Top Story

• Blumenthal discusses HITECH Act, HIE grants
  A key aspect of the HITECH Act is for information to follow the patient, and "artificial obstacles -- technical, business related, bureaucratic -- should not get in the way," said David Blumenthal, national health IT coordinator. Blumenthal said his office this winter will start awarding $564 million in grants to help states establish health information exchanges. Government Health IT (11/12)

Hospitals

• Hospitals phase in standard point-of-care hardware
  Selecting standard point-of-care hardware devices for use by doctors and nurses can be a challenge because of constantly evolving and changing technology. One Arkansas hospital, Baptist Health, is adopting a thin client strategy in which servers house applications, and users access them through devices such as low-cost PCs. Health Data Management (11/11)

• University hospital to roll out Lawson Software's IT solutions
  The University of Colorado Hospital will be deploying new solutions from Lawson Software to move the hospital's processes and information into a single enterprise system in an effort to better manage business challenges in the areas of human resources, procurement and financial management. Healthcare IT News (11/12)

Providers

• Elsevier introduces clinical content service for doctors
  MD Consult Mobile from Elsevier gives doctors access to resources such as practice guidelines and evidenced-based clinical information straight from their smart phones and other mobile devices. Healthcare Informatics online (11/12)

Technology Trends

• TELUS to roll out HIE platform for S.C. emergency departments
  TELUS Health Solutions is deploying its Oacis HIE platform to connect the emergency departments of 12 hospitals in Charleston, S.C. The system will enable doctors to access information from other facilities that have treated their patients. Health Data Management (11/11)

• Intel unit launches digital reader for dyslexic people
  Intel's Digital Health Group has unveiled its Intel Reader, a hand-held device designed to help individuals with dyslexia as well as other learning disabilities by converting print data into digital form and reading it out loud. Health Data Management (11/11)

• Other News

• Engineer adapts cell phones to diagnose diseases
  The New York Times (11/7)

Featured Content

Events Calendar

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

11/16

Health Care Reform at AHIP's Fall Forum America's Health Insurance Plans, Nov. 16 to 18, Chicago

1/25	eHealth Initiative's Annual Conference 2010: Delivering on the Promise of eHealth eHealth Initiative, Jan. 25 and 26, Washington, D.C.

2/3	ACI'S Best Practices in Electronic Health Records Active Communications International, Feb. 3 to 5, Boston

Click here to view the complete calendar of events

Regulatory/Legislative

• HHS allots ARRA funds to help reduce hospital-acquired infections
  HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has allocated up to $9 million to help combat health care-acquired infections in ambulatory surgical centers through information technology. The funds, which are provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will be used for surveying 1,300 ASCs across the country using an infection control device developed by the CMS and CDC. Healthcare IT News (11/11)

• CMS to boost interoperability via NHIN, Medicaid platform
  The CMS is looking to improve information exchange among its programs through the nationwide health information network and its Medicaid Information Technology Architecture. The agency is working to create a Connect software version that integrates MITA to enable Medicaid agencies to share data with other state and federal programs. Government Health IT (11/12)

EHR Spotlight

• Experts offer advice on dealing with EHR downtime
  Hospitals should "be prepared" and "[take] all of the necessary steps in advance" to avoid the adverse effects of an unscheduled electronic health record system downtime, said Sandra Dalton, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Fletcher Allen Health Care. Other experts suggest setting up a response plan that involves the creation of an EHR downtime policy, staff training and effective communication, among other strategies. For the Record (11/9)

Statistical Programmer - Health Policy Research Palo Alto Medical Center Palo Alto, CA College Faculty Health Information Technology NATIONAL COLLEGE Stow, OH Director of Health Information Management Wilmington Group Martinsville, VA Manager of Health Information Systems St Lukes Sun Valley, ID Manager Health Information Mgt Albert Einstein Healthcare Network Philadelphia, PA Health Information Management Director Healthcare Resource Group Los Angeles, CA Director Health Information Management Walling June and Associates Leonardtown, MD Health Information Management Consultant - HIM J.A. Thomas & Associates San Diego, CA Senior Health Information Exchange Architect Harris Corporation Falls Church, VA Health Information Technician Caban Resources, LLC San Jose, CA

SmartQuote

Defining and analyzing humor is a pastime of humorless people." --Robert Benchley, American humorist