Researchers implementing a clinical alerting system using inference rules to notify providers of undocumented problems found that clinics using such a system added nearly three times as many problem documentation notes to EHRs than clinics that did not, according to a report published Jan. 3 by the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.

EMRs, robotic surgery and transcatheter heart valve implantation rank among the technologies that ECRI Institute is urging hospital executives to keep an eye on in 2012.

Increasing use of EMRs, along with the policies relating to the associated interoperability and devices, has kept the EHR-EMR community busy. Some of our top stories this month indicate the need that hospitals and other healthcare organizations have for ongoing and more detailed guidance and instructions when implementing and using electronic record systems.

The ramp-up in proportions of information functions done electronically could make elusive targets even further out of range for many specialty practices, leaving them unable to tap the HITECH Act incentives in Stage 2 and position themselves for the baseline computer capacity to participate in the care coordination that will be an essential part of performance-based payment models, said Thomas C. Barber, MD, chair of a group within the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons that advocates for the adoption of EMRs by its membership.

Mobile MIM has received FDA 510(k) clearance for Mobile MIM 3.0 for diagnostic x-ray and ultrasound viewing, as well as radiation treatment plan review and approval.

The growth rate for interventional procedures being performed in U.S. angiography labs has fallen to 1 percent annually, according to a newly released report by market research firm IMV Medical Information Division. Fewer sites are buying brand-new systems, and in coming years, hospitals most likely will focus on replacing existing systems.

Fujifilm Holdings has entered into a definitive agreement with SonoSite, a developer of bedside and point-of-care ultrasound technology, pursuant to which Fujifilm will acquire SonoSite for approximately $995 million (which includes amounts payable in connection with its convertible debt).

Quality Systems, an Irvine, Calif.-based developer of healthcare information systems and connectivity technologies, has entered into an agreement to acquire ViaTrack Systems, a developer of IT for electronic data interchange (EDI) offerings.