iHealthBeat: Health Care Providers

HIE Use Could Help Reduce Repeat Imaging Tests, Associated Costs

Fri, 15 Jan 2016 18:13:00 Z

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology finds that physician use of health information exchanges can result in moderate savings in avoided repeat imaging tests. The researchers note that future studies should include more patient populations and services outside of radiology. FierceHealthIT, JACR.

AMA Invests $15M To Launch Health Care Innovation Startup

Tue, 12 Jan 2016 16:56:00 Z

The American Medical Association has invested $15 million to create a new San Francisco-based startup, called Health2047, to develop innovative tools to improve health care. Health2047 CEO Doug Given says the startup plans to leverage the physician perspective, something he says the technology sector often overlooks, to develop tools doctors will use. Crain's Chicago Business et al.

Task Force Gets Input on Creation of Health IT Comparison Tool

Mon, 11 Jan 2016 17:48:00 Z

The Health IT Policy Committee's Certified Technology Comparison Task Force is collecting stakeholder feedback on ways to develop a new certified health IT comparison tool. Providers say the task force faces a difficult task, as the tool needs to meet the needs of different specialties. Health IT Interoperability, Politico's "Morning eHealth."

Study Finds Most Nurses Believe Tele-ICU Tools Bolster Performance

Tue, 05 Jan 2016 17:34:00 Z

A new study finds that most nurses believe the use of telemedicine tools in the intensive care unit can help them perform their jobs more efficiently and effectively. However, nurses also cite certain barriers to the technology, such as interruptions in care and technical problems. FierceHealthIT, American Journal of Critical Care.

Op-Eds by Registered Nurses Explore Benefits, Harms of EHRs

Wed, 23 Dec 2015 17:28:00 Z

In a New York Times opinion piece, a registered nurse argues that nurses are "increasingly ... evaluated on" the documentation required for electronic health records, rather than actual patient care. Meanwhile, in a separate opinion piece in The Tennessean, another registered nurse defends EHRs, arguing they can improve care and reduce costs. New York Times, The Tennessean.

Docs Would Benefit From Encouraging More Online Patient Reviews

Fri, 18 Dec 2015 17:42:00 Z

A study published in JAMA Dermatology suggests physicians should encourage patients to leave online reviews because too few reviews could skew However, the American Medical Association warns that "[o]nline opinions of physicians should be taken with a grain of salt" and that "[c]hoosing a physician is more complicated than choosing a good restaurant." Reuters.

PwC Report Identifies Key Health IT Trends To Watch for in 2016

Mon, 14 Dec 2015 17:35:00 Z

A new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers' Health Research Institute identifies 10 health care issues that will stand out in 2016. Among other things, the report says cybersecurity will be a concern for connected medical devices, new databases will bolster hospitals' use of big data and use of mobile health applications will grow. MobiHealthNews et al.

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.

Study Finds Practices With NPs, PAs More Likely To Adopt EHRs

Tue, 08 Dec 2015 17:14:00 Z

A new study finds that practices that employ advanced practice providers, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, are almost 75% more likely to adopt electronic health records than those that do not employ such providers. The researchers also find that advanced practice providers were more likely to be employed at large, primary care and urban practices. EHR Intelligence, American Journal of Managed Care.

Patient Care Plans Key to Realizing Health IT's Promise, Report Finds

Mon, 07 Dec 2015 19:13:00 Z

A new report from Chilmark Research notes that "care plans are an important next stage of realizing the potential of health IT." According to the researchers, care plans should facilitate communication among providers and support a team-based approach to health care. MedCity News, EHR Intelligence.

Providers Express Concerns Over Lack of Medical Scribe Standards

Mon, 07 Dec 2015 18:52:00 Z

As health care providers increasingly turn to medical scribes to ease the transition to electronic health records, they are expressing concerns about the profession's lack of standards and oversight. For example, federal law prohibits scribes from entering certain sensitive patient information, but providers note that there is no oversight mechanism to ensure adherence. Kaiser Health News.

Patient Satisfaction Declines With Docs' Computer Use, Study Finds

Tue, 01 Dec 2015 18:28:00 Z

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine finds patients are less likely to consider their health care "excellent" when providers spend more time using the computer. An accompanying editorial recommends that providers ensure patients also can see the screen and explain why the computer is being used. Reuters.

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.

AMA Adds 20 Schools to its Medical Education Innovation Program

Thu, 05 Nov 2015 16:20:00 Z

The American Medical Association has added 20 schools to its consortium on modernizing medical education. The program grants $75,000 over three years to each participating school to innovate medical school curricula. The consortium already has led to the development of a system to teach students how to use electronic health records using de-identified records. Healthcare IT News et al.

Patients Lack Access to Digital Tools To Communicate With Providers

Wed, 04 Nov 2015 18:18:00 Z

A new survey commissioned by the Bipartisan Policy Center and Council of Accountable Physician Practices finds that most patients would like to use technology-enabled services to communicate and share information with their providers, but few patients have access to such tools. Washington Post's "To Your Health."

Medical Groups Urge Congress To 'Refocus' Meaningful Use Program

Wed, 04 Nov 2015 17:44:00 Z

Yesterday, the American Medical Association and more than 100 other medical societies sent letters calling on Senate and House lawmakers to "refocus" Stage 3 of the meaningful use program on the goal of achieving comprehensive interoperability. The provider groups argue that CMS has failed to adequately respond to the "widespread failure" of the program. EHR Intelligence et al.

CMS' Final Physician Fee Schedule Rule Has Health IT Implications

Mon, 02 Nov 2015 18:00:00 Z

CMS has released its 2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule, which includes several health IT provisions. Among other things, the final rule adds new telemedicine codes for prolonged inpatient and end-stage renal disease care and expands Medicare's list of qualified telehealth providers to include certified registered nurse anesthetists. Politico's "Morning eHealth," CMS final rule.

Feds Look To Improve Broadband Access Amid Health IT Boom

Fri, 30 Oct 2015 19:37:00 Z

Health care providers increasingly are turning to health IT tools and Wi-Fi-enabled medical devices to improve patient care. However, broadband connectivity gaps -- particularly in rural areas -- and slow connection speeds are hampering efforts to digitize the health care industry.

Many ED Information Systems Fail To Meet Providers' Usability Needs

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 17:56:00 Z

A new survey by Black Book finds that 39% of emergency department providers are moderately to highly dissatisfied with their current information systems, and 72% are dissatisfied with their systems' interoperability and usability. Healthcare IT News, EHR Intelligence.

Health 2.0 Confronts Entrenched Health Challenges

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 10:00:00 Z

At the 9th annual Health 2.0 conference last week in Santa Clara, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy talked about how "technology can actually help us tackle so many problems in health that we see as insurmountable."

Bill Would Expand Providers Included in Open Payments Site

Fri, 09 Oct 2015 16:51:00 Z

Sens. Charles Grassley and Richard Blumenthal have introduced a bill that would expand the types of providers whose payments from drugmakers and medical device manufacturers must be reported to CMS' Open Payments System database to include nurse practitioners and physician assistants, among others. ProPublica.

AMA Calls for Automatic Hardship Exemptions for Meaningful Use

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 17:33:00 Z

Citing CMS' delay in releasing a final rule for meaningful use program modifications for 2015 through 2017, the American Medical Association is urging CMS to allow automatic hardship exemptions for eligible professionals who did not attest to Stage 2 of the incentive program this year. EHR Intelligence, FierceEMR.

HHS Launches New Disaster Preparedness Information System

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 16:34:00 Z

HHS has launched a new information system that will allow health and emergency preparedness professionals to find and share documents to help prepare for and respond to disasters. The system includes an assistance center, an information exchange and technical resources covering a wide range of topics. FierceHealthIT, HHS release.

Harvard Medical School Incorporates Online Videos Into Curriculum

Tue, 22 Sep 2015 18:03:00 Z

As part of a restructuring of its curriculum, Harvard Medical School has started incorporating more online instructional videos demonstrating various skills into its lessons. The retooled curriculum aims to cater to more technology-savvy students. Boston Globe.

Medical Groups Urge HHS To Delay Meaningful Use Stage 3

Fri, 18 Sep 2015 18:31:00 Z

In letters to HHS and the Office of Management and Budget, the American Medical Association and 41 other medical societies are asking for officials to "pause" Stage 3 of the meaningful use program. The groups note that few providers have successfully participated in Stage 2 and "pivotal" changes to Medicare suggest a need to re-evaluate the proposed rule. Healthcare IT News et al.

Study: Online Rx Drug Refill Tool Helped Boost Medication Adherence

Fri, 18 Sep 2015 17:15:00 Z

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association finds that Kaiser Health System's online prescription drug refill tool can help patients with Type 2 diabetes adhere to their medicine intake. According to the study, those who used the tool reduced their time without their medication by more than 3%. Reuters.

Study Finds Consumers Providers Differ on Preferred Uses of Health IT

Thu, 17 Sep 2015 17:51:00 Z

A new study finds that while both consumers and providers view new health IT tools favorably, they differ in how patients should use such tools and who owns patients' electronic health records. For example, providers were less likely than consumers to be comfortable with patients using health IT tools for self-diagnosis and more likely to believe they owned patients' EHRs. FierceHealthIT, Journal of Medical Internet Research.

New Salesforce Health Cloud Looks To Boost Patient Engagement

Wed, 02 Sep 2015 18:17:00 Z

Salesforce has unveiled a new cloud-based patient engagement and management tool that consolidates data typically housed in electronic health records and other sources. However, some industry experts have raised concerns about Salesforce's ability to handle the large amounts of data. MedCity News et al.

CMS Data Show Medicare ACOs Increased EHR Use in 2014

Wed, 26 Aug 2015 17:21:00 Z

CMS has released data on its two accountable care organization programs -- the Medicare Shared Savings Program and the Pioneer ACO program -- that show improvements in electronic health record use. According to the data, the percentage of Pioneer ACOs that qualified for EHR incentive payments rose to 86% in 2014. Politico's "Morning eHealth" et al.

Updated Online Tool Aims To Help Users Find Info on Providers

Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:18:00 Z

An updated tool released by the Federation of State Medical Boards enables users to look up information on licensing and state medical board disciplinary actions for more than 900,000 providers. The tool, DocInfo, searches regularly updated data from 70 state medical and osteopathic boards. MedPage Today, FSMB release.

Survey: Physician EHR Satisfaction Declined Over Past Five Years

Wed, 12 Aug 2015 17:38:00 Z

A new survey finds 34% of physicians were satisfied with their EHR systems in 2014, compared with 61% five years earlier. According to the survey, primary care physicians generally were more satisfied with their EHR systems than specialists, likely because they have used the systems longer. FierceEMR et al.

Many Primary Care Providers Say Health IT Positively Affects Care

Thu, 06 Aug 2015 17:41:00 Z

A Commonwealth Fund and Kaiser Family Foundation issue brief finds that about half of primary care providers believe health IT has a positive effect on the delivery of quality care. In comparison, 28% of PCPs believe health IT has a negative effect on care quality. FierceHealthIT et al.

CMS' IPPS Final Rule for FY 2016 Has Health IT Implications

Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:28:00 Z

CMS' inpatient prospective payment system final rule for fiscal year 2016 includes several health IT requirements. The final rule factors in whether facilities were meaningful users of electronic health records in FY 2014 and requires hospitals to report four out of 28 electronic clinical quality measures over one quarter. AHA News et al.

Practice Challenges Ruling, Defends Firing Over Improper EHR Access

Tue, 28 Jul 2015 18:02:00 Z

An eye care center in Montana is fighting a ruling that deemed the termination of an employee for improper electronic health record access an unfair labor practice under the National Labor Relations Act. The employee accessed the practice's EHR system to obtain contact information for coworkers and then provided the information to a union representative. FierceEMR, Rocky Mountain Eye Center Exceptions.

Discrepancies Found With National Provider IDs in CMS Database

Mon, 06 Jul 2015 17:18:00 Z

A recent investigation finds significant flaws in tens of thousands of entries in a federal database intended to help patients research health care providers. The discrepancies are largely due to mistakes related to physicians' National Provider Identifier numbers. Cincinnati Enquirer.

Report Identifies Five Health IT Trends for Health Care Systems

Wed, 24 Jun 2015 17:32:00 Z

A new Accenture report identifies five health IT trends that likely will shape the future of the U.S. health care industry. The trends include a focus on data, personalized medicine, mobile platforms, interoperability and digital tools. Healthcare IT News, MobiHealthNews.

ONC-Funded Report Finds Providers' HIE Needs Have Evolved

Mon, 22 Jun 2015 17:37:00 Z

A new Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT-funded report examines providers' experiences with health information exchange in six states. The report finds providers' HIE needs have evolved from connecting disparate electronic health record systems to seeking "actionable" data at the point of care. FierceEMR et al.

Advanced Computer System Used To Crack Down on Medicare Fraud

Fri, 19 Jun 2015 18:22:00 Z

The Department of Justice is using sophisticated computer programs to scan Medicare billing data and identify potential fraud. The computer programs assisted federal officials in charging nearly 250 people, including 46 providers, with falsely billing Medicare a total of nearly $712 million. Wall Street Journal et al.

Medical Industry Lags Behind in Switch to Electronic Billing Systems

Thu, 11 Jun 2015 17:57:00 Z

While most other industries in the U.S. have migrated to electronic billing systems, the medical industry has not yet transitioned away from paper billing. Federal data show that paper billing practices have contributed to the high cost of administrating private coverage. Bloomberg Business.

AMA Adopts Policies To Increase Transparency of Health Data, Prices

Wed, 10 Jun 2015 18:12:00 Z

The American Medical Association has adopted several additional health IT-related policies, including two that aim to bolster transparency of health care data and prices. In addition, AMA adopted a policy that would create and distribute best practice guidelines for mobile health applications. Becker's Hospital Review et al.

Big Gaps in How Medical Schools Are Preparing Students To Use EHRs

Wed, 10 Jun 2015 11:00:00 Z

Gary Beck, executive director of the Alliance for Clinical Education, Priyanka Chilakamarri, a medical student at the University of Vermont, Jill Jemison, director of technology services at the University of Vermont, and Anderson Spickard, a professor and assistant dean of Vanderbilt School of Medicine, spoke with iHealthBeat about the variations in how medical schools are training students to use electronic health records.

CMS' Final ACO Rule Alters Some Proposed Health IT Provisions

Mon, 08 Jun 2015 17:30:00 Z

CMS' Medicare Shared Savings Program final rule calls on participants to describe how they would promote the use of health IT to improve care coordination. However, the final rule does not include a proposal to waive certain telemedicine rules. Health Data Management et al.

Stakeholders Debate Pros, Cons of Clinical Note Sharing Initiatives

Mon, 01 Jun 2015 17:32:00 Z

Health care providers are increasingly granting patients access to their clinical notes through patient portals, which some stakeholders say could help patients to be more engaged in their health care and help them to catch mistakes in their health records. However, others argue that note sharing could lead to patient confusion and negatively affect patient care. Kaiser Health News.

CMS Plans To Create Online Medicare Fraud Tracking System

Wed, 27 May 2015 17:11:00 Z

CMS is seeking a contractor to create a comprehensive Medicare fraud tracking system that would monitor enforcement actions taken against providers. The system would be available on ProviderMedicare.gov, which have not yet launched, and would help avoid redundancies by Medicare review contractors. Modern Healthcare.

Researchers To Test Digital Pillbox To Improve Medication Adherence

Mon, 18 May 2015 17:05:00 Z

TowerView Health, Independence Blue Cross and Penn Medicine are preparing to launch a clinical trial to test a digital pillbox that uses sensors and cellular data to track patients' medication adherence and alert them to missed doses. However, some stakeholders question whether health IT can help to address the issue, noting past failures. Modern Healthcare.

L.A. E-Referral System Could Be a Model for Better Care Access in U.S.

Wed, 13 May 2015 17:13:00 Z

A Los Angeles County electronic referral system has helped to improve access to specialists and reduce the burden on emergency departments in the area. An official said the program could be a national model, noting that several states have asked about the system. Kaiser Health News.

Medical Industry Debates Whether Patients Should Record Doc Visits

Tue, 12 May 2015 16:26:00 Z

The medical community has been increasingly debating whether patients should be permitted to record physicians during visits. While some physicians worry the recordings could be used against them in some way, patients tend to have greater trust in physicians that allow recordings. Washington Post.

Survey: Few Health Care Organizations Fully Use Data Analytics

Thu, 30 Apr 2015 17:57:00 Z

A new survey finds that nearly a quarter of health care professionals say their organizations' data analytics capabilities are still in their "infancy." Stakeholders cite several benefits to data analytics, such as improved clinical outcomes, but also note several barriers, such as unstandardized data. Health Data Management, Clinical Innovation & Technology.

AMA Says Potential SCOTUS Case Could Threaten Data Sharing

Wed, 29 Apr 2015 17:55:00 Z

The American Medical Association argues that a court case being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court could threaten providers' confidentiality and liability protections under the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act. The act applies to information collected in databases by patient safety organizations. Politico's "Morning eHealth," AMA Wire.

Study: Barriers Remain to Including Daily Life Observations in PHRs

Tue, 28 Apr 2015 17:28:00 Z

A final report on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's eight-year Project HealthDesign finds that individuals are interested in describing observations about their daily life in their personal health records, but barriers to incorporating such data into clinical practices remain. Health Data Management, RWJF report.

Experts Question Efficacy of Current Data Exchange Practices

Thu, 23 Apr 2015 17:46:00 Z

Electronic health record vendor data show providers increasingly are sharing patient data electronically, but several industry experts say that such information is often not useful to providers. For example, they say data sent through the Consolidated Clinical Document Architecture standard can be hard to navigate. Modern Healthcare.

Survey: Fewer U.S. Physicians Now Believe EHRs Improve Patient Care

Tue, 14 Apr 2015 17:50:00 Z

A new Accenture survey finds that 46% of U.S. physicians say that electronic health records improve treatment decisions, down from 62% of 2012 respondents. However, nearly 80% of respondents in the new survey say they are more proficient at using EHRs than they were two years ago. Healthcare IT News et al.

Survey: Informatics Nurses Have Positive Effect on Clinical Processes

Mon, 13 Apr 2015 17:44:00 Z

A new survey from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society finds that informatics nurses have had a largely positive effect on health care organizations' clinical systems processes, implementation of technologies and quality of care. Health Data Management, Healthcare IT News.

AMA Details Ways To Improve, Expand Providers' Use of Health IT

Mon, 13 Apr 2015 17:17:00 Z

The American Medical Association has outlined "proactive reforms" designed to help health care providers harness innovation and use health IT as the health care industry enters the third phase of digitization. The reforms include expanding the use of telemedicine and remote patient monitoring tools. Health Data Management.

New Computer Software Turns Medical Images Into 3-D Projections

Thu, 09 Apr 2015 17:56:00 Z

Some technology companies are creating software that converts data from 2-D images, such as a CT scan, into interactive 3-D projections. The companies say the technology could increase efficiency and improve patient outcomes. Wired, Newsweek.

WEDI: ICD-10 Delay Hurt Health Care Industry's Preparedness

Mon, 06 Apr 2015 17:51:00 Z

The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange's latest survey on ICD-10 preparedness shows that stakeholders have made little progress since August 2014. According to the survey, about two-thirds of providers have scaled back their ICD-10 preparedness efforts. Healthcare IT News, Clinical Innovation & Technology.

Apple, IBM Launch Four Mobile Apps Designed for Nurses

Fri, 03 Apr 2015 17:55:00 Z

Apple and IBM have released four health care enterprise mobile applications as part of a partnership established last year. The apps are designed specifically for nurses and seek to help them better coordinate and organize care. Health Data Management, Clinical Innovation & Technology.

FDA, FCC Discuss Medical Device Network Testing Improvements

Thu, 02 Apr 2015 17:13:00 Z

During a public workshop hosted by FDA and the Federal Communications Commission this week, hospital and technology stakeholders called on the agencies to help improve medical device network testing. Several experts recommended creating standards for such testing. Modern Healthcare et al.

AHRQ Issues White Paper on Health IT Best Practices in Primary Care

Wed, 01 Apr 2015 17:49:00 Z

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has issued a white paper identifying health IT tools that can improve the quality of care among primary care physicians. The white paper also establishes best practices to facilitate increased adoption and effective use of health IT provided by primary care providers. EHR Intelligence.

Alternative Payment Models Prompt More Health Data Sharing

Wed, 01 Apr 2015 17:40:00 Z

Health care providers slowly are giving patients access to more medical data, in part because of the shift from fee-for-service payment models to alternative payment systems. While experts say providing patients with more access to their medical data could help them make healthier choices, some stakeholders have raised concerns about legal risks and privacy. New York Times.

Report Finds Most Patients See Tech as Positive in Doctor Visits

Tue, 31 Mar 2015 16:15:00 Z

A survey finds that nearly all patients are comfortable with physicians using technology during a visit -- provided it does not impede a meaningful physician-patient interaction -- and that more than half say technology has a positive effect on the visit overall. MobiHealthNews et al.

Online Retraining Program Seeks To Address Physician Shortage

Mon, 30 Mar 2015 17:06:00 Z

A group at the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine has created an online program that seeks to address the growing shortage of primary care providers by retraining health care providers from other specialties. So far, the 15-course program has helped 13 providers become primary care physicians. Fort Smith Times Record.

Study: Mobile App Can Facilitate Surgery Resident Reviews

Mon, 30 Mar 2015 16:59:00 Z

A study published in the Journal of Surgical Education finds that a smartphone-based system developed by Northwestern Medicine can effectively facilitate performance assessments of general surgery residents. In addition, the system could be used to modify curricula or inform national training guidelines. Health Data Management, JSE.

Health IT To Play Critical Role in Payment Reform Initiative

Thu, 26 Mar 2015 18:02:00 Z

Stakeholders say health IT and interoperability will be critical to the success of the Healthcare Payment Learning and Action Network. The Obama administration initiative, which was launched this week, aims to encourage the transition to alternative health care payment models. FierceHealthIT et al.

Battle Heats Up Over Use of '.Doctor' Website Domain Names

Thu, 26 Mar 2015 18:02:00 Z

The Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers has classified the new ".doctor" domain in the highly regulated "Category 1," which means only "legitimate medical practitioners" will be able to use the domain name. One firm that sells domain names is fighting the policy, arguing that "the term 'doctor' is pretty broad and has a lot of uses." The Hill, Bloomberg BNA.

Opinion: Big Data, Query System Key to Improving Treatment

Thu, 26 Mar 2015 13:29:00 Z

In a Wall Street Journal blog post, John Sotos -- a cardiologist and CEO of a medical-expertise search company -- writes that the implementation of a national query system would allow doctors to review past patient histories and improve treatment options using big data. Wall Street Journal's "The Experts."

Yale Launches First Online Program To Train Physician Assistants

Tue, 24 Mar 2015 16:35:00 Z

A new online-only training program being launched at Yale University aims to address a growing demand for physician assistants. The program also aims to encourage more PA students to practice in their local communities -- which often are rural and in need of clinicians. The Atlantic.

Survey Finds Strong Provider Interest in Mobile Health Apps

Mon, 23 Mar 2015 17:34:00 Z

A new survey finds that 16% of health care professionals use mobile health applications in their practices and 46% hope to begin using mobile health apps within the next five years. According to the survey, nearly three-fourths of providers said patients who use such apps likely would take greater responsibility for their health, while 50% said health apps would make treatment more efficient. MobiHealthNews.

Patients Want No-Cost Health Data Exchange, Survey Finds

Fri, 20 Mar 2015 17:37:00 Z

A new survey finds that three in four U.S. adults say it is very important that health care providers be able to share patient health information. Meanwhile, nearly 90% of respondents say patients and providers should not be charged for exchanging health data. MobiHealthNews.

Nurses: Device Interoperability Key to Reducing Medical Errors

Fri, 13 Mar 2015 17:01:00 Z

A survey of registered nurses commissioned by the Gary and Mary West Health Institute finds that hospital errors could be prevented if interoperability of medical devices were improved. About half of nurse respondents say they have witnessed an error resulting from a lack of interoperability. FierceHealthIT, MobiHealthNews.

AHIMA Responds to Concerns Over ICD-10 Contingency Plans

Tue, 10 Mar 2015 17:19:00 Z

The American Health Information Management Association says that despite the concerns of 100 medical and professional organizations, CMS is "definitely ready" for the ICD-10 Oct. 1 deadline. Meanwhile, some lawmakers say doctors should be given more flexibility during the ICD-10 transition. HealthLeaders Media et al.

Survey: More Than 25% of Physicians Unaware of Rx Drug Databases

Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:49:00 Z

A new survey published in Health Affairs finds that about 25% of physicians are unaware of state prescription drug monitoring programs. Meanwhile, nearly half of those who are aware of the databases say they do not use them. Becker's Hospital Review, Health Affairs.

Many Medical Students Unaware of Informatics Training Options

Tue, 03 Mar 2015 17:39:00 Z

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association finds that while many medical students are interested in clinical informatics training, few are aware of the training options available to them. FierceHealthIT, JAMIA.

Predictive Analytics Aid Fraud Recovery; Some Call for More Efforts

Thu, 26 Feb 2015 19:15:00 Z

Some experts say CMS should use new methods to improve its predictive analytics fraud-detection system, similar to those used in the credit card industry. However, others caution that health care data are more complex and need to have a higher level of accuracy. Modern Healthcare.

Carrot to Stick: How the Meaningful Use Penalties Will Affect Providers

Mon, 23 Feb 2015 12:51:00 Z

One in two eligible professionals is set to face a penalty under the meaningful use program this year. But most of those doctors will see payment adjustments of less than $2,000. So, are the concerns about the penalties being detrimental to providers overblown? Or is this the start of a "regulatory tsunami" that will threaten practices and jeopardize patient care?

Researchers Push for Guidelines Around Doctors' Googling Patients

Wed, 18 Feb 2015 19:03:00 Z

A paper published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine argues that physicians in most cases should not use the Internet to search for information about their patients. However, the authors note that Googling a patient is permissible in some situations and are calling for standards for the practice. Reuters.

Report: Health Care Industry Lags in Use of Patient Engagement Tools

Thu, 12 Feb 2015 17:40:00 Z

A report shows that the health care industry lags behind other sectors in terms of patient engagement tools. The report finds most providers offer basic patient portals, while some test out "smart" engagement tools. The authors say vendors are partly responsible for taking a reactive approach to their customers' needs. Healthcare IT News, Chilmark Research.

Researchers: EHRs Valuable to Med Students, but Regulation Needed

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 18:49:00 Z

An article published in Academic Medicine notes that the practice of tracking patients' electronic health records allows medical students "to self-educate by auditing their diagnoses to see if they were right" and "observe the history of disease in a way not previously possible." However, the authors argue that national guidelines on the practice should be developed to ensure patients' privacy. Health Data Management, Health IT Security.

MGMA Urges CMS To Simplify Quality Reporting Systems

Wed, 04 Feb 2015 19:14:00 Z

The Medical Group Management Association is urging CMS to use one system for its various quality reporting programs to reduce the administrative burden on providers. MGMA in a letter argues, "It makes no practical sense to have multiple systems, which create unnecessary work by requiring duplicative registration with separate usernames and passwords for physicians and practices to access reports or report information pertaining to Medicare Part B programs." EHR Intelligence.

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.

Doctors Raise Concerns About EHR Certification, Call for Changes

Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:56:00 Z

A coalition of 35 medical societies led by the American Medical Association is calling on the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT to make significant changes to its electronic health record certification program, including separating it from the meaningful use program. The groups say the current program is detrimental to patient safety. The Hill et al.

Survey: Patients Consider Digital Tools When Selecting Providers

Fri, 16 Jan 2015 18:25:00 Z

A new TechnologyAdvice survey finds that the digital health tools physicians offer could influence patients when selecting a physician. The survey reveals a disconnect between the types of tools patients want, such as online test results, and those physicians offer. MobiHealthNews, TechnologyAdvice release.

E-Learning Is Effective for Health Care Workers, Report Finds

Mon, 12 Jan 2015 18:59:00 Z

A new report commissioned by the World Health Organization finds that electronic learning methods are as effective as -- or better than -- traditional training for undergraduates studying to become health care workers. The report suggests combining the two methods to increase access to such education, particularly in underserved areas. Reuters et al.

Topol: Digital Health Tools Are Revolutionizing Health Care

Mon, 12 Jan 2015 18:56:00 Z

In a Wall Street Journal essay, Eric Topol -- a cardiologist and the director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute in La Jolla, Calif. -- writes that smartphone applications and other health IT are giving patients more control of their health care. He argues that some health IT tools eventually could replace some aspects of medical care. Wall Street Journal.

Doctors' Concerns About Emailing With Patients Appear To Be Unfounded

Mon, 12 Jan 2015 12:00:00 Z

Despite potential improvements in patient engagement and communication, most doctors remain unenthusiastic about using secure email with patients, in part because they fear the messages will overwhelm them and reduce their productivity.

Survey: 55% of Physicians Might Not Attest to Stage 2 During 2015

Thu, 08 Jan 2015 19:04:00 Z

A survey of physicians in the SERMO social network finds that 55% of respondents do not plan on attesting to Stage 2 of the meaningful us program in 2015. The physicians cite time consumption, patient engagement and poor workflow usability as reasons for not attesting. Health Data Management, Medical Practice Insider.

E-Prescribing for Controlled Substances Up in Recent Years

Fri, 02 Jan 2015 18:27:00 Z

A study co-authored by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT's Office of Planning, Evaluation and Analysis finds that the rate of electronic prescribing for controlled substances has increased significantly in recent years. Specifically, such prescriptions increased from 1,535 in 2012 to 52,423 in 2013. Health Data Management, "Health IT Buzz."

Mass. Finalizes EHR Proficiency Regulations for License Renewals

Mon, 29 Dec 2014 17:55:00 Z

The Massachusetts medical licensing board has eased renewal requirements under a state law that will require physicians to demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health records to maintain their licenses. Doctors now must meet at least one of several criteria, such as completing an accredited continuing medical education course on the program. Health Data Management, EHR Intelligence.

CMS Updates Open Payments System With More Data

Mon, 22 Dec 2014 18:13:00 Z

CMS has published an additional 68,000 payments made to physicians and teaching hospitals by pharmaceutical and medical device manufactures to its Open Payments System, which now contains payment data totaling $3.7 billion. CMS says the new data include disputed payments made between Aug. 1, 2013, and Dec. 31, 2013. Modern Healthcare, CMS release.

Online Physician Ratings Often Differ From Other Quality Measures

Thu, 04 Dec 2014 18:25:00 Z

A study published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine finds that online physician reviews do not always align with reported quality measures. Researchers note that some doctors who have good online reviews do not necessarily score better on formal patient surveys than doctors with worse online reviews. Reuters.

More Providers Adopting Mobile Health To Improve Patient Care

Mon, 01 Dec 2014 18:39:00 Z

More health care providers are adopting telecommunication tools to stay connected with their patients and improve care outcomes. Experts say the trend is spurred both by government initiatives and a shift toward performance-based payment models and accountable care organizations. Modern Healthcare.

Analysis: Drugmakers Using More Digital Ads To Target Physicians

Mon, 17 Nov 2014 18:33:00 Z

A new analysis finds that drugmakers are increasingly using targeted digital advertisements in electronic health records, mobile health applications and social networks in an effort to encourage physicians to prescribe their drugs. Vox, Politico Pro.

Nurses, Physician Assistants See Career Benefits From Social Media

Thu, 06 Nov 2014 18:33:00 Z

A Clinical Advisor survey finds that about half of nurse practitioners and physician assistants use social media for work purposes, and many say it has benefitted their careers. None of the respondents say social media has negatively affected their careers. FierceHealthcare, Clinical Advisor Survey.

New Mapping Tool Aims To Highlight Areas With Provider Shortages

Mon, 03 Nov 2014 18:57:00 Z

A new tool launched by the American Medical Association helps users identify which areas are experiencing provider shortages by layering geographic data with health policy information. The Health Workforce Mapper allows users to sort data in multiple ways, including by geographic location and specialty. Health Data Management, Government Health IT.

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.

CMS' $840M Care Transformation Initiative To Leverage Health IT

Fri, 24 Oct 2014 17:45:00 Z

Health IT will play a critical role in a new four-year, $840 million CMS initiative that aims to help provider networks improve care quality, efficiency and coordination by sharing best practices. Among other things, the project calls for expanding the use of electronic health records. Health Data Management et al.

CMS' New Investment Model Will Help ACOs With Health IT

Thu, 16 Oct 2014 18:28:00 Z

CMS announced a new program in which it will invest up to $114 million in infrastructure and redesigned care processes for up to 75 Medicare Shared Savings Program participants to improve patient care through health IT and other efforts. Healthcare IT News et al.

Providers Struggle To Achieve Interoperability With Competing EHRs

Wed, 01 Oct 2014 17:40:00 Z

Physicians and hospital executives say they are struggling to achieve interoperability standards under the meaningful use program because some electronic health record systems impede the sharing of patient data with competing systems. New York Times' "Business Day."

Industry Groups, Providers Comment on Physician Payment Website

Wed, 01 Oct 2014 17:29:00 Z

CMS' online Open Payments System is receiving mixed reviews from users, industry groups and providers. For example, AARP praised the increased transparency, while the American Medical Association raised concerns about the reliability of the published data. Politico et al.

Online Doctor Ratings Affect Parents' Physician Choices, Study Finds

Tue, 23 Sep 2014 17:02:00 Z

A study by University of Michigan researchers finds that many parents consider online physician ratings when selecting a physician for their children. However, the study finds that just 6% of parents reported posting a physician review online, which could suggest that online ratings might not give a complete picture of a doctor's care. Medscape et al.