Ambulatory providers accessing community-based HIE systems reduce hospital readmissions of discharged inpatients, sparing patients needless hospitalization and saving hospitals money.

This week in health IT a report found a disturbing change regarding data breaches. 

The results of two clinical studies on EHRs offered interesting and opposite findings. 

Theft of a laptop and two hard drives from the car of an Indiana State Medical Association administrator is the source of a data breach impacting 39,090 members of its group health and life insurance plans.

San Diego, Calif., May 12, 2015 – San Diego resident Sue Diaz wishes the electronic exchange of information vital to a patient’s care had been in place several months ago. She tells the story of rushing a friend suddenly stricken by an apparent seizure to a nearby hospital. When they arrived, the woman was semi-conscious, partially paralyzed and unable to speak. Her husband had gone fishing that morning and couldn’t be reached.

Alerts in EHR systems that prompt providers to begin or continue the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination with pediatric patients lead to an increased rate of protection against cervical cancer, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. 

The growing adoption of EHRs also is driving increased hiring of medical scribes, according to a report from Marketplace.  

Several Health IT Policy Committee workgroups presented their assessments of the Meaningful Use Stage 3 proposal on May 12 with much agreement but some definite objections.