Physicians in states with medical liability tort reform laws ordered fewer imaging studies for emergency patients with mild-moderate head trauma, according to a study published July 13 in the online edition of the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.

The ability to transform healthcare delivery at the community level requires information and tools for both consumers and providersnot one or the other, said Aaron McKethan, program director for the Beacon Community Program under the Office for the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC). McKethan discussed "Beaconology," an informal term used by ONC to describe the basics of the Beacon Program, in an exclusive interview yesterday.

The N.Y. State Department of Health is issuing informational pamphlets and child medical imaging cards as part of a campaign to raise awareness about radiation safety issues associated with CT imaging of children. The materials are being provided to 16,000 pediatricians and physicians statewide, who will distribute them to patients and parents.

Voxelor, headquartered in Boxborough, Mass., has launched 3D medical modeling services, offering digital and physical 3D models from patient CT or MRI scans to be utilized for diagnosis, treatment, surgical planning, patient education and other clinical applications.

Delivering improved healthcare through nationwide EHRs will be a long, complex and iterative process requiring flexibility and local adaptability both with respect to the systems and the implementation strategy, according to research published online Sept. 2 in the British Medical Journal.

Massachusetts State Auditor Joe DeNucci has reported that the state's Medicaid program, MassHealth, may be losing millions of dollars due to unnecessary advanced imaging services, such as CT and MRI exams.

The federal government has been working at what seems to be a breakneck speed this week to forge through barriers in the healthcare arena. This week, the Office for the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), have much to feel pleased about as they coast into a long, holiday weekend.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced three sets of grants and cooperative agreements, totaling nearly $17 million for patient-centered outcomes research.