Opinion

Opinion

Federal health care regulations and compliance

• Information blocking rule aims to facilitate health data exchange

  The recent information blocking rule from ONC penalizes healthcare organizations and EHR vendors that prevent patients from accessing their health data.  Continue Reading

• March to value-based healthcare results in 'payviders'

  Our columnist's research indicates that value-based care is prompting the creation of 'payviders,' but the pace is slow. Technological considerations also come into play.  Continue Reading

• Compare EHR systems with these key features in mind

  Compare EHR software options and look at the features they offer healthcare organizations for mobile access, certifications, reporting, workflow automation and document management.  Continue Reading

• In the medical imaging market, AI drives investment dollars

  Investors in medical imaging technology leaned toward software that improves AI-related radiology and associated workflows, as evidenced by detailed research.  Continue Reading

• Cloud for healthcare presses on but is slowed by HIPAA anxiety

  Facing mounting pressure to take steps toward the healthcare cloud, hospital systems find themselves balancing modern infrastructure trends with HIPAA safeguards.  Continue Reading

• An inside look at the potential of blockchain in healthcare

  Blockchain could be the solution to fix the tricky problem of healthcare data ownership. Longtime blockchain researcher Adrian Gropper, M.D. explains how it could work.  Continue Reading

• Value-based healthcare is steeped in technology and policy

  Improving patient health outcomes through value-based approaches requires skills from physicians, analysis from technology pros and guidance from federal regulators.  Continue Reading

• Health information privacy threatened in race for marketing data

  The recent repeal of broadband privacy rules may affect how consumers' health information is used for marketing and advertising purposes.  Continue Reading

• Patient involvement in care needs a nudge from technology

  Perhaps it's been overstated that healthcare trails other industries when it comes to adopting software, but patient engagement offers a worthy way for hospitals to catch up.  Continue Reading

• Data security in healthcare competes with HIPAA compliance

  It's not easy balancing patient data security steps with privacy requirements from HIPAA. For starters, getting through to busy clinicians may be a tough task for IT professionals.  Continue Reading

• Despite increased funding for precision medicine, challenges remain

  The 21st Century Cures Act provides funding for precision medicine and cancer research, but current EHR systems aren't equipped with advanced analytics or genomics data capabilities.  Continue Reading

• HIPAA-compliant cloud storage seen through my kid's data

  For many of us, viewing and downloading family medical records from the cloud brings a sense of what HIPAA protection involves. Our new handbook looks at this concern.  Continue Reading

• Tech plays big role in improving the patient experience

  The push for better user experience has rubbed off on healthcare with the idea of improved patient engagement. It's no surprise to learn technology plays a role.  Continue Reading

• At ATA 2016, American Well telemedicine draws attention

  American Well is getting attention for its new telemedicine exchange while The New York Times also picked up on the development as the telehealth industry poises for growth.  Continue Reading

• Use of technology in healthcare to take on new meaning

  Meaningful use is wrapping up, according to the acting administrator of CMS. That should allow providers to use their EHRs and other healthcare technology a little more freely.  Continue Reading

• Wanted: Super sleuths to find healthcare data security risks

  To secure patient data in a world on the go, learn from breaches others have experienced, experts say, and look at how analytics can boost your security strategy.  Continue Reading

• Developing technology can offset growing cost of healthcare

  Technology such as machine learning and patient engagement platforms can lower the cost of healthcare and aid better population health management.  Continue Reading

• Lengthy meaningful use reporting period puts program in doubt

  While some CIOs are casting doubt that meaningful use can survive, stage 1 of the government's EHR incentive program shows evidence for the contrary.  Continue Reading

• Epic Systems playing defense on Ebola, interop: A losing game?

  Epic Systems Corp. was attacked for health data interoperability problems and blamed for an Ebola patient snafu. Is the U.S. Department of Justice the endgame?  Continue Reading

• The crippling effect of meaningful use stage 3 uncertainty

  Many providers have changed business strategies to accommodate the meaningful use program. The lack of resolution about stage 3 has left some of their plans in limbo.  Continue Reading

• Meaningful use program: Code blue

  Analysis: D.C. scuttlebutt indicates that meaningful use might be in line for more than an overhaul as political forces close in around ONC.  Continue Reading

• Social media could lead to accountable care organization participation

  Building off providers' knowledge of social media tools could lead to more collaborative care and boost ACO participation.  Continue Reading

• Health data interoperability in sight ... via Epic?

  CIOs: Time to capitulate to Epic in regards to health data interoperability? ONC: It's a big country, and there's a lot more than Epic out there.  Continue Reading

• National Health IT Coordinator Karen DeSalvo, M.D., in her own words

  Karen DeSalvo, the National Health IT coordinator, talks about what brought her to the ONC and how her experiences will inform her tenure there.  Continue Reading

• Healthcare trends and EHR incentives yet to fix what ails industry

  Physician EHR incentives for using health IT paved the way for new healthcare trends aimed at improving health and lowering costs.  Continue Reading

• Chief information officers under the gun of upcoming standards

  Some chief information officers are replacing their EHRs. Add that to coming regulations and the next few years will be full of health IT compliance.  Continue Reading

• More effective data mining is best marketing for radiology departments

  Radiology departments trying to separate themselves from competitors should start by making better use of their data.  Continue Reading

• HIMSS attendees share their dreams for an ideal meaningful use update

  We polled executives of health systems and vendor organizations to hear their thoughts about what's missing from meaningful use.  Continue Reading

• If you could change the meaningful use rules, what would you do?

  We polled CIOs, vendors and clinical leaders -- with some compliance under their belts -- about how they'd tweak meaningful use if they could.  Continue Reading

• CIOs: Thinking about getting out of the healthcare data center business?

  Last year, CommonWell Health Alliance made its debut. Will new interoperability gains make healthcare data centers a thing of the past?  Continue Reading

• ONC outlines future healthcare technology plans ahead of HIMSS 2014

  On the eve of HIMSS 2014, a federal agency's plan to make patients the center of care by 2020 looks attainable, at least to our health IT expert.  Continue Reading

• HIT Happens: Saving U.S. healthcare economics rests on data governance

  Can data governance be the missing link to solve the economic woes of U.S. healthcare? Tell me this: Would you rather bet on our CIOs, or politicians?  Continue Reading

• Digital radiology may improve accuracy, quality with peer review

  The latest digital imaging platforms increase the possibility of radiology diagnostic peer review. Is U.S. healthcare ready?  Continue Reading

• Providers fear meaningful use penalties, push to delay stage 2

  Meaningful use stage 2 is pushing providers to engage their patients, something not all specialties can hope to achieve.  Continue Reading

• Shut down thoughts of a national patient identifier, stage 2 extension

  If your crystal ball says the CIO-endorsed ideas of a national patient identifier or meaningful use stage 2 extension will happen, check its firmware.  Continue Reading

• Take care when cutting costs in your hospital IT department

  The Affordable Care Act means reduced Medicare payments for some hospitals. But it's still in their best interest to forgo serious IT team cuts.  Continue Reading

• Beyond ICD-10: Next-generation technology alleviates data silos

  Unstructured clinical data is goldmine of information for ICD-10 codes. Now providers have to figure out how to easily access it.  Continue Reading

• Personal health records, patient engagement and EHR meaningful use

  Pros and cons of provider-based personal health records versus emerging PHR models, and how they all could drive patient engagement.  Continue Reading