|
|
Editor's Picks
|
Lobbying war ensues over digital health data
When $20 billion is at stake, you can bet everyone is going to have an opinion about how to spend it. President Obama's effort to speed adoption of health information technology has become the focus of an intense lobbying battle fueled by healthcare and drug-industry interests that have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on lobbying and tens of millions more on campaign contributions over the past two years, reports The Washington Post. At issue now is how to protect patient privacy while expanding the health industry's access to vast and growing databases of patients' health information. [Read More]
IBM, Google partner to stream medical data to PHRs
Want to keep tabs on how your elderly parent in Omaha is doing but you live in California? Are you traveling to Hawaii to run a marathon and want to discuss your health with your doctor en route? Google Health users now have the option of automatically streaming data from medical devices into their personal health records. The use of streaming media lets patients exchange personal health data with doctors or other authorized parties in real time. [Read More]
Insurers offer up support for standardized patient ID cards
Humana and UnitedHealth Group have both pledged their support of machine-readable enrollee identification cards as part of the Medical Group Management Association's Project SwipeIT operation. According to MGMA, using the swipe cards could cut administration costs for medical practices and hospitals by $1 billion a year. [Read More]
Report: U.S. health information technology falls short
The information systems at eight U.S. medical centers noted for leadership in information technology failed to provide timely, efficient, safe, and patient-centered care, according to a new report from the National Research Council. A number of healthcare providers told the committee that data entered into their IT systems was used mainly to comply with regulations or defend against lawsuits, rather than to improve care. As a result, valuable time and energy is spent managing data as opposed to understanding the patient. [Read More]
|
|
Tech Headlines
|
Senate approves stimulus plan
New York Times - February 10, 2009
New devices track patients who wander
Wall Street Journal - February 10, 2009
New computer system at Wisconsin Medicaid agency creates backlog of cases
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel - February 5, 2009
|
|
Events & Product News
|
UC Davis Health Informatics Conference "Innovations in Informatics"
'Virtual patient' helps train pharmacists of the future
Webcasts
|
March 20, 2009: Experience Design: Moving Beyond the Brand Promise in Healthcare
March 16, 2009: Solving Your Nurse Shortage: Long-Term Strategies That Work
February 24, 2009: Form 990H: Act Now to Protect Your Reputation
February 20, 2009: ED Overhaul 2009: Five Improvements to Make Today
February 12, 2009: Incentive-Based Compensation Plans to Enhance Physician Performance
|
|
|
| From HealthLeaders Magazine |
Back to Basics
The strategy for surviving the economic downturn? Invest in core strengths, scrutinize staffing and operations, seize partnership opportunities—and get down to work. [Read More]
|
|
|
| Service Line Management |
Essential and ExpensivePatient demand for intensive care services continues to rise—but ICUs cost a ton of money. Here's how some providers are making intensive care worth their financial while. [Read More]
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Audio Feature
Achieve Optimal Telemedicine Outcomes: Randall S. Moore, MD, chairman and CEO of American TeleCare, talks about why he thinks offering government subsidies to telehealth providers would be a mistake. [Listen Now] |
|
|
|
|
|
