EMR/EHR

Electronic medical records (EMR) are a digital version of a patient’s chart that store their personal information, medical history and links to prior exams, texts and reports. The goal of these systems is to enable immediate access to the patient's data electronically, rather than needing to request paper file folders that might be stored in fragment files at numerous locations where a patient is seen or treated. EMRs (also called electronic health records, or EHR) improve clinician and health system efficiency by making all this data immediately available. This helps reduce repeat tests, repeat prescriptions and repeat imaging exams because reports, imaging or other patient data is not not immediately available. 

Canadian rad investigation expands to 4 rads

The Vancouver Island Health Authority review of the quality of CT scans in British Columbia has widened as health authorities have identified concerns with the quality of studies performed by two licensed and credentialed radiologists, a radiologist practicing out of St. Josephs General Hospital in Comox and a locum radiologist temporarily practicing in the Fraser Valley in 2009 and 2010. In addition, the authority has released recommendations based on phase one of the investigation.

N.C. Medicaid incentive system goes live

CSC, in conjunction with the State of North Carolina, has implemented phase one of the North Carolina Medicaid Incentive Payment System (NC-MIPS), the computer system supporting the incentive payment program.

EHR certification update 3.11.11

CMIO.net presents a weekly update of the EHR products certified by the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies (ONC-ATCBs). The following EHR certifications were announced recently:

Alabama REC prefers SuccessEHS EMR

Alabama Regional Extension Center (REC) has selected SuccessEHS as a preferred EHR provider in accordance with government healthcare initiatives.

Blumenthal feature: Health IT improves outcomes, patient satisfaction is next

A review of recent literature shows 92 percent overall positive conclusions in articles gauging the effect of health IT on outcomes, including quality, efficiency and provider satisfaction. The review, which appears in this month's Health Affairs, also found the benefits of the technology are beginning to emerge in smaller practices and organizations, as well as in large organizations that were early adopters.

Health Affairs: Most office-based physicians could get EHR incentives

Federal survey data show that more than 80 percent of office-based physicians could qualify for new federal incentive payments to encourage the adoption and meaningful use of EHRs, based on the numbers of Medicare or Medicaid patients, according to an article in this months edition of Health Affairs.

Greenway, HP collaborate for custom EHRs

Greenway Medical Technologies, an HP Healthcare Elite Partner, is collaborating with HP to offer medical practices custom EHR tools to assist care and automate healthcare processes.

Survey: Repeal of healthcare reform may negatively affect patient care

Forty-seven percent of respondents to Beacon Partners 2011 Healthcare Reform Study believe that a repeal would have a negative impact on patient care. More than 300 attendees of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference in Orlando, Fla., weighed in, via an electronic survey, on the implications of Congress or the courts repealing all or components of the healthcare reform legislation.

Around the web

The American College of Cardiology has shared its perspective on new CMS payment policies, highlighting revenue concerns while providing key details for cardiologists and other cardiology professionals. 

As debate simmers over how best to regulate AI, experts continue to offer guidance on where to start, how to proceed and what to emphasize. A new resource models its recommendations on what its authors call the “SETO Loop.”

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, said the clinical community needs to combat health misinformation at a grassroots level. He warned that patients are immersed in a "sea of misinformation without a compass."

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