iHealthBeat: Hospitals

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.

CMS Details Approach to New Star Ratings on Hospital Compare Site

Thu, 28 Jan 2016 17:53:00 Z

CMS has issued a new report detailing the methodology behind its new overall star rating system for hospitals, which is intended to summarize overly complicated data and make the site more user friendly. However, the American Hospital Association says the methodology "oversimplifies" health care delivery. Becker's Infection Control & Clinical Quality, Modern Healthcare.

Indiana, Ohio HIEs Partner To Electronically Share Patient Health Data

Wed, 27 Jan 2016 17:13:00 Z

Cincinnati-based Health Bridge and Indianapolis-based Indiana Health Information Exchange, two of the nation's largest HIEs, have announced a partnership to increase data sharing. The partnership will allow providers at Indiana-based Reid Health to electronically receive health data for patients treated in Ohio. Healthcare IT News, Clinical Innovation & Technology.

Va. Sees Care Coordination Improvements From New Online Portal

Tue, 26 Jan 2016 18:50:00 Z

Virginia's health care system recently launched a long-term care admission portal that is being touted for improving care coordination and streamlining admission processes. The state's new system allows users to electronically submit the Uniform Assessment Instrument form for long-term care admissions. Health IT Analytics.

CMS Posts New Quality Data on Physician, Hospital Compare Sites

Fri, 11 Dec 2015 17:35:00 Z

CMS has posted new quality performance data on its Physician Compare and Hospital Compare websites. The American Medical Association says it is "dismayed" that the agency included individual physician performance data on the Physician Compare site, saying it could prompt consumer confusion. Modern Healthcare et al.

Health Systems, Hospitals Face Budget Challenges With EHR Adoption

Wed, 09 Dec 2015 17:38:00 Z

The adoption of electronic health records can present budgetary challenges for hospitals and health systems. For example, Brigham and Women's Hospital's implementation of Epic's EHR system ended up running over budget by $27 million. STAT News.

HCA Resolves Computer Outage Affecting EHR Access Across System

Tue, 08 Dec 2015 18:48:00 Z

Hospital Corporation of America, which operates more than 200 facilities in the U.S., has resolved a recent computer outage that affected parts of its electronic health record system. A spokesperson said patient care was not affected by the outage, which was caused by a hardware storage glitch. MedCity News.

HIMSS Launches System To Measure Health IT Value

Mon, 07 Dec 2015 03:09:00 Z

The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society has launched a quality measurement system to determine the value of health IT systems. Criteria for the HIMSS Value Score are in the final stages of development and are being tested on health IT adopters with successful track records. MedCity News et al.

ONC Finds Two-Factor Authentication Adoption Up Among Hospitals

Thu, 03 Dec 2015 18:03:00 Z

An Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT data brief based on an annual American Hospital Association survey finds that the percentage of hospitals and health systems with two-factor authentication capabilities increased by 53% between 2010 and 2014. However, adoption rates varied significantly by hospital type and state. FierceHealthIT et al.

EHRs Help Lower Costs, Deaths From Hospital-Acquired Conditions

Wed, 02 Dec 2015 18:07:00 Z

A new report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality attributes a drop in costs and patient deaths stemming from hospital-acquired conditions in part to the widespread adoption of electronic health records. The report also credits public-private care quality and patient safety initiatives. Health Data Management.

Physician Residents Prefer Texting for In-Hospital Communication

Wed, 02 Dec 2015 17:05:00 Z

A recent study finds that the majority of internal medicine residents prefer texting over other forms of in-hospital communication channels such as email, paging and telephone. However, the majority of physician residents said hospital paging is the most secure in-hospital communication method. FierceMobileHealthcare, Journal of Medical Internet Research.

AHA: Health IT Is 'Common Fiber' To Achieving Care Delivery Goals

Wed, 25 Nov 2015 17:57:00 Z

A new white paper from the American Hospital Association says that health IT is a key driver of efforts to improve quality across the care continuum because it directly enables patient engagement, care coordination, team-based care and new health care models. In the paper, AHA highlights the important role electronic health records will play in achieving care delivery goals. EHR Intelligence et al.

EHR Adoption Rates On the Rise Among U.S. Hospitals, Study Finds

Thu, 12 Nov 2015 19:11:00 Z

A new study published in Health Affairs finds the percentage of U.S. hospitals that have adopted a basic electronic health record system rose to more than 75% in 2014. The researchers attributed the uptick in EHR adoption rates to the meaningful use program's financial incentives and penalties. EHR Intelligence et al.

Judge: Ohio Hospital Not Liable for Medical Data Posted on Facebook

Wed, 11 Nov 2015 17:23:00 Z

A county judge in Ohio has ruled the University of Cincinnati Medical Center cannot be held liable for the actions of an employee involved in the posting of a patient's protected health data on Facebook because the employee was not acting "within the scope of her employment." The patient is expected to appeal the decision. AP/Modern Healthcare, Cincinnati Enquirer.

CMS Hospital Payment Database Contains Major Flaws, Study Finds

Wed, 11 Nov 2015 17:14:00 Z

A study published in PLOS ONE finds that CMS' Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, which is used to determine hospital reimbursements, critically underreports certain patient data. Insufficient data input could have a significant effect on hospitals' payments. FierceHealthIT et al.

Missed Alarms, Health IT Setup on ECRI's List of Hospital Tech Risks

Tue, 10 Nov 2015 19:09:00 Z

The ECRI Institute's annual Top 10 Health Technology Hazards report includes several health IT issues that hospitals should pay attention to next year to reduce patient harm. The report states that missed alarms -- which previously held the top spot for four years -- continues to be a major concern. FierceHealthIT et al.

Hospital-Designed Apps Aim To Help Patients Manage Their Care

Tue, 10 Nov 2015 16:35:00 Z

Hospitals are developing mobile health applications that can be used to help patients manage their medications, side effects and follow-up care. Researchers say that patients are more likely to incorporate hospital-developed apps into their daily routine than apps that they download independently. Wall Street Journal.

Some Health Care Workers Push for Updating Social Media Policies

Fri, 06 Nov 2015 19:00:00 Z

Health care workers increasingly are urging hospitals to update their social media policies, which experts say often are too broad. For example, nurses at two New Jersey hospitals said their right to protected speech was violated by their employer's broad social media policy, which prohibited them from posting about contract negotiations. Newark Star-Ledger.

NIH Grants Two Hospitals $1.3M for Mobile Device Weight Loss Study

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 18:01:00 Z

NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases has awarded Miriam Hospital in Rhode Island and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston a $1.3 million grant to conduct a weight loss study using mobile devices. Researchers will use smartphones and a health-monitoring device to track patients' weight loss following bariatric surgery. MobiHealthNews.

States Evaluated on Hospitals' Health Data Exchange Capabilities

Fri, 23 Oct 2015 16:03:00 Z

A new review analyzes data from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT’s dashboard to identify which states lead the way in hospital health information exchange. For example, Delaware was the top state for hospitals electronically sharing lab results with any outside provider, with 100% of hospitals reporting the capability. Health IT Interoperability.

Hospitals Adopting Supply-Chain Technology To Cut Inventory Costs

Thu, 22 Oct 2015 17:36:00 Z

In an effort to add more services and reduce costs, hospitals are adopting supply-chain technology traditionally used in other industries, such as retail. Using tools such as radio frequency identification tags and scannable barcodes, hospitals can save money by keeping better track of their inventory. Wall Street Journal.

Microsoft, Johns Hopkins Seek To Boost ICU Device Communication

Wed, 21 Oct 2015 15:00:00 Z

Microsoft and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have announced a partnership to develop a cloud-based health IT system aimed at improving communication among medical devices in hospitals' intensive care units. The project aims to curb medical errors and preventable complications. FierceHealthIT et al.

Website Taps Twitter To Rank Hospitals on Patient Experience

Tue, 20 Oct 2015 17:45:00 Z

A new website developed by Boston Children's Hospital researchers analyzes tweets to rank the top 10 hospitals for patient experience. Seattle Children's Hospital and Mayo Clinic were ranked first and second, respectively. The site also ranks hospitals based on their number of Twitter followers and how often they tweet. Boston Globe, CrowdClinical report.

Technology Support for More Transparent Hospital Pricing -- It's Surprisingly Complicated

Tue, 20 Oct 2015 11:00:00 Z

Improving hospital pricing transparency is harder than it sounds. Hospitals are stuck between old and new payment incentives and models and the operational realities of their current information systems and processes. For hospitals today, IT is both a requirement for more transparent pricing and a barrier.

Health IT Knowledge the Top Desired Skill for Hospital Executives

Mon, 19 Oct 2015 17:37:00 Z

A new Black Book report finds that technology and data systems management knowledge is the most desirable skills for hospital executives. However, such knowledge is ranked fifth most important for CIOs, below skills related to relationship and team building. EHR Intelligence.

U.S. News & World Report Unveils 'Most Connected' Hospital List

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 16:10:00 Z

U.S. News & World Report has released its 2015-2016 list of the country's "Most Connected Hospitals," which recognizes 159 facilities for improving the electronic exchange of patient data. Eligible hospitals were evaluated based on clinical connectedness, as well as their ability to use health IT to improve patient engagement and safety. U.S. News & World Report et al.

CMS Releases Updated Star Ratings on Hospital Compare Website

Wed, 14 Oct 2015 17:28:00 Z

CMS has updated its Hospital Compare website to reflect new data from Jan. 1, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2014. CMS awarded 207 hospitals a five-star rating on its Hospital Compare website, while more than 700 hospitals received just one or two stars. Becker's Infection Control & Clinical Quality.

Health IT Projects Included in HHS' Grants To Improve Patient Care

Tue, 29 Sep 2015 18:24:00 Z

HHS has announced nearly $700 million in grants for 39 organizations to help improve patient care, in part through health IT. The funding will be used to support various ambulatory programs, including continuing education and training providers on how to use patient data to improve care. Wall Street Journal et al.

Two D.C.-Based Hospitals Under Fire for Excessive EHR Copy Charges

Mon, 28 Sep 2015 17:56:00 Z

Two hospitals are being sued for allegedly violating Washington, D.C., consumer protection laws and HIPAA by charging patients excessive fees to obtain copies of their electronic health records. The lawsuit is seeking class-action status on behalf of all patients who have obtained records at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and George Washington University Hospital. Washington Business Journal.

Beth Israel Launching Big Data Project To Improve Patient Care in ICU

Wed, 16 Sep 2015 17:44:00 Z

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is looking to improve care in its intensive care units through a new project that will leverage big data. The Risky States project includes an application that receives live feeds of data to help staff evaluate risk levels in the ICU. Information Management/ Health Data Management.

Computer Program Helps University of Utah Health Care Cut Costs

Tue, 08 Sep 2015 17:45:00 Z

University of Utah Health Care has created a computer program to track detailed outcome and cost measures and estimate the cost of patient care. Over the past few years, the program has helped UUHC decrease its costs by an average of 0.5% a year, while costs at other academic medical systems in the region have climbed by an average of 2.9% annually. New York Times.

Health Care Organizations Report Data Breaches, HIPAA Settlements

Wed, 02 Sep 2015 18:10:00 Z

Health care organizations in California, Maryland and Ohio recently have disclosed data breaches affecting the personal health information of thousands of individuals. Meanwhile, the HHS Office of Civil Rights has levied a $750,000 fine against an Indiana-based oncology radiation practice over alleged HIPAA violations from a breach that occurred three years ago. Health IT Security et al.

Hospital Group Questions CMS' Methodology for New Rating System

Tue, 25 Aug 2015 17:59:00 Z

America's Essential Hospitals, which represents 250 safety-net hospitals across the country, says CMS' new star-rating system for its Hospital Compare website may not provide accurate assessments of hospital quality because the agency's methodology does not consider certain socio-economic factors. Modern Healthcare, RevCycle Intelligence.

Hospitals: Electronic CQM Reporting Has Arrived -- Are You Ready?

Mon, 24 Aug 2015 11:00:00 Z

A recent CMS final rule mandates electronic reporting in 2016 for hospitals participating in the Hospital Inpatient Quality Program. Hospitals must begin their electronic clinical quality measure reporting initiative sooner rather than later to ensure they can successfully meet this challenging requirement.

NYC Health System Fires Execs Amid Inquiry Into EHR Implementation

Thu, 20 Aug 2015 18:17:00 Z

In recent months, the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation has fired its CIO and CTO amid an investigation into the implementation of the health system's new electronic health record system. An HHC spokesperson says two other administrators and seven consultants also are no longer working on the project. Modern Healthcare et al.

Meaningful Use Closing Digital Divide Between Rural, Urban Hospitals

Tue, 18 Aug 2015 16:57:00 Z

An analysis of recent CMS data finds that the meaningful use program has helped close the digital gap between small, rural hospitals and larger urban facilities. For example, about 32% of hospitals with fewer than 100 beds have attested to Stage 2 using a "complete EHR," compared with 34% of larger hospitals. Modern Healthcare.

H&HN Recognizes Hospitals, Health Systems for Health IT Innovations

Mon, 17 Aug 2015 18:20:00 Z

Hospitals & Health Networks has selected Penn Medicine, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland and St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital to receive its "Most Wired Innovator Award." The hospitals have implemented various health IT interventions targeting hospital-acquired infections, hand-hygiene compliance and applications to access patient information from smartphones. Hospital & Health Networks.

Hospital Groups Urge HHS To Finalize Meaningful Use Changes

Fri, 07 Aug 2015 16:52:00 Z

A group of eight hospital organizations in a letter to HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell urge the agency to finalize some of the proposed changes to the meaningful use program for 2015 through 2017. The groups note that HHS' delay in finalizing the rule has made it "virtually impossible" to meet requirements related to electronic prescribing and public health reporting. AHA News, et al.

FCC OKs Use of Unlicensed Devices on Patient Monitoring Frequency

Fri, 07 Aug 2015 16:47:00 Z

A new rule approved by the Federal Communications Commission will allow unlicensed devices, such as wireless phones, to operate on the same frequency as hospitals' remote monitoring systems. The American Hospital Association says the rules could negatively affect patients. FierceHealthIT et al.

Limited Google Glass Release To Target Health Care, Other Industries

Tue, 04 Aug 2015 17:39:00 Z

Google has begun distributing the second version of its Google Glass technology to software developers to create programs targeted at certain industries, including health care. The new version will include extended battery life, which could improve its use among surgeons. Wall Street Journal, InformationWeek.

Report: 20% of Community Hospitals Want To Switch EHR Vendors

Fri, 31 Jul 2015 17:55:00 Z

A new report finds about half of community hospitals have reported challenges with their current electronic health record system's usability and functionality. The report shows about one-fifth are looking to switch their EHR vendors. FierceEMR, peer60 report.

Computer Outage at St. Louis Health System Affects EHR Access

Thu, 30 Jul 2015 17:29:00 Z

BJC HealthCare in St. Louis this week experienced a computer outage that limited the health system's access to electronic health records, emails and registration and scheduling systems. BJC is working with vendors to fix the lingering IT issues and has not yet determined the exact cause of the outage. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Becker's Health IT & CIO Review.

CMS Updates Star Ratings on Hospital Compare Website

Mon, 27 Jul 2015 17:43:00 Z

Updated data on CMS' Hospital Compare website show 336 hospitals received five star ratings -- up from 251 in April -- but nearly 600 hospitals received just one or two stars. The updated data are based on Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey results for the reporting period from October 2013 to September 2014. Healthcare Finance, HCAHPS survey data.

H&HN Recognizes 338 Hospitals in 17th Annual 'Most Wired' List

Thu, 09 Jul 2015 17:50:00 Z

Hospitals & Health Networks' 17th annual survey recognizes 338 hospitals as the "Most Wired" in the U.S. for successfully implementing and using health IT tools. The results of the survey show that patient engagement and data security are among U.S. hospitals' top concerns. Healthcare IT News, EHR Intelligence.

Eligible Hospitals Can Attest to First Year of Meaningful Use in 2015

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 17:41:00 Z

Under a recent CMS rule change, eligible hospitals participating in the Medicare meaningful use program for the first time will be able to attest starting this summer. Previously, such participants had been required to wait until January 2016 to attest to the program. AHA News et al.

24 Health Care Groups Included on List of '100 Best IT Workplaces'

Fri, 26 Jun 2015 17:38:00 Z

Computerworld recently released its 22nd annual list of the "100 Best Places to Work in IT," which included 16 hospitals and health care systems, as well as eight other health care-related organizations. Criteria for the list included percentage of IT workers promoted, training and turnover rates for IT staff. Computerworld, "100 Best Places to Work in IT" list.

Hospitals Increasingly Compete With Big Tech Firms for IT Workers

Mon, 15 Jun 2015 17:53:00 Z

As the health care industry implements new data and electronic health record initiatives, hospitals increasingly are competing with large technology firms for skilled IT workers. Hospitals struggle to compete in terms of compensation, which has forced them to delay projects while positions are vacant. Modern Healthcare.

More Hospitals Tracking Online Reviews, Patient Satisfaction Scores

Thu, 04 Jun 2015 17:56:00 Z

Hospitals are increasing their focus on online reviews and patient satisfaction scores as more people are shopping for medical care and comparing providers online. For example, some hospitals have hired online reputation managers or launched their own ratings websites. Washington Post.

Partners HealthCare Launches Massive $1.2B EHR System

Tue, 02 Jun 2015 16:55:00 Z

Over the weekend, Massachusetts-based Partners HealthCare launched a $1.2 billion electronic health record system that eventually will connect its network of 10 hospitals and 6,000 physicians. The EHR system is the single largest investment Partners has ever made. Boston Globe.

U.S. News Releases New Hospital Quality Online Rating System

Thu, 21 May 2015 17:44:00 Z

U.S. News & World Report has unveiled a new Best Hospitals for Common Care ratings system that grades the performance of thousands of U.S. hospitals on five common surgical procedures and conditions. A U.S. News official says the website could offer ratings for more than a dozen other elective procedures by 2016. Modern Healthcare et al.

How Hospitals Are Leveraging Social Media

Tue, 12 May 2015 10:00:00 Z

Most hospitals have adopted at least one social media platform, leveraging tools such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. The industry uses social media with varying degrees of expertise and enthusiasm. While some haven't quite bought into the value of social media, others see a strong business and financial case for it.

Study: EHRs Alone Have No Effect on Ischemic Stroke Care Quality

Tue, 05 May 2015 16:58:00 Z

A new study finds that patients at hospitals with electronic health record systems do not receive better quality stroke care than those at hospitals without EHRs. However, patients at hospitals with EHRs were less likely to have a hospital stay of more than four days. HealthDay/U.S. News & World Report et al.

Former Texas CFO To Pay $4.4M for Meaningful Use Fraud

Thu, 30 Apr 2015 17:54:00 Z

The former CFO of Texas-based Shelby Regional Medical Center will pay about $4.4 million in restitution for making false statements and using an employee's name to falsify documentation to defraud the meaningful use program. Becker's Hospital Review et al.

Patients Prefer Google Glass Over Telephone Consults, Study Finds

Mon, 20 Apr 2015 17:17:00 Z

A JAMA Dermatology study finds that while patients ultimately prefer to speak with specialists in person, they would choose a consultation with a specialist via Google Glass over a traditional phone consult. The study involved the experiences of 31 patients seeking care for skin issues at Rhode Island Hospital's emergency department. Kaiser Health News, Rhode Island Hospital release.

75% of Hospitals Had a Basic EHR System in 2014, ONC Data Show

Fri, 17 Apr 2015 18:21:00 Z

A new data brief from the Office of the National Coordinator shows that about 75% of hospitals in 2014 had a basic electronic health record system, up from 59% in 2013 and an eightfold increase from 2008. Meanwhile, nearly all hospitals last year had adopted some form of certified EHR technology. FierceHealthIT et al.

Study: Twitter Could Help Predict Asthma-Related ED Patient Volume

Fri, 17 Apr 2015 17:40:00 Z

A new study suggests that Twitter could be used to predict the volume of asthma patients a hospital will see in a given day. The researchers' findings show that the asthma-related ED volume increased as air quality worsened and the number of asthma-related tweets increased. FierceHealthcare, IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics.

CMS Launches Five-Star Ratings on Hospital Compare Website

Thu, 16 Apr 2015 17:34:00 Z

Today, CMS unveiled the first-ever five-star quality ratings on its Hospital Compare website, awarding five-star ratings to about 7% of the nation's hospitals. The quality ratings are based on publicly reported patient experiences from July 2013 to June 2014. Modern Healthcare et al.

Black Book Names Top EHR Vendors Among Hospitals

Thu, 19 Mar 2015 17:47:00 Z

A new Black Book Market Research report identifies the top inpatient electronic health record vendors based on customer experience. CPSI ranked the highest among hospitals with fewer than 100 beds, while Allscripts ranked the highest among hospitals with more than 250 beds. EHR Intelligence, Healthcare IT News.

Study: Hospitals' Readmission Rates Correlate With Facebook Ratings

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 16:42:00 Z

A new study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine finds that each one-star increase in a hospital's Facebook rating correlates with a more than five fold increase in the likelihood that the hospital has a low readmission rate. FierceHealthcare et al.

Calif. Hospital Challenges Nurses Union's Claims About EHR Outage

Wed, 11 Mar 2015 16:17:00 Z

Officials from a California hospital are contesting recent claims from the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United that an electronic health record outage resulted in the closure of the hospital's emergency department last month. Hospital officials say the ED remained open and patient safety was not affected by the issues. Becker's Health IT & CIO Review.

California-Based Hospitals Experience EHR Failures in February

Fri, 06 Mar 2015 17:56:00 Z

Antelope Valley Hospital experienced an electronic health record system outage last month, prompting nurses to ask the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to investigate the incident. Meanwhile, Rideout Health, a two-hospital health system in California, reported a separate EHR blackout last month. Clinical Innovation & Technology et al.

Hospital Rating Websites Vary Widely in Rankings, Study Finds

Tue, 03 Mar 2015 18:25:00 Z

A new study finds four websites that provide consumers with hospital ratings vary widely about which facilities are the best and which are the worst. The authors say the varying definitions of quality could confuse consumers and complicate hospitals' efforts to focus their improvements. Modern Healthcare et al.

Hospitals in Quality Initiative Not More Likely To Improve Safety

Thu, 19 Feb 2015 18:42:00 Z

A new study finds no indication that hospitals that reported information to a database as part of a national quality improvement initiative performed better in surgical safety and outcomes than non-participating hospitals. Health Data Management, Journal of the American Medical Association.

Report: Hospitals To Invest More in Non-EHR Health IT Systems

Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:09:00 Z

A new report predicts that hospital investments in administrative IT systems, health information management and revenue cycle analytics will overtake investments in electronic health records over the next few years. The report finds that the main driver behind such investments is the shift toward value-based reimbursements. EHR Intelligence, Health IT Analytics.

Analysis: CMS Should Improve Incentives for Innovative Technology

Wed, 04 Feb 2015 17:53:00 Z

A new analysis published in the journal Health Affairs finds that the U.S., as it moves toward using more value-based payments, should consider implementing more explicit adjustments for innovative technologies to combat financial incentives to delay the adoption of certain technologies. FierceHealthIT, Health Affairs.

HHS Will Bolster Data Sharing To Achieve Alternative Payment Goals

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 18:49:00 Z

HHS' newly announced plan to transition to alternative Medicare payment models will rely on IT tools and increasing the availability of health data. However, some health IT experts appear split on whether the industry has made enough progress with data sharing to support payment reforms. Health Data Management et al.

Study Finds Hospital Compare Website Helps Reduce Prices

Tue, 06 Jan 2015 19:10:00 Z

A new study published in Health Affairs finds that more public reporting on hospital quality could help lower hospital prices. The study compares hospital quality data for two common procedures before and after CMS launched its public reporting website Hospital Compare. Modern Healthcare, U.S. News & World Report.

Report Predicts Big Growth in Use of Online Appointment Scheduling

Fri, 12 Dec 2014 18:11:00 Z

A new Accenture report predicts that 64% of U.S. patients will use online self-scheduling appointment tools by the end of 2019, resulting in 986 million appointments being made using such technology that year. Researchers say online scheduling will yield about $3.2 billion in cost savings for U.S. health systems. Modern Healthcare et al.

Online Hospital Scores Unlikely To Affect Clinical Results, Execs Say

Tue, 09 Dec 2014 19:01:00 Z

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine finds that hospital leaders think reports on Medicare's Hospital Compare website are unlikely to significantly boost clinical outcomes but could prompt quality improvement activities. HealthLeaders Media.

Health IT Touted for Reducing Hospital-Acquired Conditions

Wed, 03 Dec 2014 18:36:00 Z

A new report shows a significant decline in hospital-acquired conditions and patient deaths between 2010 and 2013, which officials in part attributed to a more robust health IT infrastructure through the implementation of electronic health records and predictive analytics. However, some experts say more needs to be done to further reduce the rates. Modern Healthcare et al.

Social Media Adoption Widespread Among U.S. Hospitals, Study Finds

Tue, 02 Dec 2014 18:33:00 Z

A recent study finds that more than half of U.S. hospitals use Facebook, Foursquare, Twitter and Yelp. Large hospitals and teaching facilities are among those most likely to have higher social media activity. Researchers say all social media platforms could help hospitals measure quality and other metrics. Health Data Management, JMIR.

Failed Health IT Investments Put Some Hospitals' Finances at Risk

Wed, 05 Nov 2014 19:12:00 Z

A Black Book Market Research survey finds a growing technology gap between financially well-off and struggling hospitals. Specifically, the researchers note that costly failed or delayed health IT implementations are hindering the ability of less-financially stable institutions to adopt revenue cycle management software. Healthcare Informatics et al.

Study: Emails Between Patients, Physicians Tripled Over 10 Years

Mon, 27 Oct 2014 16:19:00 Z

A new study finds that email communications between physicians and patients at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston nearly tripled over 10 years. Researchers say that workflow and reimbursement models may need to be adjusted to accommodate this method of communication. Health Data Management.

Healthcare IT News Ranks the Best Hospital IT Departments

Tue, 30 Sep 2014 16:25:00 Z

Healthcare IT News this week released its fourth annual rankings of the best IT departments at small, medium, large and super-sized U.S. hospitals. New Jersey-based Meridian Health Systems was named the best IT department among hospitals with 200 or more IT employees, while Phoenix Children's Hospital was named the best IT department among hospitals with 76 to 199 IT employees. Healthcare IT News.

HIMSS Analytics Sees Progress in Hospitals' Advanced EHR Adoption

Fri, 26 Sep 2014 17:41:00 Z

New data from HIMSS Analytics show that hospitals have made some progress in adopting electronic health records in the first two quarters of 2014. The increase comes after a lull in EHR adoption and advancement in 2013. EHR Intelligence, HIMSS Analytics chart.

Hospitals Create Teams To Review New Tech, Prevent Patient Harm

Tue, 19 Aug 2014 16:22:00 Z

Some hospitals are establishing teams to thoroughly investigate new technology in an effort to reduce the threat of patient harm. Research shows that health IT errors are common when new technologies, such as electronic health records, are introduced without properly analyzing how staff will interact with the devices. Modern Healthcare.

Study: Meaningful Use Measures Reduce Adverse Drug Events

Tue, 19 Aug 2014 16:21:00 Z

An Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-funded study finds that Florida hospitals with the lowest adverse drug event rates in 2010 had adopted all of the core guidelines for medication management under the meaningful use program. Clinical Innovation & Technology et al.

ECRI Releases Guidebook To Help Hospitals Reduce Alarm Fatigue

Mon, 11 Aug 2014 16:57:00 Z

A new guidebook released by the ECRI Institute aims to help providers decrease alarm fatigue, which refers to medical workers ignoring or becoming desensitized to audio and visual alerts from medical devices. ECRI previously named alarm fatigue the top health IT hazard facing hospitals. FierceHealthIT, ECRI Institute Release.

CMS Stops Publicly Reporting Certain Hospital-Acquired Conditions

Thu, 07 Aug 2014 17:52:00 Z

This month, CMS stopped publicly reporting data on eight hospital-acquired conditions, meaning the agency now reports hospital-specific rates for just 13 events that should not occur in hospitals. Some consumer advocates say CMS should have worked to strengthen the measures rather than removing them from its Hospital Compare website completely. USA Today et al.

Number of Hospitals Using CPOE Systems Grows, Survey Finds

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 18:11:00 Z

The 2013 Leapfrog Hospital Survey finds the number of hospitals that met certain standards for computerized physician order entry systems increased from 113 in 2009 to 616 in 2013. However, the survey shows that 36% of all test orders in 2013 failed to prompt appropriate physician warnings. FierceHealthcare et al.

Hospital Associations Defend Health IT, Patient Safety Improvements

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 16:52:00 Z

U.S. hospital groups say that data collection and efforts to stem patient harm have improved in the past 15 years, despite claims by medical experts during a recent Senate subcommittee hearing that such improvements have not been made. Modern Healthcare.

Two New Studies Analyze EHR, Health IT Adoption Trends

Thu, 10 Jul 2014 17:44:00 Z

The journal Health Affairs recently published two studies written by current or former employees of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT that examine health IT adoption in critical access hospitals and federally qualified health centers. Clinical Innovation & Technology et al.

H&HN Releases List of 'Most Wired' Hospitals for 2014

Thu, 10 Jul 2014 15:27:00 Z

An annual survey released this week by Hospitals & Health Networks recognizes 375 hospitals for successfully planning and implementing health IT tools, such as patient alerts and medication matching at patients' bedsides and computerized provider order entry. Healthcare IT News, Hospitals & Health Networks.

Study: EHRs Do Not Prompt Hospitals To Overbill Medicare

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 16:47:00 Z

A new study finds that the use of electronic health record systems does not increase the risk of a hospital overbilling Medicare. Researchers find that hospitals with EHRs and those using paper records increase the weight of their billing codes at nearly identical rates. EHR Intelligence et al.

More Hospitals Offering Online Scheduling To Reduce ED Wait Times

Mon, 07 Jul 2014 16:02:00 Z

Hospitals increasingly are using online appointment scheduling programs to reduce wait times in the emergency department. However, some stakeholders say the online service leads to patient complaints and could increase costs. Kaiser Health News/San Francisco Chronicle, FierceHealthIT.

Data Tracking Systems Help Hospitals Cut Costs, Improve Quality

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 18:17:00 Z

Some health systems across the U.S. are using data tracking systems to reduce costs and improve the quality of care. For example, a data tracking system has helped the University of Utah health system save $2.5 million in one year and improve patient care. Kaiser Health News/PBS NewsHour.

S.C. Law Caps Cost of Patient Health Record Copies

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 17:48:00 Z

A new South Carolina law will cap the amount providers can charge patients for digital and paper copies of their health records. The bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Nikki Haley last week, prohibits providers from charging patients more than $150 for digital copies of their health records. Charleston Post and Courier et al.

Study: Advanced EHR Systems Save Hospitals 10% per Admission

Mon, 30 Jun 2014 18:00:00 Z

A study published in the American Journal of Managed Care finds that hospitals with advanced electronic heath record systems saved about 10% per hospital admission compared with providers that did not use such systems. EHR Intelligence, AJMC.

Johns Hopkins Medicine Testing Checklist App for Hospitals

Tue, 24 Jun 2014 17:20:00 Z

Johns Hopkins Medicine plans to study whether a new checklist application can help hospitals improve patient safety. The app works with electronic health record systems to automate checklists associated with seven potential patient safety harms. Modern Healthcare.

Data-Driven Simulation Model Helps Predict Hospital ED Interventions

Wed, 11 Jun 2014 18:04:00 Z

A new study finds that emergency department and hospital managers could test potential improvements in patient flow by using data-driven simulation models. The researchers tested such models on academic and average hospital EDs. FierceHealthIT, BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making.

Medical Center Sued After Woman's Medical Data Posted to Facebook

Wed, 11 Jun 2014 17:22:00 Z

A Cincinnati woman has filed a lawsuit against the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, alleging that a UC Health employee inappropriately accessed her private health information and sent it to her ex-boyfriend, who then posted the information on Facebook. AP/Columbus Dispatch et al.

UPMC Taps Data Analytics Program To Cut Costs, Boost Outcomes

Mon, 09 Jun 2014 17:54:00 Z

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's data analytics program found that the hospital's patient-centered medical home pilot program cut costs by $15 million and significantly improved patient outcomes after six months. UPMC last year invested $105 million in data analytics. Wall Street Journal's "CIO Journal."

Artificial Intelligence Playing a Bigger Role in Health Care

Wed, 04 Jun 2014 17:50:00 Z

The health care industry increasingly is turning to supercomputers and artificial intelligence to better identify appropriate and safe patient treatments. However, experts say that technology limitations, privacy concerns and regulatory questions remain. Kaiser Health News/Wired.

Poll: Most Patients Expect EHR Use, but Only Half Trust EHR Security

Fri, 30 May 2014 17:48:00 Z

A new Morning Consult poll finds that more than 80% of patients expect their hospitals to use electronic health records, but just 53% of respondents trust that their EHRs are secure. The poll also finds that 60% of patients would be interested in using an application to store their medical data. Morning Consult.

OIG: CMS Should Improve Efforts To Detect, Prevent Fraud in EHRs

Thu, 29 May 2014 18:26:00 Z

In a report to Congress, HHS' Office of Inspector General faults CMS and its Medicare contractors for not adjusting their practices for identifying and investigating fraud in electronic health records. OIG calls on CMS to work with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT to develop a comprehensive plan to detect EHR-related fraud. EHR Intelligence et al.

Study: Meaningful Use Could Change Order of Hospital EHR Adoption

Thu, 29 May 2014 18:23:00 Z

A new study finds that hospitals tend to adopt electronic health record functions in generally the same order. However, the meaningful use program could "change the planned prioritization of EHR function adoption," according to the study's authors. FierceEMR, Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.

CEO of Georgia Hospital Resigns After Rocky EHR Implementation

Wed, 28 May 2014 18:32:00 Z

Athens Regional Medical Center President and CEO James Thaw resigned last week amid complaints about the hospital's rocky rollout of an electronic health record system this month. In a letter, doctors at the hospital said the EHR system led to medication errors, long wait times and lost or overlooked orders. Modern Healthcare et al.

National Nurses United Slams Health IT as 'Unproven' Technology

Tue, 27 May 2014 18:09:00 Z

National Nurses United has launched a campaign that criticizes the use of "unproven" medical technology, including electronic health record systems, telemedicine and beside clinical decision support systems. The group plans to use radio advertisements, video, social media, legislation and rallies as part of the campaign. Healthcare IT News et al.

Industry Divided Over Proposal To Change Meaningful Use Timeline

Thu, 22 May 2014 18:16:00 Z

Reaction to a recently proposed rule to provide more flexibility in the meaningful use timeline has been mixed. For example, an American Hospital Association executive said the organization "welcomes this proposed rule and the enhanced flexibility it would provide," while National Partnership for Women & Families President Debra Ness called the proposal "disappointing." Modern Healthcare et al.

CMS Proposes Rule To Extend, Change Meaningful Use Timeline

Wed, 21 May 2014 17:40:00 Z

Citing stakeholder feedback and lack of vendor readiness, CMS yesterday released a proposed rule that would provide more flexibility in the meaningful use timeline. Industry stakeholders praised the proposed rule but raised concerns about the timing to finalize the changes to the program. Modern Healthcare et al.