Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Health Informatics News

Health Informatics News

GE Launches Program to Advance EMR Adoption

Posted: 16 Jun 2009 09:45 AM PDT

As part of its $6 billion healthymagination initiative to improve the access, affordability and quality of healthcare, GE introduced Stimulus Simplicity, a program designed to facilitate EMR adoption, it says. A joint offering of GE Healthcare and GE Capital, the company says its program contains two elements: a commitment to ensure the EMRs are certified, as well as an interest-free loan with deferred payments. GE says its Stimulus Simplicity program is designed to help physician offices and hospitals that invest in the company’s EMR solutions to achieve the full potential. GE’s financial services business, GE Capital, will provide the financing, with GE Healthcare providing its EMR product certification warranty. The Hazard Clinic , a facility located in the Appalachian region of Eastern Kentucky, is among the first to qualify for the interest-free opportunity and will use the loan to purchase the Centricity EMR solution, says GE. GE Capital says it expects to make approximately $100 million available for the program.

Blake to Succeed Pure at McKesson

Posted: 16 Jun 2009 06:13 AM PDT

Patrick “Pat” Blake has been promoted to executive vice president and group president, McKesson Technology Solutions, with responsibility for all of the businesses within McKesson Technology Solutions, including Provider Technologies, Health Solutions, RelayHealth and the International Operations Group.   Most recently, Blake served as president of McKesson Specialty Care Solutions, a business unit that delivers services to manufacturers and providers “to ensure specialty pharmaceutical products, coordinated reimbursement and clinical services are available to patients with complex diseases.” In this role, he led the acquisition and integration of Oncology Therapeutics Network, which included the Lynx technology platform. Blake joined McKesson in 1996 as senior vice president for McKesson Health Systems. Blake will report to John Hammergren, chairman and CEO.

KLAS Releases Medical Equipment Ranking

Posted: 15 Jun 2009 11:50 AM PDT

Healthcare research firm KLAS released its annual rankings of the best-performing medical equipment vendors. And according to the Orem, Utah-based group, top-ranked companies in seven key market categories — including computed tomography (CT), digital mammography, smart pumps and ultrasound — have earned the 2009 Best in KLAS distinction, signifying their leadership in meeting customer expectations. Based on evaluations submitted by thousands of healthcare providers throughout the United States and Canada, the rankings measure a vendor’s performance in areas such as product quality, implementation, and service and support. A Best in KLAS award is reserved for the top-rated companies in a select group of the largest and most impactful market segments, the group says. Following is a list of the 2009 Best in KLAS medical equipment vendor products: Computed Radiography (CR) – Multi-Plate: Konica Minolta Xpress Dual Bay Computed Tomography (CT) – 64-slice+: Toshiba Aquilion 64 Digital X-ray: Shimadzu RADspeed Magnetic Resonance (MR) – 1.5T: Toshiba Vantage Mammography – Digital: GE Senographe DS Smart Pumps: B. Braun Outlook (LVP) Ultrasound: Toshiba Xario

Doctors debate health overhaul

Posted:

6/16/2009 © Fort Myers News-Press
Lee County physicians applaud President Obama's push for an overhaul of health care, but want protection from malpractice suits to help them rein in excessive tests and treatments.  On the other coast, as Florida Today reports, doctors debate the idea of a public plan.

Mental: Fox's new show 'revolting'

Posted:

 5/26/2009 © Miami Herald
Chris Vance stars in Mental, tonight's new drama on Fox about doctors at a psychiatric hospital. A Herald critic calls it "revolting," and suggests instead the documentary New World Order, which gives conspiracy theorists the opportunity to talk about their beliefs.

Ban-OxyContin petition launched

Posted:

By Carol Gentry
5/22/2009 © Health News Florida 
An  online petition to ban the painkiller OxyContin, posted two weeks ago in Tampa, has attracted more than 2,000 signatures and is headed for a national audience at an FDA meeting next week. Doctors who treat pain patients view the petition as "very dangerous."

More join fray over doctor pay

Posted:

5/22/2009 © Tampa Tribune
Several consumer groups in Florida have called on Gov. Charlie Crist to veto SB 1122, which lets doctors get paid without joining insurance networks. But Sandy Leon, who's on the board of one of the groups, disagrees; so does St. Petersburg Times columnist Howard Troxler.

Nurse-midwives deliver

Posted:

5/20/2009 © Orlando Sentinel
It's still early days, but the Orange County Health Department's project of matching nurse-midwives with patients is paying off with a C-section rate of less than 10 percent.

Judge tosses out MRSA suit

Posted:

5/21/2009 Palm Beach Post
A circuit judge has thrown out the first of several lawsuits filed by former patients of Martin Memorial Hospital who claim they contracted a dangerous staph infection while being treated there.

Little things influence doctors, UM finds

Posted:

5/18/2009 New York Times
Doctors like to think they're impervious to drug-company influence. But a University of Miami study found that even little things, like cups and pens, have an insidious pull.

Health costs for Miami family: $20K

Posted:

 5/19/2009 © Miami Herald
Private healthcare costs in Miami are the highest of 14 major U.S. cities in a consulting firm's report. A family of four with a PPO averaged $20,282 in health costs last year, almost 21 percent above average.
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