe it or not, American Idol figures in to meaningful use stage 2 commenting. An ONC spokesperson explains.Continue Reading
Twitter co-founder offers health IT innovation insight
You can't talk innovation without social media, and you can't talk social media without Twitter. At HIMSS 2012, Biz Stone shared his personal and professional insight and applied it to health care IT.Continue Reading
Stage 2 of meaningful use coming this week
After waiting, and waiting, for the announcement of meaningful use stage 2 on Friday, the health care world turns to HIMSS 2012, where the federal government has several chances to state its case.Continue Reading
meaningful use stage 1
Meaningful use stage 1 is the first phase of the United States federal government's meaningful use incentive program, which details the requirements for the use of electronic health record (EHR) systems by hospitals and eligible health care ...Continue Reading
meaningful use stage 2
Meaningful use stage 2 is the second phase of the meaningful use incentive program that details the second phase of requirements for the use of electronic health record (EHR) systems by hospitals and eligible health care providers.Continue Reading
EHR implementation plan
An electronic health record (EHR) implementation plan is a comprehensive set of strategies and steps used by a health care organization when preparing for and executing the adoption of an electronic-based health care system.Continue Reading
ICD-11
The International Classification of Disease, Eleventh Revision (ICD-11) is a system of medical coding created by the World Health Organization (WHO) for documenting diseases, signs and symptoms, diagnoses and social circumstances.Continue Reading
Implementing, using computerized physician order entry
A CPOE system eliminates the need to place orders for tests and prescriptions on paper. But the learning curve, and the cost, can be high. This guide explains the basics of CPOE.Continue Reading
Survey says? Hospitals still forming data disaster recovery plans
As information systems and next-generation diagnostic equipment proliferate more and more data, disaster recovery for health care becomes more complex.Continue Reading
Improving revenue cycle management in health care
A revenue cycle management system can help hospitals streamline administrative and clinical tasks. This tutorial explains how RCM software is affected by EHR use and ICD-10.Continue Reading
Cardiologists embracing meaningful use program so far
A survey of American College of Cardiology members suggests that more than half intend to participate in meaningful use and more than one-third have already registered.Continue Reading
RxNorm
RxNorm is a catalog of the standard names given to clinical drugs and drug delivery devices in the United States to enable interoperability and clear communication between electronic systems, regardless of software and hardware compatibility.Continue Reading
legal health record
A legal health record is the record of patient health that is created by a health care organization for its own business record. It is also the record that is produced upon request from patients or legal services.Continue Reading
Kinect
Kinect is Microsoft’s motion gaming system for the Xbox 360. The system provides a natural user interface (NUI) that allows users to interact intuitively and without any intermediary device, such as a controller.Continue Reading
health apps
Health apps are application programs that offer health-related services for smartphones and tablet PCs.Continue Reading
ambulatory medical record (AMR)
An ambulatory medical record (AMR) is an electronically stored file of a patient’s outpatient medical records, which includes all surgeries and care that do not involve being admitted to a hospital.Continue Reading
HIT standards committee
The Health Information Technology (HIT) standards committee is a federal committee created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) that advises the National Coordinator for Health IT on matters of standards, certification ...Continue Reading
telepathology
Telepathology is the area of telemedicine involving the transmission of pathological specimen images for remote study and diagnosis of disease.Continue Reading
GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare is a subsidiary of General Electric Co., that focuses on new developments in health information technology (HIT) such as more advanced medical imaging technology and patient monitoring systems.Continue Reading
FAQ: What is health data archiving?
Data archiving lets health care providers store patient records for years, as state and federal laws require. This FAQ addresses types of storage, outsourcing and other concerns.Continue Reading
Briefing: How to avoid a health care data breach
A data breach can be quite costly to a provider's budget and reputation. This briefing offers advice for securing health care data to comply with HIPAA and HITECH Act rules.Continue Reading
Briefing: Getting meaningful use money in five (not so easy) steps
Obtaining financial incentives for demonstrating the meaningful use of EHR technology is no easy task. This guide outlines the five steps that are key to getting the job done.Continue Reading
FAQ: How is server virtualization technology used in health care?
Server virtualization technology helps organizations cut maintenance and administration costs while improving performance. But health care providers must keep a few things in mind.Continue Reading
Regional Extension Center (REC)
A Regional Extension Center (REC) is an organization that has received funding under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) to assist health care providers with the selection and implementation of ...Continue Reading
Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is an organization within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS),Continue Reading
FAQ: How will the transition to ICD-10 codes affect health IT?
As of Oct. 1, 2015, U.S. health care providers must use ICD-10 codes when they submit medical claims. This FAQ addresses what the transition means and how providers can prepare.Continue Reading
National Health Information Infrastructure (NHII)
The National Health Information Infrastructure (NHII) was a government initiative first proposed under former President George W. Bush that targeted the improvement of health care by setting standards for interoperability.Continue Reading