Initiate Systems and Axolotl have entered into a partnership to combine Axolotl's Elysium Exchange, a health information exchange (HIE) framework that networks legacy and EMR systems, with Initiate's patient identification solution.

Royal Philips Electronics has signed a contract to become a medical equipment supplier of the New York Yankees, providing the team with onsite digital x-ray and automated external defibrillators.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--John Glaser, PhD, senior special adviser for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, gave EHR advocates hope of being one step closer to obtaining federal health IT incentives with his announcement that the first definition of meaningful use would be released next week.

According to results of a recent survey, many providers recognize the importance of healthcare reform but are concerned that proposed reform tools, such as pay-for-performance or national health coverage, could negatively impact their bottom lines and patient care delivery.

As the health IT industry awaits a formal definition of "meaningful use" as it pertains to EMRs, healthcare research firm KLAS has released a report outlining which EMR products are best positioned to achieve whatever meaningful use standard is adopted. The report examined the EMR market, assessing how well clinical vendors are delivering solutions for computerized provider order entry, nursing automation, medication administration and other areas.

According to a report from market research firm Kalorama Information, the market for EMR data transfer equipment and applications is forecast to reach $1.63 billion in 2013, due in large part to President Barack Obama's support for increased usage of EMR and other high-tech patient monitoring systems.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Creating a regional health IT extension center in Rhode Island will require input and effort from all areas of clinical IT expertise, according to Laura Adams, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Quality Institute (RIQI).

External-beam partial breast irradiation is the most cost-effective method for treating postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer, compared with whole-breast radiotherapy and brachytherapy partial breast irradiation, according to a study in the June 1 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics.