Will ARRA widen Digital Divide?
Date: Mar 10, 2010
As the deadline for submitting public comment for the meaningful use criteria draws near, it seems as if there has been an uptick in concern and criticism being voiced regarding the federal government’s legislative efforts to drive healthcare IT adoption.   Read »

MGMA physician survey results a reason to worry?
Date: Mar 09, 2010
Meeting meaningful use would negatively impact physician productivity, according to results of a recent Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) questionnaire. The physician members' concern couldn't have come at a more critical time - within days of CMS closing the public comment period.   Read »

Consumer response to meaningful use an outlier?
Date: Mar 08, 2010
The Consumer Partnership for e-Health released consumer and employer responses to criticism about various aspects of the meaningful use criteria for EHR adoption. At first blush, it was surprising to see general support for the criteria. Then again, this nonpartisan group comprising consumer, patient, and labor organizations whose mission is to improve healthcare quality and achieving a patient-centered healthcare system through IT and knowledge sharing, represents some pretty knowledgeable parties. In other words, their responses aren't from the general public who are given sound bytes on healthcare reform and transformation.   Read »

HIMSS10 Roundtable Part II: Raise or lower the bar on meaningful use?
Date: Mar 05, 2010
The great thing about the HIMSS10 roundtable that I attended this past Wednesday was that there were great discussions, which means multiple blog entries for me.   Read »

HIMSS10 Roundtable Part I: Should EMRs and EHRs get all the attention?
Date: Mar 04, 2010
At HIMSS10 in Atlanta this week, you couldn't escape the topic of meaningful use and ARRA. From keynote addresses and education sessions to exhibit hall and Interoperability Showcase, the "M" word was the buzz word. Not surprisingly, a number of attendees are worried about what these regulations may mean for their healthcare organizations. And there are those attendees who are downright not in favor of the meaningful use requirements.   Read »

CIO state-level network a bright idea
Date: Mar 01, 2010
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) has launched CIO State Network (StateNet), an online communication and resource network for healthcare chief information officers to keep abreast of state matters related to the HITECH Act and other state health IT activity. It’s a great idea and a strategic move for CHIME.   Read »

Federal agencies need to lead health IT transformation
Date: Feb 25, 2010
If the federal government wants healthcare providers to align their existing EHRs and EMRs with the meaningful use criteria, it needs to set an example on the federal level so the rest of the market can follow. The Indian Health Service (IHS) has stepped up to the plate in that regard.   Read »

How big is the risk of not implementing EHRs?
Date: Feb 24, 2010
Texas Medical Association (TMA) released the results of its EMR 2009 Report. Reflecting a national trend, the percentage of physicians in the state who report using an EHR has grown from 27 percent in 2005 to 33 percent in 2007 and now 43 percent in 2009. There is a lot of positive data to be mined from TMA's survey, but the most interesting is the data on those physicians who reported that they do not plan on implementing an EHR.   Read »

Latest survey: Physician use of EHRs growing
Date: Feb 23, 2010
A survey recently released by research firm SK&A, a Cegedim Company, shows an increase in physician adoption of EHRs, confirming earlier findings by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.   Read »

Learning from the missteps of British Columbia's EHR project
Date: Feb 22, 2010
British Columbia's auditor general released a blistering report on the province’s planned $222 million EHR system. A lack of planning from the start is blamed for a lack of results four years into the program. Interestingly, John Doyle, auditor general, criticized the province for focusing on securing federal funds over creating a solid roadmap. Can you say "cautionary tale" for states that have been notified of ARRA funding?   Read »