Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Health Informatics News

Health Informatics News

Nebraska Completes HIE Pilot

Posted: 07 Jul 2009 08:57 AM PDT

NeHII , the Nebraska Health Information Initiative, has completed a successful pilot of its statewide health information exchange using technology provided by San Jose, Calif.-based Axolotl Corp. Through the initiative, health information systems and ambulatory physician EMRs are joined to create a clinical network, enabling standards-based exchange of data, according to Axolotl. For physicians in the HIE that are not electronic, Axolotl’s Elysium EMR provides the tools needed both for practice and to enable data exchange, it says. Authorized providers can access patient records at the point of care using the Elysium Virtual Health Record. Since March 2005, providers, executives and industry experts from across Nebraska have combined efforts in building the NeHII framework to provide critical data at the point of care, says the company. The project has been led by Bass & Associates , provider of IT staff augmentation and outsource services based in Omaha, Neb. NeHII now securely connects hospitals, labs, physicians, pharmacies, and clinics serving approximately 645,000 patients.  

GE Healthcare, InterComponentWare Partnering on HIE Solutions

Posted: 07 Jul 2009 08:54 AM PDT

United Kingdom-based GE Healthcare , a division of General Electric Company, is linking up with global eHealth specialist InterComponentWare, Inc. (ICW, Germany) to integrate and co-develop their health information exchange   solutions. Through the agreement, GE Healthcare and ICW look to leverage their existing solutions and to create new offerings, say the companies. Using ICW’s expertise in eHealth and patient connectivity, GE Healthcare will enhance Centricity Health Information Exchange service’s existing technology, patient connectivity and communications tools while bolstering their security and interoperability capabilities, they tout.

PHR Project Appoints New Leaders

Posted: 06 Jul 2009 09:44 AM PDT

Princeton, N.J.-based Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has added members to its national advisory committee (NAC) that will lead the next phase of a national program that aims to promote the use of personal health records. In the second phase of the initiative — entitled Project HealthDesign: Rethinking the Power and Potential of Personal Health Records — grantee teams will work closely with patients and providers across care settings to improve disease management by collecting, interpreting and integrating “observations of daily living” (ODLs) into the clinical care process, says the Foundation. The committee is comprised of leaders in academia, technology, clinical practice and health and healthcare. Committee members, who were selected for a three-year term of service, include: Veenu Aulakh, M.S.P.H., Senior Program Officer, Better Chronic Disease Care, California HealthCare Foundation Susannah Fox, Associate Director, Digital Strategy, Pew Internet & American Life Project John D. Halamka, M.D., M.S., CIO, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center J. Daniell Hebert, CEO and Co-Founder, MOTO Development Group Carlos Roberto Jaén, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Chairman, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Deven McGraw, J.D., M.P.H., L.L.M., Director, Health Privacy Project, Center for Democracy & Technology As a part of their responsibilities, members will review submissions received in response to the program’s recent call for proposals, make recommendations on awards selections and provide RWJF with advice on overall program strategy, it says. Launched in 2006, Project HealthDesign last fall presented a series of novel applications that could work in tandem with PHRs to help patients better manage their health. Nine multidisciplinary teams, supported through the program’s first round of funding, engaged in a user-centered design process to create a broad range of innovative IT tools that addressed specific but complex disease self-management tasks. The program, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Pioneer Portfolio and led by a national program office based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, recently received proposals from 145 teams from across the U.S. The committee will spend the next several weeks evaluating these brief proposals, inviting up to 25 teams to prepare full proposals. The program will announce the final list of grantees by December 1, 2009. For more information about Project HealthDesign, including the program’s new national advisory committee, visit www.projecthealthdesign.org . 

HIMSS Announces New Board Members and Officers

Posted: 06 Jul 2009 09:35 AM PDT

The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (Chicago) has named four new officers and four new members of the HIMSS Board of Directors, who took office on July 1.   Barry P. Chaiken, M.D., M.P.H., FHIMSS, assumed the one-year term as chair of the board, replacing Chuck Christian, CIO and director of information systems at Good Samaritan Hospital (Vincennes, Ind.). Liz Johnson, R.N., M.S., CPHIMS, FHIMSS, started her second term as vice chair. Chaiken serves as chief medical officer at DocsNetwork Ltd., a company he founded. In his new position, Chaiken hopes to examine payers’ involvement in advancing the use of IT and management systems to improve patient care. He also says he wants to explore how life science professionals can participate in leading healthcare transformation through health IT. Johnson is vice president of applied clinical informatics for Tenet Healthcare Corp. Her responsibilities include establishing the strategic vision and operations plan for provision of clinical systems used throughout the 52-hospital provider organization. Beginning their three-year terms, the Society’s four new board members include: R. Scott Holbrook, M.S., FHIMSS, executive vice president, Medicity; Willa Fields, DNSc, R.N., FHIMSS, associate professor, San Diego State University; Jenifer Jarriel, MBA, vice president of IT and CIO, Baylor College of Medicine; and Miriam Paramore, FHIMSS, senior vice president, corporate strategy and public relations, Emdeon. The following individuals began their two-year term on the Nominating Committee: Drexel Deford, FHIMSS, senior vice president and CIO, Seattle Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center; Mark Jacobs, MHA, CPHIMS, FHIMSS, director, technology services, WellSpan Health; and Robin Raiford, RN-BC, CPHIMS, FHIMSS, director, government initiatives, Eclipsys Corp. The two new Advisory Board Members are Kevin Hayden, senior vice president and president, state sponsored business, WellPoint Inc.; and Deb Bremer, vice president of oncology business technology, Pfizer Inc.

Hyland Acquires Valco Data Systems

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:29 AM PDT

Cleveland-based Hyland Software says it has purchased privately held Valco Data Systems (Salem, N.H.), a provider of document management, document imaging, and health information management integration solutions focused on the healthcare market. Founded in 1994, Valco is a full-service company providing software, integration, consulting, support, and training services to more than 300 hospitals, regional health information organizations and integrated delivery networks across North America. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

KLAS: Physician Practices Reevaluating Clearinghouse Services

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:23 AM PDT

Findings from a new report from Orem, Utah-based KLAS indicate that as the economy puts greater focus on the revenue cycle process, many physician practices are re-evaluating their clearinghouse partners and nearly a third of practices are not committed to their clearinghouse. The report finds that newer, smaller vendors are taking business away from traditional giants. It also highlights an increasingly crowded market in which cost-conscious and service-challenged providers are laying aside traditional vendor loyalties in favor of new solutions, leaving many vendors scrambling to differentiate themselves. According to KLAS, Emdeon and Navicure clients both average 89 percent of claims receiving payment on first submission. However, Emdeon’s indirect clearinghouse service received the lowest overall client satisfaction score while Navicure was near the top in overall performance, despite the fact that both had the same first time claims submission payment efficiency. Navicure’s high performance rating was largely attributed to the fact that the company provides constant client interaction and takes care of customer issues in an efficient, consistent manner, it says. To purchase the full report, healthcare providers and vendors can visit www.KLASresearch.com .

CHIME Members Urge Caution on CPOE

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:21 AM PDT

According to a survey administered by Ann Arbor, Mich.-based College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) to its members, adoption of CPOE appears to be more widespread than previously thought, although full use of the systems for order entry by clinicians may take longer than many expect. Respondents of the survey include 335 CHIME members, 199 of which reported their organizations currently have CPOE “at some level of adoption.” When asked how long they believed it would take from implementation to achieve 100 percent adoption, 26.6 percent of respondents estimated it would take two years, 34.5 percent estimated it would take three years, 17.1 percent estimated it would take four years, and 13.3 percent predicted it would take five years. Only 8.5 percent of respondents said they believed it could be achieved in one year. Other survey findings show the use of CPOE by clinicians is relatively low. Of systems with CPOE in place, 44.7 percent reported that physicians entered 20 percent or fewer orders on CPOE systems. Of 175 respondents with less than 100 percent adoption by physicians, 113 predict usage will increase by only 20 percentage points over the next year from the current level at their organization. Of the organizations with CPOE in place, 21.6 percent say they expect to achieve 90 percent order entry in the next 12 months. A complete summary of the findings may be found at CHIME’s Web site .

UMass Memorial, Bethesda Tap Siemens HIS

Posted: 01 Jul 2009 09:31 AM PDT

UMass Memorial Health Care (Worcester, Mass.) and Bethesda Healthcare System (Boynton Beach, Fla.) have inked multi-year contracts for Malvarn, Pa.-based Siemens Healthcare ’s Soarian information system. The 1,111-bed UMass Memorial system is rolling out Soarian Clinicals, with the new Plan of Care functionality, Soarian Financials, and Soarian Quality Measures, a data-mining tool. Through the seven-year agreement, UMass Memorial looks to consolidate its revenue-cycle system, enhance patient-safety initiatives, and achieve quality improvement objectives, according to the company. UMass Memorial is a clinical partner of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and includes UMass Memorial Medical Center as well as four community hospitals: Clinton Hospital, HealthAlliance Hospital, Marlborough Hospital and Wing Memorial Hospital. Bethesda extended its long-term relationship with Siemens Healthcare through a new contract that includes migration to Soarian Clinicals, Soarian Critical Care, Soarian Emergency Department, Patient Identification Check, and Soarian Quality Measures. The 401-bed, not-for-profit has served the South Florida area since 1959.    

Sectra signs multi-year PACS agreement with leading US provider

Posted: 29 Jun 2009 02:02 AM PDT

Swedish IT and medical-technology company Sectra has been selected by Wooster Community Hospital of Wooster, Ohio, as its PACS provider. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Philips releases new portable ultrasound system

Posted: 25 Jun 2009 11:39 PM PDT

A range of clinical procedures can benefit from Philips' new portable, compact ultrasound system touted as a solution to reduce failed bedside exams caused by low image quality. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Self-monitoring to boost European diabetes diagnostics market

Posted: 25 Jun 2009 03:20 AM PDT

The European diabetes diagnostics market is poised for expansion with segments such as self-monitoring and point-of-care (POC) tests offering tremendous growth potential. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

iSoft signs fifth Lorenzo site in Germany

Posted: 25 Jun 2009 01:22 AM PDT

Health information technology company iSoft has announced that Klinikum Saarbrücken will become the fifth early adopter site in Germany for its Lorenzo next-generation solution, as part of a €1.08million deal for a hospital information system. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

British Breast Screening Service chooses Sectra MicroDose

Posted: 23 Jun 2009 06:39 AM PDT

Warwickshire, Solihull and Coventry Breast Screening Service (WSCBSS), which installed its first Sectra MicroDose system in 2005, has now invested in another two systems. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Doctors report on telehealth success in enhancing patient quality of life

Posted: 22 Jun 2009 03:04 AM PDT

Telehealth is enhancing the quality of life for patients and offers a cost-effective model of care for the management of long-term conditions, according to a panel of leading UK healthcare and local government professionals. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Digital mammography energizing European markets for display monitors

Posted: 22 Jun 2009 12:47 AM PDT

Diagnostic display monitors have experienced slow growth since 2007 due to picture archiving and communication system installations across radiology departments of European hospitals having reached saturation. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

IMS contracts Barco for new clinical display

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 11:48 PM PDT

IMS, a breast imaging systems provider based in Bologna, Italy, has contracted Barco for new clinical review displays. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Western Australia Health implements patient management

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 11:45 PM PDT

The Western Australian Department of Health has entered into a contract to deploy a state-wide patient management system. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Annecy Smart Terminal installation one of largest in France

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 06:58 AM PDT

The Centre Hospitalier de la Region d'Annecy (CHRA) has installed over 600 Smart Terminals - integrating voice, data, and imaging - and believed to be the largest deployment of its kind in France, a press release said. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Sectra releases Sectra PACS 12.1

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 01:59 AM PDT

Swedish IT and medical technology company Sectra has launched Sectra PACS release 12.1 with RapidConnect technology. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Philips unveils nuclear medicine and radiation oncology innovations

Posted: 16 Jun 2009 12:32 AM PDT

Royal Philips Electronics has introduced its new BrightView X, a scalable SPECT camera that can be easily upgraded with CT when physicians are ready for the full capabilities of BrightView XCT. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Pioneer of World Wide Web to advise UK Government on data use

Posted: 15 Jun 2009 02:10 AM PDT

The man credited with inventing the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, will advise the UK Government on the delivery of public information, such as healthcare-related data. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

European docs improve workflow with multimodal mammography workstation

Posted: 11 Jun 2009 03:04 AM PDT

The frustrations of proprietary workstations have led many European doctors to adopt multi-modality, vendor-neutral solutions. This need for efficient workflow is driving sales for Carestream's Mammography Workstation, which enables diagnostic review of all breast imaging exams (FFDM, ultrasound, MR, CR and others) as well as all general radiology exams. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Royal Free Hospital digitizes radiology reporting

Posted: 11 Jun 2009 12:50 AM PDT

London's Royal Free Hospital has gone live with Nuance Communications' speech recognition technology, SpeechMagic. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Agfa's IMPAX 6.4 introduces volumetric management features

Posted: 10 Jun 2009 01:42 AM PDT

Agfa HealthCare has released the latest version in the IMPAX PACS product line, IMPAX 6.4. Agfa said IMPAX 6.4 delivered new features and tools to aid users in managing complex multi-series studies that were the rule rather than the exception in today's imaging technology. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Patients have 'mixed views' on electronic health records

Posted: 09 Jun 2009 12:29 AM PDT

Two-thirds of patients are happy for their medical records to be stored electronically, but many patients still have concerns about security and confidentiality, according to a snapshot survey carried out in a UK community mental health setting. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Siemens Mammomat Inspiration wins design awards

Posted: 07 Jun 2009 11:44 PM PDT

Mammomat Inspiration, the digital mammography platform designed by Siemens and Designaffairs, has received the iF Product Design Award 2009 and the red dot award: product design 2009. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Toshiba expands PACS offerings with advanced visualization release

Posted: 05 Jun 2009 01:24 AM PDT

Toshiba Medical Visualization Systems, a group company of Toshiba Corporation, has expanded its Voxar 3D product line with two advanced PACS visualization solutions: Voxar 3D 6.3.2 Workstation and Voxar 3D 6.3.2 ActiveX. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

iSOFT launches new diagnostic imaging PACS solution

Posted: 05 Jun 2009 12:10 AM PDT

Health information technology company iSOFT Group has introduced its new iSOFT PACS (picture archiving and communications system), enhancing its global portfolio of IT products designed to create a seamless electronic health record. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Researchers to develop health IT-equipped clothing for elderly

Posted: 03 Jun 2009 11:17 PM PDT

Researchers at the University of Ulster are embarking on a ground-breaking research project to develop hi-tech clothing which could improve older people's quality of life. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Sweden launches national electronic health record

Posted: 03 Jun 2009 07:23 AM PDT

The first stage of the Swedish National Patient Summary project was successfully deployed last month, according to the project's partnering IT vendors, InterSystems and Tieto. It's the first national EHR for Sweden, and is billed as one of the first of its kind in the world. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

User-friendly healthcare IT demand increases across Europe

Posted: 03 Jun 2009 02:02 AM PDT

Demand for more user-friendly healthcare IT professional services has been increasing across Europe, according to a new Frost & Sullivan study. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

IGEL thin client technology in use at Smart Healthcare Live

Posted: 02 Jun 2009 02:26 AM PDT

Fast and secure access to patient files on the move is just one of the benefits IGEL Technology is demonstrating using thin clients at Smart Healthcare Live in London. (Source: Healthcare IT News)
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