Top Story

• CMS rolls out $692M in EHR incentives in Oct.
  CMS paid $692 million in EHR incentives to hospitals, doctors and other eligible professionals in October, bringing the total payout to slightly more than $8.4 billion since the program commenced. The agency has paid $2.84 billion in Medicare and Medicaid incentives for physicians and other professionals since early last year, while hospitals received almost $5.38 billion during the same period, CMS said. Modern Healthcare (subscription required) (11/29)     

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EHRs and MU

• CHIME weighs in on OIG EHR incentive payment report
  The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives has released a statement in response to a report from the HHS Office of Inspector General that criticized CMS' oversight of the Medicare EHR incentive initiative. The group backs the OIG's suggestion that CMS create and distribute guidance on the documentation needed to comply with audits, but it expressed concern about prepayment audits. "Such an action would impose a significant delay on the payment process, causing an unnecessary and detrimental situation for providers," said Sharon Canner, senior director of advocacy for CHIME. Healthcare Informatics online (11/29)     

Advancing Care With IT

• MobiCare to unveil Alzheimer's disease tracker
  MobiCare is developing a mobile health application that allows caregivers to use the day-to-day emotional health and wellness of patients with Alzheimer's disease to monitor their progression. The app features a symptom tracker that enables users to log their observations, a medicine tracker and more. MedCityNews.com (11/29)     

• Software aids in management of radiation doses
  Unfors RaySafe has launched cloud-based software called RaySafe S1, designed to improve management of patient radiation doses. The software can capture patient dose during radiology procedures, thus allowing for better handling of tests, reduction of unneeded exams, cutting of radiation doses and other functions. AuntMinnie.com (free registration) (11/29)     

Technology Trends

• Report explores growth in PACS market
  A KLAS report unveiled this week at a radiology meeting finds the market for picture archiving and communication systems has been increasing in recent years. PACS vendors that deliver timely, significant upgrades that feature broader usability were cited as market leaders, with Infinitt and Intelerad among the highest rated on customer satisfaction. AuntMinnie.com (free registration) (11/26), Government Health IT online (11/27)     

• HIMSS recognizes 2 provider practices' HIT adoption
  Coastal Medical and the Dr. Jeremy Bradley Family Practice Center were awarded the 2012 Ambulatory HIMSS Davies Award of Excellence for health IT utilization. Coastal Medical's adoption of an eClinicalWorks EHR helped the practice have a return on investment totaling $17.8 million. Bradley's practice has used Praxis' EHR software and seen a yearly ROI of $130,000. Health Data Management (11/29)     

• CMS issues quality reporting waivers to storm-hit hospitals
  CMS has sent notice to quality improvement organizations notifying them of its plans to waive certain quality reporting requirements for storm-hit hospitals in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. Hospitals in these areas may have suffered damage to their records or data systems as well as to their physical facilities. BeckersHospitalReview.com (11/29)     

HIE

• Sanofi, Ginger.io to pilot mobile app to monitor mood
  Startup Ginger.io is collaborating with Sanofi to pilot Ginger.io's patient-centered mobile application. The program uses smartphone data to monitor behavior and flag potential issues for patients and caregivers. FastCoExist (11/29)     

Events Calendar

Upcoming events are managed by the Health IT SmartBrief team.
Please email healthITevents@smartbrief.com to have your event added.

12/3	mHealth Summit HIMSS, Dec. 3 to 5, Washington, D.C.

12/12

The Privacy and Security Forum HIMSS and Healthcare IT News, Dec. 12 to 13, Boston, Mass.

12/13

WEDI Webinar: Electronic Payments and Remittance Countdown to Standardization! WEDI, Dec. 13, Online

Click here to view the complete calendar of events

Career Track

• Nonprofit Seattle health care group announces new CIO
  David Chamberlain was tapped by Qualis Health to succeed Mary Sellers as the organization's chief information officer. Chamberlain has worked in the same post at medical device firm Cardiac Systems in Waukesha, Wis., and at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Modern Healthcare (subscription required) (11/29)     

• Health management services firm appoints CMO
  Dr. Gregory Larkin, health commissioner of Indiana, will become the chief medical officer of OurHealth starting in January. Larkin has worked as global medical director at a pharmaceutical company and CMO with the Indiana Health Information Exchange. Modern Physician (free registration) (11/30)     

WEDI News

• WEDI National Conference in Las Vegas -- Only a few days remaining to submit your proposal
  WEDI is inviting individuals and companies to submit presentation proposals to be considered for the WEDI 22nd Annual National Conference to be held May 13-16, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nev. The conference is expected to attract more than 500 health information management professionals to learn the latest in the management of health information and technologies. We need you to share your expertise, successes and ideas with your peers! Learn more and submit a proposal.     

SmartQuote

The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief." --William Shakespeare, British playwright