Rural hospitals still trail urban hospitals when it comes to EHR adoption, but the divide is diminishing, according to a report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and new research it references.

CARROLLTON, Ga.-- Greenway Medical Technologies and Epic Systems have achieved interoperability between their solutions to improve care coordination for the thousands of patients two of their customers in Lancaster, PA treat in common. The electronic health record (EHR) systems of both companies are exchanging industry-standard Continuity of Care Documents (CCDs) between a large OB/GYN practice and the local hospital-based health system, securely sharing vital information to better coordinate care in their community of health.

Today’s news is a compilation of the most read articles of the first six months of 2013 and those articles I found to be the most interesting and influential.

While commercial EHR adoption may result in better health outcomes, as a stand-alone it does not consistently bring down Medicaid costs in the short term, according to a recent study published in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Medicare & Medicaid Research Review.

Nurses play a critical role in the implementation of EHRs but not all organizations tap into this important resource.

A “pioneering” platform launched by the Center for Connected Health, a division of Partners Healthcare, allows patient data collected at home to be transmitted electronically then viewable through the Partners Healthcare EMR system. This information also is accessible via Partners Healthcare's patient portal.

Emory-Adventist Hospital, a joint venture with Emory Healthcare, has received the acute care Stage 7 award.

Citing inadequate training, a staffing shortage and the potential risk of patient harm, registered nurses (RNs) at an Ohio medical center called for hospital officials to delay the planned June 21 implementation of a new EMR system.