As radiology grapples with the seemingly endless details of meaningful use (MU), many questions remain. The only certainty, according to an article appearing in the February issue of Academic Radiology, is that MU is real and will affect radiology for many years to come."

To comply with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) is developing a new record keeping system, the ONC Health IT Dashboard, to assess, improve and publicize the effectiveness of federal grants administered for health IT implementation, according to a notice published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the Federal Register on Dec. 22, 2011.

Although many health information exchanges (HIEs) are in a state of flux as they continue to fine tune logistics and mechanisms to create the most efficient and effective resources, studies continue to prove that electronic systems and the ability of clinicians to exchange and access patient information is improving outcomes and saving money.

A legislative proposal developed by the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) to expand the use of telemedicine for Medicaid beneficiaries with neonatal healthcare needs could save the federal government approximately $186 million over 10 years, according to an analysis of the proposal conducted by healthcare consulting firm Avalere Health.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) made available a free, online guide developed under contract by RAND, a nonprofit research organization headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., to assist healthcare organizations with EHR implementation and use.

A recently completed three-year pilot program intended to inform the design of a patient-centered medical home model yielded positive results, according to Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI).

Come April, the state of Alabama will launch a new statewide health information exchange (HIE)One Health Record. Alabama Medicaid Commissioner Robert Mullins, MD, looks forward to providers in any setting having access to all relevant patient data.

The importance of a clinical teams ability to quickly access and communicate information has led to increased use of mobile technologies, but recent IDC Health Insights research suggested a demand for more advanced mobile technologies and predicted a growing market for products that service this need.