Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality

Report: Consumer Health Informatics Applications Can Improve Health Care OutcomesA new report issued by AHRQ found that consumer health informatics applications can help improve health care processes, such as medication adherence. These applications may also improve clinical outcomes, including smoking cessation. The benefits of using such applications apply to a variety of clinical conditions, including cancer, smoking, diabetes mellitus, physical activity, and mental health disorders. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University Evidence-based Practice Center, Baltimore, MD, conducted a review of over 140 articles on the use of consumer health informatics applications. The researchers learned that while some applications offer significant promise and potential to positively impact select clinical outcomes, in many a
» 24 Nov 2009, 10:47 am

KeyTopics: Computerized Disease RegistriesThe AHRQ National Resource Center for Health IT has published a new Key Topic page on Computerized Disease Registries. The page provides an overview of disease registries designed to improve chronic care as well as information on investigations into their use and impact on health care quality. The page also hosts a list of resources to help health care providers select, implement, and use computerized disease registries efficiently and effectively.
» 10 Nov 2009, 1:03 pm

KeyTopics: Consumer Health IT ApplicationsThe AHRQ National Resource Center for Health IT has published a new Key Topic page on Consumer Health IT Applications. The page provides an overview of the various emerging IT applications for consumers as well as information on investigations into their use and impact on health care. The page also hosts a list of resources to help health care providers and consumer-oriented organizations design, implement, and use consumer health IT applications efficiently and effectively.
» 10 Nov 2009, 1:01 pm

Reports: Using Health IT to Determine Medication Adherence - Findings from the AHRQ Health IT PortfolioThis report describes some of the approaches and challenges discussed by AHRQ grant projects that participated in several Medication Adherence Open Forums. This report profiles the different approaches grantees have used to calculate medication adherence and the data sources that are being used by the projects. This report also describes some of the challenges in associating prescription data and pharmacy data and discusses needed processes and standards to improve usage of this information. Finally, this report provides grantee feedback on the lack of tools and standardized instruments to support the synthesis and use of adherence information to improve patients' health.
» 2 Nov 2009, 10:59 am

Reports: Implementation of Health Information Technology in Long-Term Care SettingsThe NRC team members developed this report summarizing the key challenges noted, solutions identified, and lessons learned by AHRQ funded projects implementing health IT in LTC settings. The report is an examination of the project work that AHRQ has funded thus far in the LTC field, developed within the Agency’s continued research interests in the care and support of persons with chronic or disabling conditions.
» 27 Oct 2009, 8:55 am

Reports: AHRQ Releases Key Findings for Health IT Researchers and ImplementersAHRQ has developed a new comprehensive report, called the Summary Health IT Portfolio 2008, that highlights key findings from its health IT projects. The report presents an overview of nearly 150 summaries by strategic and business goals, project milestones, and other characteristics. It is a valuable tool for prospective and current health IT researchers and those interested in synthesizing health IT research and identifying areas for which there are gaps that need to be addressed in the field. Researchers and implementers of health IT now have access to practical examples for planning and conducting their research and implementing projects.
» 26 Oct 2009, 8:13 am

Events: A National Web Conference, E-Prescribing and Medication Management: Current Realities and Future DirecMaterials from AHRQ's Web conference titled “A National Web Conference, E-Prescribing and Medication Management: Current Realities and Future Directions,” are now available on its National Resource Center for Health Information Technology. The event was the last of three, free 90-minute Web conferences on the role of health information technology (health IT) in medication management, from prescribing to adherence. Experts explored what is known about e-prescribing and medication management systems and suggested future research topics.
» 26 Oct 2009, 8:11 am

Podcasts: Clinical Decision Support - Improving Health Care QualityAHRQ has produced the first in a series of three podcasts on clinical decision support (CDS). This podcast describes what CDS is and the kinds of projects AHRQ is working in the area of CDS.
» 26 Oct 2009, 8:06 am

Tools: AHRQ Releases New Resources for Health IT System AdoptionNew information for health care providers adopting health information technology (health IT) systems is now available on AHRQ’s National Resource Center (NRC) on Health Information Technology. The new topic areas, found on the NRC’s health IT bibliography Web page, include disease registries, personal health records, usability testing, education and training, privacy and security, quality measurement and improvement, and transitions in care. The health IT bibliography represents both peer-reviewed articles from professional journals and Web-based resources from highly respected health care and IT organizations. The bibliography’s articles and resources provide knowledge and insight that may help clinicians and organizations implement
» 26 Oct 2009, 7:22 am

Tools: AHRQ Releases New Online Tool to Help Physicians Adopt Health Information TechnologiesWith the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvest Act of 2009, many health care providers are in a position to adopt health IT. But doing so requires a variety of resources, including tips on vendor selection, project management forms, and clinical content committee information guides. AHRQ’s new online tool has more than 50 resources collected from 18 AHRQ-funded grants and contracts. Examples include: decision support rules for generating colorectal cancer screening quality measures; a sample medication reconciliation checklist for patients to complete while they wait to see their primary care doctor; and a sample request-for-proposal for the selection of an electronic health record (EHR) system.
» 27 Jul 2009, 6:04 am

Events: A National Web Conference on E-Prescribing and Medication Management: The New Paradigm for Provider anAHRQ has made available the materials from its June 23 Web conference titled “A National Web Conference on E-Prescribing and Medication Management: The New Paradigm for Provider and Pharmacist Interaction." The event, the second in a series of three teleconferences, discussed how an e-prescription is received and processed, the significance of high quality patient data for the pharmacist, implementing and utilizing e-prescribing from the pharmacist's perspective, and the technical limitations and challenges facing e-prescribing.
» 2 Jul 2009, 9:56 am

eDrugSearch Healthcare Top 100

"...THE STINK OF INTELLECTUAL CORRUPTION IS OVERPOWERING..."Dr. Sanity, Last Checked: 28 Dec 2009
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"...A Fifth Column of Insanity..."denialism blog, Last Checked: 28 Dec 2009
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12 STI?s of Christmas, 2009GruntDoc, Last Checked: 28 Dec 2009
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11 Tips for Kitchen EfficiencyMark's Daily Apple, Last Checked: 28 Dec 2009
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2008 Resolution No. 3: Uphold MagnanimityThe Cheerful Oncologist, Last Checked: 28 Dec 2009
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"Compensation Madness" - "Insiders Hijacking Established Institutions for their Personal BenefiHealth Care Renewal, Last Checked: 28 Dec 2009
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"I Feel Your Pain. Now, Getting Back to Your Co-Pays..."The Cheerful Oncologist, Last Checked: 28 Dec 2009
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"Person No. 7," Also Known as the 83rd Richest Man in the WorldHealth Care Renewal, Last Checked: 28 Dec 2009
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"Run That by Me Again, Doc."The Cheerful Oncologist, Last Checked: 28 Dec 2009
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"THE ONE" FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NESTDr. Sanity, Last Checked: 28 Dec 2009
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"We are unable to share documents relating to problematic EHR's as our contract with Cerner includes a coHealth Care Renewal, Last Checked: 28 Dec 2009
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Fierce Health IT

CCHIT halts ARRA certification until it can be accreditedThe Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology is halting testing of EHR products against "Stage 1" criteria for meaningful use until the organization earns accreditation from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. "We have reviewed the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking [released earlier this month] regarding certifying bodies, and we feel confident about our prospects of becoming accredited. We plan to file an application with the Office of the National Coordinator as soon as it is ready to accept them. Until CCHIT becomes accredited, we are suspending any initial or incremental Modular testing until we can test against an accredited Stage 1 ARRA test script," reads a notice posted on the
» 15 Mar 2010, 10:56 am

Cuts to new scheduling system to save VA $37M this yearThe decision to stop work on an online appointment-scheduling system will save the Department of Veterans Affairs $37 million this year, or about two-thirds of the projected $54 million in savings from halting 12 IT programs department-wide. The scheduling system, called the Replacement Scheduling Application Development program, which already has cost the VA $167 million to date, still could be restarted in the future, but likely with a different approach and a new name. "The requirement [for upgrading the VA scheduling system] has not gone away," Stephen Warren, the VA's principal deputy assistant secretary for information and technology, tells Federal Computer Week. "The need is critical." It is not the only canceled program VA officials
» 15 Mar 2010, 10:33 am

CIOs optimistic despite slow growth in HIT spendingThough the health IT industry is gearing up for the federal health IT stimulus program that begins in October for hospitals and next January for physician practices, don't expect a big increase in health IT budgets this year. Global spending on health IT fell to $79.8 billion in 2009 from $85 billion a year earlier, according to Gartner research, and is only forecast to rebound to $82.2 billion in 2010, with much of the momentum to come from overseas. In the U.S., Gartner says growth will only be about 1.5 percent this year. Still, many CIOs find themselves in better positions now than they were during the depths of the recession in late 2008, in part because they've already made some difficult cuts that have left them more prepared for the
» 15 Mar 2010, 9:56 am

Senate votes to expand eligibility for meaningful useAfter previously stripping a provision from a jobs bill to expand federal health IT incentives to hospital-based physicians, the Senate last week passed legislation that would make physicians who work in outpatient areas of hospitals eligible for the same Medicare and Medicaid bonuses as their office-based brethren. However, the "meaningful use" program still would exclude practitioners in inpatient and emergency departments. H.R. 4213, the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010, is primarily intended to extend unemployment benefits, provide some tax breaks and delay the scheduled Medicare physician payment cut until Oct. 1, but it includes language that would change Medicare and Medicaid rules to widen physician eligibili
» 15 Mar 2010, 9:28 am

Push for meaningful use leads to consolidation of two HIEsCalifornia officials have designated a new organization to lead health information exchange efforts in the state in hopes of helping healthcare providers capture more than $3 billion in federal stimulus funding for meaningful use of health IT. Within the next six months, state officials will transfer responsibilities for governance of health IT within California to the not-for-profit, called Cal eConnect. The organization, which represents a consolidation of CalRHIO and the California eHealth Collaborative, two of the seven groups that sought recognition from the state, will determine which HIT vendors meet national standards for HIE, e-prescribing and other activities aimed at improving quality and efficiency of care delivered to Medicare
» 15 Mar 2010, 9:07 am

SPOTLIGHT: Nursing inefficienciesNurses have long suspected that they spend far too much time shuffling paper and chasing down equipment rather than caring for patients, and now there's some data to back them up. A new survey from Jackson Healthcare in Alpharetta, Ga., finds that hospital-based nurses across the country can devote as much as 25 percent of their time filling out forms, documenting patient encounters in multiple locations and hunting down supplies and medical devices. Many of the more than 2,400 nurses and nursing managers surveyed recommended solving this problem with additional staff support, elimination of redundant regulatory requirements and, yes, hospital-wide communications technology. It will be interesting to see if the federal HIT stimulus changes
» 15 Mar 2010, 8:27 am

Study: Patient data at risk with file-sharing networksIt's been a decade since the height of Napster's popularity, but file sharing remains rampant on the Internet through networks such as Limewire, BitTorrent and Kazaa. And that may threaten the security of personally identifiable health information, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. Researchers at the University of Ottawa in Canada used widely available file-sharing software to access documents containing health and financial information from patients at various locations in Canada and the United States. Lead author Khaled El Emam says that his team found that unauthorized users actively searched for files containing such data. "There is no obvious innocent reason why anyone would be loo
» 8 Mar 2010, 12:18 pm

Great to meet our readers at Fierce's HIMSS events!Now that you're all back in the office following a jam-packed HIMSS10 week of networking, learning and checking out the latest health IT products, I wanted thank those of you who attended our first-ever HIMSS executive breakfast panel discussion March 2, jointly sponsored by FierceMobileHealthcare, FierceWireless and Meru Networks. Our panel of hospital CIOs and wireless experts shared their 'been there, done that' lessons learned, and discussed the many misconceptions regarding mobile technology deployment. Although this technology has yet to reach its full potential in the healthcare setting--"we'll see tremendous explosion" predicts said Geoffrey Brown, Senior VP and CIO at Inova Health System in Falls Church, Va.--our panelists agreed
» 8 Mar 2010, 11:41 am

Two new surveys downplay federal HIT stimulus moneyLast week, we heard optimism from the likes of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society and the College of Health Information Management Executives about the prospects of healthcare organizations earning federal stimulus money for achieving meaningful use of EMRs. But, with more than 27,000 people and close to 900 vendors packed into the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta for HIMSS10, there were bound to be some differing opinions. Some even came from outside of Atlanta. The Medical Group Management Association on Friday released the results of a survey saying that more than two-thirds of practice executives believe that physician productivity would decrease because of the current proposed CMS criteria for meaningful
» 8 Mar 2010, 11:33 am

HIMSS10: IBM marches into HIE after closing Initiate dealIt may have been a coincidence that IBM closed on its acquisition of Initiate Systems just as HIMSS10 got underway in Atlanta last week. We're certain that it was no coincidence that IBM introduced a product called Initiate Exchange on the very same day it announced the closing of the Initiate deal. "The acquisition was driven by IBM's desire to enhance its ability to help healthcare clients draw on data from hospitals, doctors' offices and payers to create a single, trusted shareable view of millions individual patient records," an IBM  press release read. Initiate Exchange, which itself is the result of Initiate's acquisition of HIE services vendor Accenx just last October, fosters health information exchange between health systems and p
» 8 Mar 2010, 10:44 am

VA shuts access to DoD medical records after data errorsHealth information interoperability efforts between the Veterans Health Administration and the Military Health System suffered another setback, as the Department of Veterans Affairs cut off access to the Defense Department's AHLTA EMR after VA officials found errors in medical records downloaded from AHLTA. No patients were injured as a result of the inaccurate data, according to the VA, but "the potential exists for decisions regarding patient care to be made using incorrect or incomplete data," the VA said in a patient-safety alert sent out last Wednesday. VA officials first discovered problems with the data exchange late last month when a VA clinician found a record in AHLTA indicating that a female patient had been prescribed a drug for
» 8 Mar 2010, 9:49 am

Forbes Healthcare News

'Obama, Come To Wichita'A message from the private aviation sector to the President.
» 16 Mar 2010, 6:13 pm

March Madness Is Still AliveThe recession has not hurt the appeal sponsors have for the tournament.
» 15 Mar 2010, 2:00 pm

Hong Kong's Financial SectorSecretary of Financial Services expects to see strong demand ahead as China makes reforms.
» 8 Mar 2010, 9:41 am

Hong Kong's Economic RecoverySecretary of Financial Services and Treasury expects stimulus to keep growth on track.
» 5 Mar 2010, 3:07 pm

A Hotelier's Charitable MissionPeter Gautschi builds schools for Asia's poorest.
» 4 Mar 2010, 3:00 pm

Adjusting To Credit Card ReformCard companies react to new rules and see challenges ahead.
» 4 Mar 2010, 2:43 pm

HSBC's Asia OutlookGroup CEO Michael Geoghegan says emerging economies will motor ahead in 2010.
» 3 Mar 2010, 8:11 am

Malpass: The Next GreeceWhich countries, states could face a debt crisis on par with Greece.
» 25 Feb 2010, 7:30 am

Can UnitedHealth Find New Growth?The health overhaul blew up. But that doesn't mean UnitedHealth will return to glory.
» 25 Feb 2010, 6:40 am

The Mathematics Of CancerLarry Norton is pushing a radical new theory of how cancer spreads--and how to cure it.
» 25 Feb 2010, 5:40 am

Cessna: Pushing EfficiencyCEO Jack Pelton on how the recession is creating new demand for greener aircraft.
» 24 Feb 2010, 10:28 am

Healthcare Informatics - Events

CIO Healthcare SummitCIO Healthcare Summit May 9-12, 2009 Scottsdale, Ariz. www.ciohealthcaresummit.com The CIO Healthcare Summit will gather today’s healthcare IT leaders to discuss some of the key issues they are faced with today. Through CIO panel discussions, analyst-led workshops and case study presentations, new strategies and ideas will be revealed during this three-day event of networking and focused business discussions. Technology solution providers will present innovative new products and services to help CIOs in healthcare as they discuss the challenges of interoperability, EHRs, the affects of the stimulus plan and more. For more information, contact Katie Graves at 808-694-3662 or  Katie.graves@cdmmedia.com . To register, visit www.ciohealthcar
» 8 May 2010, 10:00 pm

AIIM Expo + ConferenceAIIM Expo + Conference April 20-22 Pennsylvania Convention Center Philadelphia With 80+ sessions featuring end-user case studies, an expo showcasing world-class information management technology, 2010 SharePoint Summit, AIIM Certificate Programs, and networking opportunities, the AIIM Expo + Conference is the definitive industry gathering for information management professionals across industries, including healthcare. The 2010 event will give you the help you need to improve the way you capture, store, access, share + manage enterprise information. Visit www.aiimexpo.com for details. 
» 19 Apr 2010, 10:00 pm

Talent Management for HealthcareOne of the biggest challenges facing medical institutions today is “Human Capital Investment” — where, when, and how to invest in current and future talent. With fewer resources to recruit, engage, develop and retain staff, healthcare institutions must do more with less by finding ways to maintain premier patient care through better workforce management. 2010 Talent Management for Healthcare will address this fundamental challenge affecting every stage of the talent life cycle, from “strategy and execution” with must-know information on workforce planning to the efficient deployment of scarce skills throughout the organization. The senior practitioners who attend this conference will learn the latest trends, technologies, and solu
» 18 Apr 2010, 10:00 pm

Healthcare Informatics - News

Philly Hospital Taps Gastro SoftwareLankenau Hospital, a 331-bed hospital in Wynnewood, Pa., is deploying ProVation MD software from Philadelphia-based Wolters Kluwer Health (part of Netherlands-based Walters Kluwer ) for gastroenterology procedure documentation and coding. The hospital plans to utilize the software to document and code procedures performed in its GI lab, according to the company. ProVation MD is designed to replace dictation and transcription and allow physicians to efficiently document procedures at the point of care, it touts. A teaching and research-based institution that has achieved national acclaim for its heart and cancer centers, Level III neonatal intensive care unit and kidney transplant program, Lankenau is part of the six-hospital Main Line Healt
» 17 Mar 2010, 7:23 am

Detroit Docs Deploy RCM SolutionWayne State University Physician Group (WSUPG, Detroit) is implementing a revenue cycle management solution from Horsham, Pa.-based NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, Inc. , a subsidiary of Quality Systems Inc. (Irvine, Calif.). According to the company, NextGenSM Practice Solutions is designed to help users increase collections, reduce A/R days, and improve efficiency in billing, scheduling, reporting, and other critical practice functions. WSUPG is a non-profit, multi-specialty group providing primary and specialty medical services to more than 670,000 patients annually throughout metropolitan Detroit. Its 546 physicians are faculty members of the Wayne State University School of Medicine.
» 17 Mar 2010, 7:21 am

Meridian Adopts Connect Care ModelMeridian Health , a not-for-profit health system located in Neptune, N.J., will utilize Nashville, Tenn.-based Informatics Corporation of America ’s (ICA) CareAlign solution to connect internal and external care participants across its hospitals and affiliated companies and providers. By implementing CareAlign, the health system can make integrated patient records available to clinicians at any time, enabling them to deliver optimized care, says the company. Through its five hospitals — Jersey Shore University Medical Center, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, Ocean Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center, and Southern Ocean Community Hospital — Meridian health serves patients across central and southern New Jersey. The system also
» 17 Mar 2010, 7:18 am

HHS Grants $162 to Fund State HIEsThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Washington) is awarding $162 million to help 16 states and qualified state designated entities facilitate health information exchange (HIE) efforts as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. According to HHS, every state and eligible territory has now been awarded funds under this program. A listing of the state HIE competitive agreements is as follows: State/SDE Award Amount Agency of Health Care Administration (FL) $20,738,582 The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene $9,313,924 New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority $11,408,594 South Carolina Department of Health & Human Services $9,576,408 Iowa Department of Public Health $8,375,000 Idaho Hea
» 16 Mar 2010, 9:16 am

KLAS: Smart Pumps Leading to Buyers Remorse for SomeNearly one in five smart pump customers say they would not buy their current pump again, with one notable exception, according to a new report from Orem, Utah-based KLAS . The report, for which KLAS interviewed 348 providers, looks at smart pump adoption trends and the customer satisfaction gap among some products. It found that roughly 20 percent of customers who purchased the B. Braun Outlook or the new Hospira Symbiq pump say that they would not buy the same device again, nor would 17 percent of those using the small, user-friendly Baxter Sigma pump. On the other hand, 99 percent of interviewed customers who purchased the CareFusion Alaris pump would repeat the decision. The Alaris pump, however, was not the highest-rated product in the
» 16 Mar 2010, 8:59 am

MGMA Asks for Extension for Incentive ProgramThe Englewood, Colo.-based Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) is petitioning the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS, Baltimore) to substantially modify the proposed meaningful use rule, or else risk failing to meet the goals for health IT adoption as established by ARRA. Among the changes called for is a recommendation that CMS formally request a one-year legislative extension of Stage 1 of the incentive program from Congress. To read MGMA’s comments, which are outlined in a 43-page letter, click here .    
» 16 Mar 2010, 8:58 am

CHIME: Certification Shouldn’t Be a BurdenThe Ann Arbor, Mich.-based College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) filed comments with the Office of the National Coordinator on the Interim Final Rule regarding the initial set of standards, implementation specifications and certification criteria for EHR technology. In its comments, CHIME stresses the importance of certification for supporting providers’ efforts to achieve meaningful use, saying it gives “healthcare providers a degree of assurance that the products they purchase will perform as promised,” adding that “certification is meant to support providers, not pose an additional burden.” The organization places most of the responsibility on vendors that develop IT products, and is urging ONC to prov
» 16 Mar 2010, 8:56 am

Hospital Sisters Names New CIOWilliam Montgomery has been appointed chief information officer for Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System . Montgomery is currently president of Cedar Brook Consulting in Gainesville, Fla. Prior to that, he served as vice president, healthcare, for Sprint Nextel, of Reston, Va., and was responsible for all strategic planning and the definition and development of markets and products for the healthcare field.  Montgomery holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in health systems management from Union College of Schenectady, N.Y. Hospital Sisters Health System includes St. John’s Hospital and hospitals in Belleville, Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Highland, Litchfield, Spring
» 15 Mar 2010, 8:22 am

Maryland System Implements Labor ManagementFrederick Memorial Healthcare System (Md.) saved more than $5 million with its use of Charlotte, N.C.-headquartered Premier Inc. ’s product, the company says. According to Premier, by utilizing its LaborConnect tool, the healthcare system realized cost savings through onsite performance improvement and labor benchmarking. As a part of the program, a Premier Performance Partner provided six days per month of consulting services and helped install OperationsAdvisor, its Web-based labor benchmarking solution. In addition, the Performance Partner also trained managers and directors to new products and reports; monitored “watch lists” to help underperformers develop action plans; and incorporated FY2009 labor benchmarks into the FY2010 la
» 15 Mar 2010, 8:12 am

ISMP Unveils Order Set GuidelinesThe Horsham, Pa.-based Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) has developed a set of guidelines to help ensure that standardized order sets addressing common conditions are carefully designed, reviewed, and maintained in order to prevent errors.   The order sets can be used for paper based as well as CPOE systems, says the organization. The guidelines cover three areas that commonly result in errors: Content — making sure orders are complete, including information beyond what the prescriber may initially consider (such as monitoring requirements), reflecting best practices, and standardizing order sets among practitioners who provide patient care. Format — determining appropriate symbols, abbreviations, dose designations, punc
» 12 Mar 2010, 8:18 am

Healthcare IT News

Feds received 2,700 comment letters on meaningful use and standards rulesThe comment period on the proposed meaningful use rule and the interim standards final rule closed Monday. On Wednesday, federal officials said they had so far collected some 2,700 comment letters.
» 17 Mar 2010, 12:02 pm

WoHIT keynoter warns of healthcare IT disasterIn a sobering keynote address at the 2010 World of Health IT Conference and Exhibition, eHealth researcher Enrico Coiera of University of New South Wales, Australia said industry enthusiasts who back, uncritically, national-scale HIT systems need to prepare themselves for some very bad news. "We've yet to experience our first health IT plane crash, a health IT failure that claims many lives," Coiera said Wednesday. "But I think that will happen... I think it's unavoidable given what we're doing. We need to do our best to mitigate that."
» 17 Mar 2010, 8:54 am

Twitter becoming essential tool for docsTwitter will soon be an essential tool for medical practices according to a poll conducted by Case Western University, an independent research university in Cleveland. Fifty-nine percent of those who participated in the poll voted "yes" that Twitter would become an integral part of the way doctors communicate with patients and other medical professionals. Although more doctors may be using the service, they are not necessarily using it to give patients advice.
» 17 Mar 2010, 8:15 am

NHIN Direct may "throw wrench" into states' HIE plansIn launching NHIN Direct, a set of tools designed to make it easier for small providers to share electronic health information securely, health IT policymakers are forcing states to rethink their plans for rolling out health information services in their communities. NHIN Direct, the brainchild of the Health IT Policy Committee’s NHIN workgroup, would enable small healthcare organizations to ramp up health information exchange quickly by offering them basic network transport services for sharing records securely over the Internet.
» 17 Mar 2010, 7:58 am

New 'emotional networking' product aims to complement telehealthEmota, a technology startup company based in Menlo Park, Calif. that develops software and services for care of elderly patients, has announced its new "emotional networking" product, which it says will help clinicians, caregivers and families support wellness for the aged, enabling connectedness over long distances. Emotional networking complements existing telehealth solutions, seeking to address not just clinical health, but emotional and social aspects of elder care.
» 17 Mar 2010, 7:54 am

AHA offers 10 tips on how to deal with workforce shortageIn a recently released report, the American Hospital Association discussed findings on hospital workforce issues explored by its Long-Range Policy Committee, and offered a 10-point plan for dealing with a tight labor market. The committee looked ahead to the next decade and identified recommendations that hospitals and their associations might use to develop successful strategies to ensure an adequate workforce.
» 17 Mar 2010, 7:21 am

US, EU aim for cooperation on standards, metricsHealthcare IT leaders from the United States and Europe say they're confident they stand on the brink of a new era of eHealth cooperation. But if the areas they identified at a panel on EU-US cooperation represents the "low-hanging fruit," no one should expect immediate results. "The way to solve a problem is to make it bigger," noted Ilias Iakovidis, a high-level European Commissioner director for health. "If we have not solved the interoperability problems in Europe, we can solve it by making it global."
» 16 Mar 2010, 10:18 am

Medco, Mayo Clinic study finds reduced hospitalization rates with genetic testingA simple genetic test can reduce hospitalization rates by almost a third for heart patients taking warfarin, the world's most-prescribed blood thinner, according to a study released today by researchers from Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (in association with the Medco Research Institute) and the Mayo Clinic.
» 16 Mar 2010, 7:53 am

Smart pump customers show buyers' remorseNearly one in five smart pump customers say they would not buy their current pump again, with one exception, according to a new report from healthcare market research firm KLAS. The survey elicited responses from 348 providers. The report, Smart Pumps: Avoiding Buyer's Remorse, notes that roughly 20 percent of customers who purchased the B. Braun Outlook or the new Hospira Symbiq pump say they would not buy the same pump again, nor would 17 percent of those using the small Baxter Sigma pump, which is billed as user friendly.
» 16 Mar 2010, 7:10 am

EC officials face skeptics on eHealth detailsFacing a sometimes impatient and skeptical audience of clinicians and healthcare IT vendors, European Commission officials say the latest eHealth plans will include concrete proposals to deploy information technology throughout European health systems.
» 16 Mar 2010, 5:54 am

Healthcare Law Blog

West Virginia State Bar Issues Advisory Opinion 10-001 Clarifying Rule 8 Pro Hac Vice AdmissionToday the West Virginia State Bar announced that the West Virginia State Bar's Unlawful Practice of Law Committee has released Advisory Opinion 10-001, relating to questions from attorneys regarding its interpretation of Rule 8 of the West Virginia Rules of Admission to the Practice of Law, relating to admissions pro hac vice.Advisory Opinion 10-001 addresses the following issues:1. Whether the requirement in Rule 8 of of admission pro hac vice extends to matters in which no action, suit or proceeding is pending;2. To what extent is the responsible local attorney required to participate in proceedings involving the attorney admitted pro hac vice;3. Whether presiding judicial officers can "excuse" local counsel form participation
» 16 Mar 2010, 7:11 am

AHLA Connections: Legal Implications of Health Care Social MediaThe current issue of the American Health Lawyers Association's Connections magazine features an article I co-authored with fellow AHLA health lawyer, Jody Joiner, on the impact of social media use in health care.The article, Risky Business: Treating Tweeting the Symptoms of Social Media (PDF version), is featured in the March 2010 issue of AHLA Connections (Vol.14, No. 3, March 2010), a health lawyer magazine for the health and life sciences law community.We provide background context on the use of social media tools by health care providers, address why we think health lawyers need to understand social media, and explore some of the legal implications as social media and the law intersect. The article ends with practical guidance to health
» 9 Mar 2010, 11:43 pm

Lesson for Hospitals and Health Care Providers: Photos of Shark Bite VictimMartin Memorial too mum: Hospital staff violated privacy of shark victim, an article from the Palm Beach Post. The article highlights the impact ubiquitous mobile devices with cameras are having on our society and the potential liability risks associated with the use/misuse of these devices by health care employees.The article indicates that various hospital employees took photos of a shark bite victim when he arrived in the emergency room. The article discusses the action taken by the hospital in response to the incident. Another article indicates that the photos were emailed to others.This type of situation is a nightmare for hospital administration, the privacy officer and legal counsel. The effort and investigation that likely went into
» 5 Mar 2010, 10:14 am

HITECH Law BlogA warm welcome to fellow AHLA member and health law blogger, Kathie McDonald-McClure.I just ran across her blog, HITECH Law Blog. She focuses the blog on health information technology, privacy and security and the blog was named after the HITECH Act. Looks like a great addition to the health law blogosphere.Ms. McDonald-McClure is a member of the Health Care Services Team at Wyatt Tarrant & Combs, LLP in Louisville, KY.
» 1 Mar 2010, 7:44 am

AHLA Hospital's Friend or Foe: The Age of Social Media and Health 2.0Today Jody Joiner and I presented at the AHLA Hospitals and Health Systems Institute on the use of social media by hospitals and health care providers. We provided an overview of social media use by hospitals and health care providers, discussed the pros/cons of using social media in the health care environment, presented case studies of the risks and legal implications and did a short role play involving tweets in the context of a medical negligence case. We also provided those attending with recommendations on developing social media guidelines and policies.To show the speed and ease of using social media tools to spread information, news and photos we we did some live shots during the presentations using an iPhone that were then loaded u
» 26 Feb 2010, 10:52 am

» 26 Feb 2010, 7:11 am

Social Media presentation audience.» 26 Feb 2010, 7:09 am

AHLA Social Media presentation» 26 Feb 2010, 6:41 am

AIS Report on Patient Privacy: Analysis of Willful Neglect Under HITECHRecently I was interviewed for a story focused on the changes to the HIPAA civil penalty enforcement under the HITECH Act.The article, Willful Neglect Is Difficult to Pin Down, but Can Result in Enormous HIPAA Penalties, appears in the Report on Patient Privacy: Practical News and Strategies for Complying with HIPAA, Volume 10, Number 2 February 2010 published by Atalantic Information Services, Inc. (AIS). The article discusses the definition and interpretation of "willful neglect" under the HIPAA penalty provisions. Health care privacy officers should find this article helpful in better understanding their role and responsibility in overseeing privacy compliance efforts.The full story was reprinted on AIS Health Business Daily website.
» 19 Feb 2010, 10:50 am

WV HIT Funding Under HITECH: WVHIN Gets $7.8M and WV REC gets $6MHealth and Human Services Secretary Sebelius and the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, David Blumenthal, announced the HITECH funding under the ARRA for State Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) and Regional Extension Center (RECs) across the country.The White House Press Release provides a detailed list of HIEs and RECs receiving grants. Inormation is also available via the HHS News Release, Sebelius, Solis Announce Nearly $1 Billion Recovery Act Investments in Advancing Use of Health IT, Training Works for Health Jobs of the Future.West Virginia will receive the following funding:West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources in conjunction with the West Virginia Health Information Network HIE Award: $7,819,0
» 13 Feb 2010, 1:39 pm

Model Jury Instruction: Warning Jurors on Use of Electronic Technology and Social MediaThe Committee on Court Administration and Case Management of the Judicial Conference of the United States has issued a memo regarding Juror Use of Electronic Communication Technologies.At its December 2009 meeting, the Judicial Conference Committee endorsed a set of suggested jury instructions that federal district judges should consider using to help deter jurors from using electronic technologies to research or communicate about cases while they serve as jurors. The recommended instructions were developed as a result of the increased use of web enabled mobile phones and devices that can be used to research information and communicated in a variety of ways, including email, social media, etc.The Proposed Model Jury Instruction reads as fol
» 3 Feb 2010, 7:47 am

Medgadget

GE Healthcare Releases Clinical IMAGES iPhone App for RadiologistsGE Healthcare has released an iPhone app aimed at radiologists which shows off sample images and videos from GE Healthcare imaging systems. It was demonstrated recently at RSNA 2009. Currently almost a hundred images and videos from the OPTIMA450W MRI system are included, and the app will be updated periodically adding image sets from other products including x-ray, ultrasound and PET systems. Although GE boldy states "Radiologists, there is an iPhone app for you too!", we suspect it will be of more use in the hands of sales representatives. From the press release: "There are times when you could only meet the radiologist at the hallway of the hospital for 30 seconds. Now with this application we can show them right there more than 100 clin
» 17 Mar 2010, 1:33 pm

Energized Condoms Coming Soon? A New Method for Transdermal Delivery of Nitric OxideThe New York Times profiles research by Harvey A. Liu and Kenneth J. Balkus Jr. of the University of Texas at Dallas to create a therapeutic nitric oxide releasing bandage. Nitric oxide can play a significant role in peripheral vasodilation, relaxation of pulmonary vasculature, and other physiological processes, such as penile erection. Therefore, an effective method of delivering this free radical should allow the development of new types of vascular stockings, bandages, and other therapeutic (or recreational) devices. A snippet from NYT: As they describe in a paper in Chemistry of Materials, the researchers use a zeolite, an aluminosilicate mineral that has a three-dimensional cage structure. Zeolites have been shown to be able to store a
» 17 Mar 2010, 12:35 pm

CareFusion AVAmax Vertebral Balloon Kyphoplasty DeviceCareFusion of San Diego, California has announced the release of the AVAmax Vertebral Balloon that can be used to treat spinal compression fractures. It consists of a small balloon attached to a catheter which is inserted in the vertebral body and then inflated in order to create a cavity. This cavity is subsequently filled with bone cement in order to stabilize the fracture and restore the height of the affected vertebra. Additionally the AVAmax PLUS vertebral augmentation system is available for use in conjunction with the AVAmax Vertebral Balloon to deliver cement, which allows the radiologist’s hands to be out of the radiation field during the procedure. CareFusion claims to be the only company in the industry that nowadays offers
» 17 Mar 2010, 12:15 pm

Dyna-Vision Real-Time Remote Patient Monitoring System Gets US Green LightRS TechMedic BV out of Broek op Langedijk, The Netherlands has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Dyna-Vision line of portable cardiac monitors. The devices, already approved in Europe, transmit ECG data wirelessly to a clinician via Bluetooth or through a mobile phone network. Features of the top end Dyna-Vision device from the product page: Remote Monitoring of Vital Signs: > 3, 5 and 12 lead ECG > Heart Rate > Plethysmogram & SpO2 > Respiration & Respiratory Rate Benefits: > Real-Time Remote Monitoring without limitations > Internal GSM, Bluetooth Class I and USB connection > No peripherals required for transmission > Dyna-Vision© supports all mobile networks Turn-key Telemedicine Solutions and Int
» 17 Mar 2010, 10:54 am

Robot Scientist Automates Scientific DiscoveryThe Singularity Hub is reporting on a genetic discovery brought to you entirely by Adam, a robot at Aberystwyth University in Wales that can conduct its own experiments. Not just that, Adam actually invents its own experiments and defines how to perform each study. After carrying out the task Adam analyzes the data, providing scientists (we'll still call them that) with easily verifiable results. Some details of Adam's first discovery from Singularity Hub: His developers introduced him to a yeast genetics mystery that had eluded discovery for quite some time. As with all living organisms, yeast have proteins called enzymes that catalyze many of the chemical reactions necessary for life to occur. Each of these enzymes is encoded in the yeast
» 17 Mar 2010, 10:28 am

"Mark Roth: Suspended animation is within our grasp"Mark Roth, a research biologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington, has been studying the mechanics of suspended animation, or the ability of some animals to go into a near death state from which they can later wake up. In his last month's TED talk, Roth gave an overview of the state of suspended animation research and the potential it has for medicine. Link @ TED: Mark Roth: Suspended animation is within our grasp......
» 17 Mar 2010, 10:18 am

Ambulight PDT for Outpatient Photodynamic Skin Cancer TherapyAmbicare Health out of Fife, Scotland just received the European CE mark of approval and is subsequently launching the Ambulight PDT device for on-the-go photodynamic therapy. PDT typically requires in-hospital equipment, so skin cancer patients are tied to a clinical environment when receiving treatment. The Ambulight PDT is small and portable enough to be worn inconspicuously as a skin patch, taking the patient out of the hospital for a better experience and reduced costs. Features from the product page: A single use device, packaged as a disposable dressing, it is simple to set up with the patient Wearable low powered light source technology allows greater freedom of movement during treatment Low light intensity - which has the potential
» 16 Mar 2010, 2:16 pm

SJM Enhances Usability of Company's FFR Measurement TechnologySt. Jude Medical has announced a few additions and improvements to their Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) measurement system. The PressureWire Certus FFR measurement device is promised to be more ergonomic for physician use, while PressureWire Aeris, the wireless version, can now be used with Siemens AXIOM Sensis XP hemodynamic recording system. The new PressureWire Certus includes modifications to design and functionality which will provide physicians with more controlled handling and versatility. It is the only guidewire on the market to offer in one wire the combined measurement of pressure and temperature which enables calculations of FFR, Coronary Flow Reserve (CFR) and an Index of Microcirculatory Resistance (IMR). The PressureWire Aeris
» 16 Mar 2010, 12:02 pm

Abbott's Bioresorbable Stent Continues to Prove Itself in TrialsAt the American College of Cardiology's 59th annual scientific session in Atlanta this week, Abbott released results of a Phase 2 clinical trial of its bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS). In this 30 day trial, the new stenting technology has led to no thrombosis, no ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization, and a rate of major adverse cardiac events was only 2 percent. From the announcement: This second phase of the ABSORB clinical trial (Cohort B) enrolled 101 patients from 12 centers in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and incorporates device enhancements designed to improve deliverability and vessel support.Abbott is the only company with long-term, three-year clinical data on a complete patient set evaluating the safety and
» 16 Mar 2010, 11:10 am

Eric Dishman: Can The Way You Answer Your Phone Predict Disease?Eric Dishman, Intel's Fellow of Digital Health Group and Director of Health Innovation and Policy, spoke at TEDMED last October on what the future holds for at-home healthcare. Dishman presents a few projects that Intel is working on in anticipation of the demographic changes that are expected to influence medical care around the world. Link: TEDMED......
» 16 Mar 2010, 10:54 am

Eric Mead: The Magic of the PlaceboAt last year's TEDMED, magician Eric Mead gave a most unexpected talk about placebos. By using a bit of trickery, Mead demonstrated how knowledge of an event's real nature is not enough to suppress belief in its perceived, but fake, action. Link: TEDMED......
» 16 Mar 2010, 10:43 am

Microsoft HealthBlog

Crushing Complexity from HealthcareEarly in my career at Microsoft, I traveled around the United States giving keynotes at healthcare executive events organized by our company.  For some of those events I was joined on the podium by health industry author, lecturer, executive, physician...(read more)
» 10 Mar 2010, 2:09 pm

Microsoft Healthcare Executive EventI usually don’t use this space to promote local/regional events.  After all, HealthBlog has a worldwide audience of readers.  However, I’m making an exception because the event I want to promote takes place on home turf and it was after all...(read more)
» 9 Mar 2010, 2:48 pm

Microsoft Research TechFest 2010—through the lens of a clinicianOne of my favorite events of the year is Microsoft TechFest .  The two-day event hosted by my colleagues at Microsoft Research opened today.  As usual, I was blown away by what I saw.  I can’t go into great detail, or show you any pictures. ...(read more)
» 3 Mar 2010, 4:54 pm

HIMSS Day 2—cool technologies from Panasonic, Philips and MicrosoftOK.  The cat is out of the bag.  I can finally tell you about one of the meetings I had while I was in Japan last week.  The meeting was with Panasonic, and I was among a handful of people to get a sneak peek at Panasonic’s new convertible...(read more)
» 2 Mar 2010, 12:39 pm

Microsoft makes some important announcements at HIMSS Day 1While I was winging my way back from Japan two things were particularly on my mind.  First was the culmination of a very successful week of meetings with health industry executives and government leaders and advisors in Japan.  This included...(read more)
» 1 Mar 2010, 1:18 pm

Healthcare ICT in Japan—A view from the topThere are some 8500 hospitals in Japan; a number that is surprising when you consider that the population of this country is approximately 120 million people.  That adds up to a lot of hospital beds per capita!  Ten percent of the population...(read more)
» 25 Feb 2010, 3:47 am

Life and Health in JapanFrom the 34th floor window of my hotel room on the Southern Terrace near Shinjuku train station I have an expansive view of the city. Below me, thousands of Japanese men and women emerge like ants from the subway and rail lines on their way to work. After...(read more)
» 22 Feb 2010, 5:27 pm

New Show! Microsoft Health Tech TodayI’m pleased to be able to share information about the newest episode of Microsoft Health Tech Today , the on-line video series at the intersection of health and information technology.  Our March program will premier on February 25th.   My guests...(read more)
» 17 Feb 2010, 1:18 pm

A more promising future for Health ICT, clinical computing, and electronic health records?On January 27th, I posted a piece on HealthBlog titled A “right-sized” EMR? Tablet PC + Microsoft Office OneNote .  I explained how many doctors who can’t afford or don’t like the well known, branded EMR solutions currently on the market, have turned...(read more)
» 12 Feb 2010, 12:58 pm

Deconstructing Medical PracticeOn Super Bowl Sunday, I received an e-mail from one of my physician colleagues, Dr. Thomas Gumprecht .  I’ve provided information on HealthBlog before about Dr. Gumprecht and his ENT practice in Redmond, Washington.  Tom and I share a passion...(read more)
» 9 Feb 2010, 10:53 am

5 Healthcare IT Decisions to Avoid….. and 1 to EmbraceIn Today’s Healthcare IT News , Jeffery Daigrepont, senior vice president for healthcare IT consulting company the Coker Group , offers some sage advice on “ Five Healthcare IT Decisions to Avoid ”.  They are: Buying defective software Buying non-compliant...(read more)
» 4 Feb 2010, 4:44 pm

NY Times - Health

Violence Prompts Debate Over Medical MarijuanaA shooting and a beating death linked to medical marijuana have drawn calls to change how Washington State protects those who grow and use the drug.
» 16 Mar 2010, 8:11 pm

Democrats Consider New Moves for Health BillLawmakers clashed as Democrats struggled to defend procedural shortcuts.
» 16 Mar 2010, 9:05 pm

McConnell Strategy Shuns BipartisanshipMitch McConnell, the minority leader, has found some success in his strategy to contain Democrats.
» 17 Mar 2010, 7:27 am

Big Insurance Rate Increase for Pennsylvania PoorIn Pennsylvania, the monthly bill for participants in a state insurance program has almost doubled, and some may not be able to afford it.
» 16 Mar 2010, 11:10 pm

Recipes for Health: Steamed Quinoa, White Bean Salad With Sage and Pan-Fried Winter SquashThis satisfying plate is made of vegetables that store well.
» 17 Mar 2010, 2:25 pm

Taking the Bake Out of Bake SaleA new rule in New York City schools, which officials say is aimed at tackling obesity, restricts student bake sales.
» 17 Mar 2010, 12:13 pm

Big Drug Makers Lag in Emerging Markets, Study SaysAs pharmaceutical sales in countries like China and India overtake established markets, leading drug companies risk losing market share to local players, a study said.
» 16 Mar 2010, 10:38 pm

Gaps in Dealing With Cancer in TeenagersExperts see a gap in treatment between pediatric and adult care.
» 15 Mar 2010, 9:30 pm

Drug Helps Diabetics, Trial FindsA generic anti-inflammatory drug from the aspirin family helped patients in a clinical trial lower their blood sugar.
» 15 Mar 2010, 9:40 pm

With Cancer, Let's Face It: Words Are InadequateThe cliches most people use when talking about someone with cancer make Dana Jennings, who was treated for prostate cancer, bristle.
» 15 Mar 2010, 2:55 pm

50 Years After Defect Tragedy, Finding Answers on How Thalidomide Caused DefectsResearchers trying to decipher the drug’s effects have discovered surprising clues to how normal limbs develop.
» 16 Mar 2010, 12:00 am

The Healthcare Blog

Do the Wrong ThingBy ROBERT LASZEWSKI As the Democrats make their final push to pass their health care bill many of them, and most notably the President, are arguing that it should be passed because it is the “right thing to do whatever...
» 17 Mar 2010, 1:13 pm

The Top Ten Immediate Benefits Americans Will Receive When Health Care Reform PassesBy MAGGIE MAHAR Yesterday, the Democratic Caucus of the House listed the provisions of the health reform bill that will take effect “as soon as health care passes,” The legislation would: Prohibit pre-existing condition exclusions for children in all new...
» 17 Mar 2010, 10:48 am

Price Controls Do Not WorkBy PAUL LEVY If there is anything about economics that has been proven over and over, it is that price controls do not work. The unintended consequences are usually worse than the problem that led to the solution in the...
» 17 Mar 2010, 7:41 am

George Clooney Was Onto SomethingBy JESSIE GRUMAN In the Oscar-nominated movie “Up in the Air,” Ryan Bingham (aka George Clooney), travels around the country firing employees for company bosses who don’t have the stomach to do it themselves -– the ones who prefer to...
» 17 Mar 2010, 5:15 am

Andy Wiesenthal, Kaiser PermanenteBy Matthew Holt Those of you with really long memories may remember that Kaiser had a little kerfuffle with a guy named Justen Deal. As part of that incident, I did a rather unorthodox interview with Andy Wiesenthal from The...
» 17 Mar 2010, 1:43 am

Dear Mr President, Medicare StinksBy ROB LAMBERTS Dear Mr. President: The physicians and management in our office had a discussion this morning about the upcoming audits physicians are facing from CMS. I had to wait for my blood pressure to get out of dangerous...
» 16 Mar 2010, 11:00 am

Jonathan Bush, quicklyBy Matthew Holt Jonathan Bush gave me a quick interview at HIMSS ten days ago. We had a chat about what the recent restatement of accounting was all about (stock off about 12%), and last night they released numbers that...
» 16 Mar 2010, 1:49 am

WebMD--Nan Forte explains Health ExchangeBy Matthew Holt WebMD introduced a new series of Health 2.0 style forums last week called Health Exchange. Not everyone was thrilled--in fact John Moore gave it a right padding over at Chilmark mostly because of usability issues. I got...
» 16 Mar 2010, 1:13 am

A Web 2.0 Interview with Miguel Cabrer, CEO of MedtingBy Denise Silber Miguel Cabrer, the founder of MEDTING, a global site for the exchange of medical information and images, will be a panelist at Health 2.0 Europe in Paris. Formerly CIO of Hospital Son Llatzer, the first digital hospital...
» 16 Mar 2010, 1:08 am

Microsoft at HIMSSBy Matthew Holt I'm still catching up with my HIMSS interviews. This is Chris Sullivan and Mike Raymer from Microsoft who are talking about the evolution of the Amalga product—the business intelligence engine—and the current state of HealthVault.
» 16 Mar 2010, 1:00 am

In ONC I Trust ...By JOHN HALAMKA It's my nature to question authority. Whether it's religion, politics, or even my local administrative leadership, authority figures must earn my trust. Earning that trust is not easy. As folks who work closest with me know, I...
» 15 Mar 2010, 8:21 am