Top Story

• Survey: Health groups unprepared for HITECH's privacy rules
  Health care organizations are not poised to comply with HITECH's privacy and security rules due to a lack of funds and response plans, according to a Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society survey. Lisa Gallagher, HIMSS' senior director for privacy and security, advised medical groups to "approach all IT activities, including data security, with effective management and efficient use of their budgets, staff and technologies." Government Health IT (11/4) , Healthcare IT News (11/4)

Hospitals

• Hospitals could boost performance with computer-assisted coding
  Hospitals should leverage computer-assisted coding to improve their clinical, operational and financial performance in order to ease the adoption of the ICD-10 coding system as well as qualify for incentives under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. To move forward with CAC adoption, hospitals need to address challenges such as getting coder buy-in. ADVANCE for Health Information Executives (11/2009)

• Michigan hospital introduces application for health news alerts
  Ingham Regional Medical Center has developed Ingham Health Bug, an application that provides local residents news on H1N1 flu virus and other health-related issues. The application, which uses BIA/Kelsey's ActiveAccess technology, is offered free to people living in Lansing, Mich. Health Data Management (11/4)

Former FDA staff and industry experts discuss important regulatory and practical issues at AdvaMed MTLI's annual workshop on Combination Products. November 16 – 17, Washington, DC. Find details and get your $250 discount here.

Providers

• Physicians concerned about HIT cost, work-flow disruption
  An online survey of 1,001 physicians found 82% of respondents cited cost and 74% cited work-flow disruption as the major risks for EHR adoption. The survey, by Ingenix, also showed 58% had little or no familiarity with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which offers incentives for switching to electronic health records. Healthcare IT News (11/4)

Technology Trends

• Study finds U.S. lags in health IT use
  Only 46% of U.S. physicians employ electronic medical records, which positions the U.S. far behind other nations in terms of health IT adoption, according to a new Commonwealth Fund study. "The study underscores the pressing need for national reforms to close the performance gap to improve outcomes and reduce costs," said Cathy Schoen, lead author of the research. Healthcare IT News (11/5)

• Real-time remote echocardiogram of infant helps confirm diagnosis
  American Educational Telecommunications said the first real-time remote echocardiogram of a newborn was done at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk, Neb., and sent to Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha. Specialists in Omaha were able to confirm the diagnosis of mild muscular ventricular sepal defect. Healthcare IT News (11/3)

Featured Content

Events Calendar

Upcoming events are managed by the eHealth SmartBrief team. Please email ehealthevents@smartbrief.com to have your event added.

11/11

MidAmerica Healthcare Venture Forum The Wisconsin Technology Council, Nov. 11 and 12, Madison, Wis.

11/11

Tenth Annual Pharmaceutical and Compliance Congress The Pharmaceutical Compliance Forum, Nov. 11 to 13, Washington, D.C.

11/12

World Response Conference to H1N1 and H5N1 Influenza Eve-eX, Nov. 12 and 13, Las Vegas, Nev.

Click here to view the complete calendar of events

Regulatory/Legislative

• FDA issues reminder to clarify cybersecurity issues
  The FDA issued a notice saying it does not regulate changes to medical device software developed for cybersecurity purposes. The agency also advised device firms to be responsible when it comes to addressing computer viruses and other cybersecurity threats, as well as collaborate with hospitals and clinics to solve such issues. Clinica (subscription required) (11/5)

• HHS taps Defense, VA systems for H1N1 flu vaccine monitoring
  The HHS has enlisted the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs systems and databases to be used for its H1N1 flu vaccine monitoring initiative. "A robust plan for monitoring adverse events following immunization during mass vaccination for 2009 H1N1 influenza is a critical component to ensure the safety of these vaccines," the agency said. Government Health IT (11/4)

International

• Philips, Netherlands insurer to invest in home health monitoring
  Philips Electronics and insurer Achmea have announced plans to invest over the next five years in the Netherlands' remote health monitoring market, with the idea of possibly rolling out the project throughout Europe in the future. Philips is optimistic that home monitoring will improve care for the aging population and help fight increasing health care costs. Yahoo!/Reuters (11/4)

EHR Spotlight

• HL7 EHR standard for clinical research defines high-level reqs
  Health Level Seven has released the Electronic Health Record System Functional Requirements Standard for Clinical Research, which offers guidelines for data integration necessary to support clinical research methods and patient care. Health Data Management (11/5)

Statistical Programmer - Health Policy Research Palo Alto Medical Center Palo Alto, CA HIM Director - Health Information Management - RHIA - RHIT CyberCoders Healthcare US-CA-Fresno Health Information Manager- Healthcare, Hospital, Operations CyberCoders US-CA-Visalia Health Information Technology Project Manager Hawaii Primary Care Association US-HI-Honolulu Manager Health Information Mgt Albert Einstein Healthcare Network US-PA-Philadelphia Health Information Management Director Healthcare Resource Group US-CA-Los Angeles Health Information Coder II University of Utah Hospital US-UT-Salt Lake City Project Manager - Health Information Management (HIM) Comsys US-CA-Sacramento Manager of Health Information Systems St Lukes US-ID-Sun Valley Senior Health Information Exchange Architect Harris Corporation US-VA-Falls Church Health Information Technology Instructor - Adjunct ITT Educational Services Inc. US-FL-Orlando

SmartQuote

You wouldn't have won if we'd beaten you." --Yogi Berra, National Baseball Hall of Fame member