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.

HIMSS webinar: E-prescribing has come a long way; needs to go further

Work toward widespread use of e-prescribing has come a long way in a short period of time, but theres still a long way to go before it is completely accepted and its flaws are fixed, according to the presenters of a Nov. 16 webinar cosponsored by Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Feature: Role of chief knowledge officer could be on the rise in healthcare

As technologies proliferate and health reform initiatives take hold, more and more information becomes available, but healthcare executives are still struggling to realize its potential. For the purpose of applying vast amounts of information to practical use, Cynthia Zak, health information management and privacy director at Milford Hospital in Westport, Conn., foresees the emergence of a new role at hospitals and healthcare organizations: the chief knowledge officer (CKO).Cynthia Zak, health information management (HIM) and privacy director at Milford Hospital in Westport, Conn.,

ONC reaches goal of enrolling 100K PCP in extension centers

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) has achieved its goal of enrolling 100,000 primary care providers with regional extension centers (REC) that were developed to assist small-scale practices with EHR implementation and meaningful use compliance.

Three EU hospitals tap into HIMSS to assess health IT progress

Three European hospitals have recently reached Stage 6 on the EMR Adoption Model (EMRAM) scale, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Societys (HIMSS) rating system to track the progress of healthcare facilities efforts to implement new health IT programs.

PwC: Growing public appetite for healthcare innovation

As a number of policy initiatives aimed at extracting more bang for the buck out of healthcare costs are being rolled out and implemented, healthcare consumers are showing enthusiasm for the benefits that they propose.

HealthConnect insurance exchange acquired by Ebix

Ebix, an Atlanta-based company that develops IT services and products to members of the insurance industry, has acquired HealthConnect and it will immediately integrate the Simsbury, Conn.-based health insurance exchange into the EbixHealth Division.

Conn. med groups ally to drive state reform vehicle

Three Connecticut medical groups are undertaking an initiative to improve healthcare quality and lower costs for payers and consumers in the state.

CHIME, eHI release HIE guide for CIOs

The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) and the eHealth Initiative (eHI) have joined forces to help healthcare CIOs make sound decisions as they move toward achieving health information exchange (HIE).

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.