DETROIT, Aug. 21, 2013 -- The Southeast Michigan Beacon Community (SEMBC) today announced that it has named Quest Diagnostics its first provider of diagnostic information services for BeaconLink2Health, SEMBC's Health Information Exchange (HIE). Under the agreement, clinical laboratory test results from Quest Diagnostics will now be accessible through the electronic health records of physicians and other health care providers participating in BeaconLink2Health.

DULUTH, Minn.-- Community Health Information Collaborative (CHIC), Minnesota’s state-certified Health Information Organization, is pleased to announce a partnership with Orion Health. CHIC has selected Orion Health technology to power HIE-Bridge, Minnesota’s state-certified health information exchange (HIE) that allows providers to locate and access key clinical information that is vital when making medical decisions. Through HIE-Bridge, health providers across Minnesota have access to authorized patient information through a secure web-based information exchange platform. CHIC’s overall objective of partnering with Orion Health is to enhance clinical care coordination between all healthcare organizations and eligible providers to improve patient outcomes, save patient and provider time, and to conserve precious healthcare dollars.

The Center for Internet Security announced an initiative to help bolster the protection of internet-enabled medical devices from cyber attacks. CIS has issued a request for information to U.S. medical device manufacturers to invite voluntary participation in the development of security control guidelines for reducing cyber risk to medical devices.

The Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (ENHAC) and the Kantara Initiative (Kantara) are teaming up to further industry adoption of trusted information sharing and identity systems in healthcare, according to an Aug. 20 announcement. Their shared goal is minimizing the development of silos in non-standard and unrelated identity vetting processes and documentation.

An Idaho hospital CEO has been charged with spying on a former hospital physician by tapping phone calls.

RIVERSIDE, Calif.-- Inland Empire Health Information Exchange (IEHIE) announced today that it has formed a partnership with Prime Healthcare Services that will link patient health information to all of Prime HealthCare Services’ hospitals across the country. Prime HealthCare Services brings an additional twenty-three (23) Hospitals across five (5) states including fourteen (14) in California to IEHIE’s existing population of hospitals, providers and health plans. IEHIE offers an enhanced Health Information Exchange (HIE) service, which allows doctors, clinics, hospitals and other healthcare providers to electronically review and access medical records, resulting in timely, safer and improved quality of healthcare for patients, particularly those in underserved and disadvantaged populations.

A new survey finds that the majority of physicians believe the cost of EHRs outweigh the benefits.

After multiple organizations have criticized the Meaningful Use program and called for delays, the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is recommending the same launch date for Stage 2 but a longer attestation period.