Government & Healthcare News

Visit this page frequently for the latest news related to healthcare IT and general healthcare industry issues.

Doctors Part With Cash, Habits to go Paperless (Las Vegas Sun, September 8) - The government wants to spur doctors to make the transition to electronic medical records because of the benefits for patients, hospitals, insurance payers and the doctors themselves: fewer errors, less waste, reduced costs and greater patient confidence.

5 Decisions That Will Determine the Fate of E-Health Records (Federal Computer Week, September 2) - The road ahead is still bumpy for EHRs, but experts say success hinges on the outcomes of five major decisions.

HIMSS Electronic Health Record Association Applauds Federal Support of EHR Implementation for Hospitals and Physician Practices (August 26) - Press release: The HIMSS Electronic Health Record Association responded with enthusiasm to the announcement on August 20 of the availability of grants totaling nearly $1.2 billion to help hospitals and health care providers successfully install and use electronic health records (EHRs) as part of the continued implementation of the healthcare IT provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

LI Hospitals Adopt Electronic Medical Records (Long Island Business News, August 26) - In addition to the traditional low-tech hospital gown, patients at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Riverhead are being issued bracelets with a bar code.

Help for Hospitals Switching to Electronic Health Records (WHYY, August 25) - U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says there is new money available for electronic health record systems. Some of the grant money will establish regional training centers to help doctors and hospitals set up electronic health systems that can communicate easily and improve health care quality.

Ohio State Expands Use of Electronic Medical Records (August 25) - Press release: The latest technology is resulting in safer and more patient-focused care at The Ohio State University Medical Center with a conversion to a fully integrated electronic system for all medical records.

The Tech Effect: Electronic Medical Records (Richmond Register, August 24) - The days of a white-coated doctor taking a pen from his pocket and making notations in a file are long gone.

Without Medical Records, Scars Reveal Patients' Histories (NPR, August 21) - If you ever wondered what difference a system of electronic medical records might make in everyday care, stop at Chicago's Mount Sinai Hospital as Vice President Joe Biden did yesterday.

Obama's E-Health Agenda Receives Cash Infusion (Nextgov, August 21) - The White House's unveiling on Thursday of $1.2 billion in grants for programs to expand the use of electronic health records represents the first major investment in President Obama's health information technology agenda.

Administration Defends Security of Health IT (Nextgov, August 21) - Privacy and security issues are priorities for the administration when it comes to electronic health records, said government officials and members of a health information technology panel this week.

Going Live With an Electronic Health Records System: Are You Ready? (Dynamic Chiropractic, August 26) - Two doctors report on their experience transitioning to an electronic health records system.

One Certainty in Health Care Debate: Electronic Medical Records (eWeek, August 21) - While Congress debates and dithers over what should be part of health care reform, one item is already a certainty.

Biden Announces Grants to Spur Electronic Medical-Record Use (Bloomberg News, August 20) - Vice President Joe Biden announced almost $1.2 billion in grants to help health-care providers convert to electronic medical records.

Electronic Health Records and the 21st Century Health Care System (HealthNewsDigest.com, August 20) - A message from Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.

Biden, Sebelius to Unveil Funds for Electronic Medical Records (McClatchy Newspapers, August 20) - Vice President Joe Biden and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Thursday will formally announce the application process for $1.2 billion in grants to help expand the nation's electronic medical records system.

Electronic Link May Cut Cardiac Deaths (UPI, August 17) - Electronic records linked to health experts can help cardiac patients stay healthier, U.S. researchers say.

FTC Issues Final Rule on Electronic Health Information Security Breach (DOTmed.com, August 18) - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has just issued a final rule requiring some Internet-based businesses to notify consumers when their electronic health information security is breached.

States Urged to Start Now on Health Exchanges (Federal Computer Week, August 10) - State governments should start planning now to foster health information exchanges and adoption of electronic health records in their states, according to new guidance released by the State Alliance for eHealth, which the National Governors Association sponsors.

Blumenthal Helps Rebut Health Reform Critics (Government Health IT, August 10) - The adoption of health information technology will be a catalyst for the healthcare improvement goals of health reform legislation, said Dr. David Blumenthal, the national health IT coordinator.

Cardiology IT Market to Rebound Strongly Following EMR Incentives & Economic Recovery (August 10) - Press release: According to Millennium Research Group, the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, the adoption of electronic medical records (EMR) is ramping up in the US due to President Obama's newly confirmed stimulus plan, designed to promote widespread EMR adoption by 2015.

Health IT: A Shot in the Arm (The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area, August 7) - With more than $19 billion in stimulus funds pegged to health information technology set to start flowing in about 17 months, IT and health technology companies in the Triad are jockeying now to benefit from the cash infusion.

HIM Innovation (Advance, August 6) - The fourth in a five-part series examining best practices for implementing and using an electronic medical record.

South Florida Leaders Revive Efforts to Push for Electronic Medical Records, Angling for Stimulus Funds (South Florida Sun Sentinel, August 6) - Health leaders in South Florida are reviving dormant efforts to push for widespread use of electronic medical records, hoping now they can land millions from the federal economic stimulus package.

Louisiana Creates Loan Program for EHR Purchases (American Medical News, August 6) - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law a bill that would create a loan program for physicians and hospitals hoping to buy an electronic health record system.

Maryland Awards $10M for Health IT Exchange (Baltimore Business Journal, August 5) - The state has awarded a $10 million contract to create a health information technology exchange that it says will make it easier for health care providers to share patient data.

Allscripts Selects Merge Healthcare to “Image-Enhance” Its Electronic Health Record Solutions (August 3) - Press release: Merge Healthcare today announced that Allscripts, the leader in software, services, information, and connectivity solutions for physicians, has selected its Cedara WebAccess™ software application to “image enhance” Allscripts Electronic Health Record (EHR) solutions.

Shared Electronic Medical Records Come To Maine (SCSH, July 31) - Seven of Maine's largest health care providers have come together in a system to electronically share patient medical records.

Allscripts User Conference Draws 2,700, Sets Attendance Record (July 30) - Press release: Allscripts launched its annual Allscripts Client Experience (ACE) user conference for physicians and healthcare professionals nationwide.

St. Elizabeth Healthcare Connects Physicians, Patients in Kentucky (Healthcare IT News, July 29) - St. Elizabeth Healthcare, a system incorporating more than 1,000 physicians in Kentucky, has begun implementation of a new electronic medical record in an effort to better connect physicians and patients.

EHR Standard Released by Public/Private Group (Federal Computer Week, July 28) - The leading public/private standards body for health information technology has completed its initial work to develop technical standards for Electronic Health Records (EHRs) that are aligned with the economic stimulus law, the group announced.

How to Keep Electronic Health Records Secure (Enterprise IT Planet, July 27) - Here are seven steps to consider when forming security procedures for your medical facility.

Transition To Electronic Health Records Is Now Complete At Randolph Medical Center - Alabama Department Of Public Health - (Medical News Today, July 27) - A successfully completed electronic health record pilot project at Randolph Medical Center in Roanoke proves that even a small rural hospital can convert to electronic health records.

NYCLIX, MedPlus Launch HIE in New York City (Healthcare IT News, July 21) - On the same day that a coalition of healthcare providers launched a new health information exchange in Connecticut, 10 healthcare affiliations in neighboring New York City launched their own exchange.

Can Pen and Paper Help Make Electronic Medical Records Better? (July 20) - Indiana University press release: The results of a new study of the pen and paper workarounds employed by healthcare providers who use an electronic medical record system may help make electronic medical records even more useful to health-care providers and the patients they serve.

The Doctor Is In and Logged On (Los Angeles Times, July 20) - Doctor's commentary: In 2006, we implemented an electronic medical record system and haven't looked back.

Patient Medical Records Go Digital (Middletown Journal, July 19) - Atrium Medical Center’s records have entered the digital age in a move officials say could save both money and lives.

Health Care Providers Discuss Electronic Records (Register-Herald of Beckley, West Virginia, July 16) - The West Virginia Medical Institute discussed electronic medical record concerns with the Raleigh County Medical Society.

Electronic Medical Records Coming to Medical Center Hospital (KFDA, July 16) - Medical Center Hospital of Odessa, Texas is working on becoming completely electronic.

Allscripts e-prescribing Tool to Be Offered on New AMA Web Solution (Allscripts press release, July 14) - Allscripts announced that it is working with the American Medical Association to offer to physicians nationwide an AMA-branded electronic prescribing tool based on Allscripts leading e-prescribing technology.

Stimulus Available to Digitize Medical Records (El Paso Times, July 13) - Health-care workers are in the early stages of talks on how the city can get its share of federal stimulus money meant to spur the sharing of electronic health records.

On the Trail of Paperless Patient Charts (YourWestValley.com, July 10) - Northwest of Phoenix, the days of doctors and nurses pulling a chart and flipping through pages of information before visiting with a patient at their bedside soon will be a thing of the past.

EHRs Boost Care Coordination for Kidney Patients, Study Says (iHealthBeat, July 10) - Electronic health records can help improve health outcomes for patients at high risk of kidney disease, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal.

Usability Key to Adoption of Electronic Medical Records (HealthTech Wire, July 9) - The usability of clinical software systems for electronic medical records (EMR) is one of the most important factors to widespread adoption of EMRs, according to a new white paper from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.

Electronic Health Records: A Checkup (CNNMoney.com, July 2) - Obama's plan to digitize America's health records in five years faces many hurdles including cost, but experts say it will ultimately save billions.

Opinion: Let's Not Forget About Health IT (San Jose Mercury News, June 29) - It's now up to Congress and the administration to show that meaningful reform isn't just about access to or affordability of care, but also creating a 21st century system that makes it easier, safer and more cost efficient to deliver.