Most Clicked eHealth SmartBrief Stories
1. Decision-support models next challenge for health care IT
eHealth SmartBrief | Jul 21, 2008
As clinical IT systems become more common in health facilities, the next challenge in medical informatics is creating decision-support models to bring updated clinical information to the bedside, said William Bria, chairman of the Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems. Modern Healthcare (free registration) (07/18)
2. Remote monitoring device raises question of responsibility
eHealth SmartBrief | Jul 16, 2008
Intel has received FDA approval for Health Guide, an at-home monitoring device that uses e-mail and videoconferencing and sends vital signs over the Internet. But, even as remote patient-monitoring devices begin to catch on, some wonder how they may change physician-patient interactions and whether responsibilities will change as well. TechNewsWorld (07/15)
3. Financial incentives in Medicare law may encourage eRX
eHealth SmartBrief | Jul 18, 2008
Experts say financial incentives in the new Medicare law could encourage more U.S. medical providers to begin using e-prescribing. The law will offer a 2% payment bonus in 2009 and 2010 for providers who e-prescribe and eventually will include financial penalties for those who don't make the switch. Reuters (07/17)
4. Kaiser Permanente's medical center to get IT overhaul
eHealth SmartBrief | Jul 16, 2008
Kaiser Permanente's new medical center will house 314 beds, a host of ancillary services and updated technologies such as real-time access to patient data for some, a new patient-monitoring system, digital radiology labs and an EMR system. Healthcare IT News (07/16)
5. Report: Hospitals with IT score higher on key quality measures
eHealth SmartBrief | Jul 18, 2008
The 10th annual Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study shows hospitals that adopt IT have higher patient satisfaction and better risk-adjusted mortality rates and other quality measures. Several experts said successful hospitals use IT as part of an overall strategy of high performance and process improvement. Healthcare IT News (07/16)
6. Large physician practice makes move to EHRs
eHealth SmartBrief | Jul 21, 2008
California-based Hill Physicians Medical Group has begun the move from paper records to electronic ones. The 3,000-provider physician practice has a need for more space as a result. "We are trying to gear up our IT practice to help physicians become more efficient. That's where most of our employee growth is coming from," said the group's vice president of corporate services. American City Business Journals (07/18)
7. Medication errors reduced as hospital uses bar codes on babies
eHealth SmartBrief | Jul 21, 2008
Nashville, Tenn.-based Centennial Medical Center uses a bar-coding system on babies in its nursery and neonatal intensive care units. The facility uses Electronic Medication Administration Record as its bar-coding system and says that last year, it prevented 13,000 medication errors. WSMV (Nashville, Tenn.) (07/18)
8. Two fronts to battle in EHR implementation
eHealth SmartBrief | Jul 18, 2008
In response to patients' privacy concerns over EHRs, The Centre For Democracy & Technology says a comprehensive privacy policy is needed and will require "legislative action, regulation and industry commitment." And all the while, the financial issue needs to be faced as well if more physicians are expected to adopt the technology. CIO.com (07/17)
9. S.D. health facilities implement EMRs
eHealth SmartBrief | Jul 21, 2008
Several health care facilities in rural South Dakota now have fully functional EMRs -- with nine years of information -- and caregivers document on tablet PCs rather than in charts. "Having all kinds of information available, such as biopsies or documentation from a patient's most recent visit, especially if someone comes into the hospital in an unresponsive state, will all provide doctors with a comprehensive patient history," said one surgeon. Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan (S.D.) (07/20)
10. E-consults slowly gain popularity
eHealth SmartBrief | Jul 21, 2008
Some health insurers have started to pay for e-consultations, a service that many physicians don't offer and many patients don't take advantage of. But those who do find it a time-saving, beneficial boon. Some experts say it's a practice whose time will come. Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (07/21)
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