iHealthBeat: EHRs and PHRs

Epic Named Best Physician Practice, Software Suite Vendor by KLAS

Thu, 28 Jan 2016 18:17:00 Z

A new KLAS report named Epic as the best overall physician practice vendor and overall software suite vendor for 2015, while Impact Advisors was named the best overall IT services firm. Population health vendor Medicity was recognized as the overall most improved vendor, with a 20% score increase from last year. Healthcare IT News et al.

Report Predicts Significant Growth in Hospitals' Spending on Health IT

Thu, 28 Jan 2016 17:58:00 Z

A HIMSS Analytics report identifies five health technologies, including clinical data warehousing/mining and nurse staffing/scheduling systems, that are expected to see significant growth in the hospital marketplace. The report also predicts a surge in hospitals adopting computerized provider order entry to comply with meaningful use requirements. Healthcare IT News, HIMSS Analytics report.

Office-Based Docs' Use of Certified EHRs Increasing, CDC Data Show

Wed, 27 Jan 2016 19:05:00 Z

New data from CDC's 2014 National Electronic Health Records survey show 74.1% of office-based physicians had a certified EHR system in 2014, up from 68% in 2013. The data also show that 32.5% of certified EHR users electronically shared patient data with external providers in 2014. STAT News' "Morning Rounds" et al.

ONC Committees OK Health IT Comparison Tool Recommendations

Mon, 25 Jan 2016 18:28:00 Z

The Health IT Policy and Standards committees have sent recommendations for a national health IT comparison tool to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. The recommendations, which were drafted by the Certified Technology Comparison Task Force, were approved after they were amended to include an ONC-conducted feasibility analysis. Clinical Innovation & Technology.

Report Predicts Ambulatory EHR Market To Grow by 30% by 2020

Mon, 25 Jan 2016 18:14:00 Z

A new report from Frost & Sullivan predicts that the market for ambulatory electronic health records will grow by 30% by 2020. The report notes that EHR vendors "providing products and services supporting clinical decisions and better [streamlining] delivery of care will have an edge." EHR Intelligence, Clinical Innovation & Technology.

Five Major Health IT Vendors Agree to Interoperability Framework

Mon, 25 Jan 2016 17:58:00 Z

Five major health IT vendors -- athenahealth, eClinicalWorks, Epic Systems, NextGen Healthcare and Surescripts -- have agreed to adopt the Sequoia Project's Carequality Interoperability Framework. Carequality Director Dave Cassel said he expects other health IT vendors, as well as government agencies, health information exchanges, payers and others to join in the future. EHR Intelligence, Healthcare Informatics.

Targeting EHR Workarounds

Mon, 25 Jan 2016 11:00:00 Z

Clinicians often resort to workarounds when using electronic health records to simplify or expedite certain tasks. Some of these EHR "shortcuts" pose serious patient safety risks, and health care organizations should address the growing practice.

CMS Updates Application Process for Meaningful Use Exemptions

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 19:00:00 Z

CMS has announced a new application process for meaningful use hardship exemptions. The changes come after President Obama signed into law the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act, which expands providers' eligibility for hardship exemptions for Stage 2 of the program. Healthcare Informatics, CMS release.

Study Highlights Variation in Health IT Use Among Rural Providers

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 17:11:00 Z

A new study published in Health Affairs finds meaningful use attestation rates vary considerably among different types rural providers. Meanwhile, the study shows the rates of health IT adoption are similar for urban and rural providers. FierceHealthIT, Health Affairs.

Senate Panel Unveils Draft Bill To Foster Health Data Sharing

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 17:37:00 Z

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has unveiled draft legislation that aims to boost electronic health record interoperability and increase patients' access to their health data. Among other things, the measure would establish a rating system to compare health IT products. Health Data Management et al.

Report: Lack of Out-of-Network Interoperability Is Top Issue for ACOs

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 16:19:00 Z

A new report finds that the top challenge facing accountable care organizations is a lack of interoperability with out-of-network providers, particularly specialists who do not qualify for the meaningful use program. Many ACOs say the issue has prevented them from integrating data with behavioral health care providers. Modern Healthcare, Premier release.

CHIME Launches $1M National Patient Identifier Challenge

Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:48:00 Z

The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives has launched a $1 million challenge to create a national patient identifier. CHIME has partnered with crowdsourcing innovation platform HeroX for the National Patient ID Challenge, a year-long competition that aims to incentivize the private sector to develop a fail-safe patient identifying solution. FierceHealthIT et al.

Slavitt Announces Plan To Phase Out Meaningful Use Program

Wed, 13 Jan 2016 17:16:00 Z

Acting CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt says the agency plans to phase out the meaningful use program "as it has existed." According to Slavitt, the incentive program will be replaced by "something better" as the Medicare Access and Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act is implemented. EHR Intelligence et al.

HIMSS: EHR Use Associated With Quality Performance Benefits

Tue, 12 Jan 2016 17:11:00 Z

A new survey by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society finds that the majority of health IT users have experienced savings and improvements in clinical quality performance as a result of electronic health record implementation. EHR Intelligence, HIMSS release.

Opinion: Increased Focus on Health IT Could Help Achieve Triple Aim

Mon, 11 Jan 2016 18:56:00 Z

In a blog post, three health IT experts make several recommendations "to capitalize on the considerable momentum generated by the HITECH Act and translate its investment into better patient experiences, better population health and lower costs." Commonwealth Fund Blog.