Precision Medicine

Also called personalized medicine, this evolving field makes use of an individual’s genes, lifestyle, environment and other factors to identify unique disease risks and guide treatment decision-making.

North Carolina launches $4M statewide telepsychiatry program

North Carolina officials announced the January 2014 launch of a statewide telepsychiatry plan to improve access to mental health professionals. North Carolina is investing $4 million over two years in the project, which is overseen by the state's Department of Health and Human Services Office of Rural Health and Community Care.

CareFirst taps Cognizant to support mHealth initiatives

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) selected Cognizant to support its mobile technology efforts for its 3.3 million members.

ONC pilot harnesses HIT to improve cancer treatment

MyJourney Compass, an Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) pilot project launched on Aug. 12, is aiming to help patients navigate the cancer treatment process and become more engaged in their healthcare decisions.

Clinician use of mobile devices continues to climb

Clinicians continue to adopt mobile computing devices at a rapid rate this year, with nearly 90 percent expected to use smartphones in 2014 and almost as many using tablets.

Partnership creates info system to pool resources, save money

Michigan and Illinois are partnering to develop a cloud-based Medicaid Management Information System.

CONNECT upgrade allows for flexibility, tailoring

The Federal Health Architecture released CONNECT 4.2, an enhanced version of CONNECT 4—the dynamic open source platform designed to enable secure health information exchange.

Scripps to examine mobile technologies’ impact on healthcare spending

A clinical study launched by Scripps Translational Science Institute will investigate whether the integration of wireless technologies, online social networks and medicine can directly impact healthcare spending.

HRSA announces $3M to bolster IT in health centers

The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded six health center networks about $3 million in Affordable Care Act funds to facilitate adoption of health IT.

Around the web

Stryker, a global medtech company based out of Michigan, has kicked off 2025 with a bit of excitement. The company says Inari’s peripheral vascular portfolio is highly complementary to its own neurovascular portfolio.

RBMA President Peter Moffatt discusses declining reimbursement rates, recruiting challenges and the role of artificial intelligence in transforming the industry.

Mark Isenberg, executive vice president of Zotec Partners, discusses key developments that will reshape the specialty this year.