Consumers who utilize internet-based cost transparency tools are more likely to choose physicians designated as high quality, according to a study from Strategic Insights Group on behalf of UnitedHealthcare.

Doug Fridsma, MD, PhD, chief science officer in the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT, is leaving the agency to become president and CEO of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Defensive medicine, which is care delivered in response to a fear of malpractice lawsuits, accounted for about 28 percent of tests, procedures and hospitalizations at three hospitals, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

This was the ninth annual Health IT Week and it was full of activity—from dueling legislation for Meaningful Use to launches of innovation centers and venture funds and calls for patient engagement and improved privacy and security efforts with new breaches to back the need.

Much has been said about how far healthcare lags behind other industry sectors but early adopters in healthcare are reaping valuable returns on the investment, according to study conducted by Harvard Business Review Analytics Services and sponsored by Verizon.

Providence Health & Services is launching a $150 million venture capital fund to help spur innovation across the healthcare system that lowers costs and leads to better outcomes.

A newly launched innovation center will focus on both new treatments and tools for musculoskeletal conditions as well as care delivery innovations.

Framingham, MA – September 16, 2014– IDC Health Insights today announced the launch of the Healthcare IT Services Strategies advisory service, designed to address the critical challenges faced by business executives and technology leaders.   The new service will help both buyers and suppliers of IT services save time, reduce cost and mitigate risk related to management of their increasingly complex and important relationships.