Informatics

The goal of health informatics systems is to enable smooth transfer of data and cybersecurity across the healthcare enterprise. This includes patient information, images, subspecialty reporting systems, lab results, scheduling, revenue management, hospital inventory, and many other health IT systems. These systems include the electronic medical record (EMR) admission discharge and transfer (ADT) system, hospital information system (HIS), radiology picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), cardiovascular information systems (CVIS), archive solutions including cloud storage and vendor neutral archives (VNA), and other medical informatics systems.

Department of Defense approves HIE for Fort Drum, surrounding community

The Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, along with HealtheConnections and Fort Drum's Medical Department Activity (MEDDAC), has received approval from the Department of Defense (DOD) for an electronic health information exchange (HIE) partnership with Fort Drum and the surrounding community.

ONC introduces online guide on EHR selection and implementation

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has introduced its online "Playbook," an update from the Patient Engagement Playbook, as an assistive too to help doctors and hospitals in selection EHR’s as well as topics on implementation, design, security and patient engagement.

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5 approaches for using technology to communicate with physicians

As technology continues to weave its way into healthcare, more and more patients are using their smartphones and wearable devices to communicate with their doctors, according to a new study.

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OCR will step up investigations of smaller breaches

HHS’ Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has announced it will make a concerted effort to investigate more data breaches affecting fewer than 500 people through its regional offices.

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Q&A: 20 years later, is it time for HIPAA 2.0?

Aug. 21 marks the 20th anniversary of HIPAA being signed into law, but at least one health IT expert believes the act needs to be updated to better address modern challenges.

OpenNotes hits major milestone by reaching 10 million patients

In what can be seen as a major milestone in the healthcare industry's march toward increased interoperability, OpenNotes has reached 10 million patients in the U.S., all of them able to view medial records online.

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Ill. hospital chain to pay largest single HIPAA settlement ever: $5.55 million

In what HHS’s Office of Civil Rights called its largest settlement ever against a single entity for HIPAA violations, Downers Grove, Illinois-based Advocate Health Care has agreed to pay $5.55 million for three data breaches which exposed the health records of more than four million people.

Reducing complications during shift changes can improve outcomes

Shift changes of doctors and nurses can cause uneasiness in some patients. A new team of physicians or nurses asking questions and evaluating your charts can cause fear of the new team's missing a step or important piece of information. 

Around the web

The tirzepatide shortage that first began in 2022 has been resolved. Drug companies distributing compounded versions of the popular drug now have two to three more months to distribute their remaining supply.

The 24 members of the House Task Force on AI—12 reps from each party—have posted a 253-page report detailing their bipartisan vision for encouraging innovation while minimizing risks. 

Merck sent Hansoh Pharma, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, an upfront payment of $112 million to license a new investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist. There could be many more payments to come if certain milestones are met.