Financially troubled North Adams Regional Hospital, the primary health care provider and employer in rural northwest Massachusetts, abruptly announced plans to close this week, setting of strong union and community protests.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance named the recipients of its 2014 Health Quality Awards, which will be presented formally on April 2 in Washington, D.C.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology launched the first comprehensive centralized data repository specifically focused on eye diseases and conditions.

A new initiative launched by the New York Genome Center and IBM Watson will test a unique prototype designed specifically for genomic research as a tool to help oncologists deliver more personalized care to cancer patients.

Duke University Health System, Inc., in Raleigh, N.C., and West Penn Allegheny Health System, Inc., in Pittsburgh, Penn., have agreed to pay the U.S. government $1 million and $1.5 million respectively to settle claims that they violated the False Claims Act.

After a deal to merge with the Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System fell through last year, Beaumont Health System wasted no time reaching out to other potential partners and has now gone public with plans to affiliate with Oakwood Healthcare and Botsford Health Care.

Quality information is essential for a competitive marketplace and for consumers to make informed decisions on care. A panel delved into the current state of quality measures and their role in the healthcare market during the Federal Trade Commission’s public workshop, “Examining Health Care Competition” on March 21.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) has launched a new initiative focused on "harmonizing the standards for clinical decision support and electronic clinical quality measurement," according to Doug Fridsma, MD, PhD, director of ONC’s Office of Science and Technology.