The use of health IT, defined as the software used to store, retrieve, share and use clinical information effectively, has been growing within the state of California. However, significant room for improvement remains, according a snapshot of the state of health IT in California from the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF).

The 2011 Patient Access to Health Care Study: A Survey of Physicians Offices has revealed that wait times for most new patient appointments are trending upward across Massachusetts.

When healthcare organizations select an extended business office services firm, the key differentiator seems to a company's ability can keep accounts receivables low and cash collection high, according to a report from market research company KLAS.

Hawaii plans to leverage technology to expand access to patient-centered medical homes, enhance access to physicians and improve coordination of services.

Are U.S. hospitals ready for emergencies? Mostly, yes, as more than 76 percent of the organizations participating in the National Hospital Preparedness Program met at least 90 percent of the program measures for all-hazards preparedness in 2009, stated a report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.

Health IT, especially EMRs, can help organizations and patients deal with the expected shortage of U.S. healthcare workers, according to a survey from the American Society for Quality (ASQ).

Clearwater Compliance has released Clearwater HIPAA Security Assessment, an interactive web-based navigator designed to assist organizations that handle electronic protected health information (PHI) in their HIPAA compliance efforts.

The Department of Health and Human Services is borrowing a customer service strategy in its proposal to use a mystery shopper approach to assess primary care physician availability to accept new patients and the timeliness of services for them.