Two headlines this week highlight the challenges regarding the privacy and security of personal health data, especially as healthcare debates the interoperability of that very data and the systems they are stored within.

The rate of U.S. hospitals with at least a basic EHR has increased from 59 percent in 2013 to 75 percent this year, according to a study published in Health Affairs.

There are substantial gaps in the collection and usability of indicators of compromise (IOCs), according to findings from the Health Information Trust Alliance.

Meaningful Use (MU) needs streamlining and a reduced reporting burden for provider through better aligned quality measures, said the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME). 

Two health information exchange organizations have issued a white paper with a framework to improve patient matching without the use of a national patient identifier system. 

The National Institute of Standards and Technology recently released the final draft of its report on de-identification of personal information.

It was another busy week for Clinical Innovation + Technology with reporting from HIMSS' Big Data & Healthcare Analytics Forum as well as the November meeting of the Health IT Policy Committee, which addressed the final rules for Meaningful Use Stage 3 and the Certified EHR 2015 Edition, and the committee's report to Congress on interoperability. 

The Certified EHR 2015 Edition final rule is part of a wider effort to achieve better care, smarter spending and healthier people, said Elise Sweeney Anthony, senior policy analyst at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, speaking about the rule at the November Health IT Policy Committee.