Shared decision making refers to a set of principles that can be employed by patients and their physicians to explicitly incorporate patient preferences and values into clinical decision making.  Past research shows that patients, who have an enhanced knowledge of their medical conditions and treatment alternatives, demonstrate a reduced anxiety when it comes to medical decision making.

BOSTON--Individuals are willing to donate data, but assert that ownership of such data ultimately lies with them, said Kevin Patrick, MD, professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of California, San Diego, at Strata Rx 2013. Researchers also consider these self-reported data as reliable and dependable, he said.

BOSTON—“We don’t have big data, but gazillions of pods of little data,” said Marcia Kean, Feinstein Kean Healthcare, at Strata Rx 2013 on Sept. 26. However, data liquidity—or the rapid, seamless and secure exchange of useful, standards-based information among authorized individuals and institutional senders—is poised to significantly advance biomedical research, she said.

A new independent nonprofit organization has been established to drive rapid, widespread and sustained interoperabiity of medical technology to improve patient safety and lower healthcare costs.

The clinical practice developments this month include a final rule establishing a unique device identification (UDI) system for medical devices, the first neonatal telemedicine program, a report on patient-centered medical homes and updates on Beacon communities.

Greenway Medical Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: GWAY) today announced a definitive agreement which will result in the combination of the businesses of Greenway and Vitera Healthcare Solutions, LLC. The transaction will create a leader in healthcare information technology and services, offering a comprehensive set of solutions to improve clinical and financial outcomes in healthcare enterprises, ambulatory practices, public health, retail and other clinics nationwide. Following the closing of the transaction, the Vitera and Greenway businesses will serve nearly 13,000 medical organizations and 100,000 providers.

After working in health IT (HIT) for 30-plus years, no one could accuse Charles Christian of being a Luddite. However, as a participant in a half dozen health information exchanges (HIEs) at his former post in Indiana—and even more transitions in federal health policy—Christian is not naïve about what HIT can and cannot do when it comes to managing population health.

Organizations do not spend adequate time on coordination of care, said Tracy Christopherson, director of interprofessional practice, Elsevier, clinical solutions / CPM, during a Sept. 23 National eHealth Collaborative webinar.