Healthcare IT News - October 2008 - (Page 3)

www.HealthcareITNews.com industry news October 2008 ■ Healthcare IT News industry news ‘hot’ topics on tap for ahIMa Healthcare IT News posts original news stories on its Web site daily. Here are recent top stories, as selected by Healthcare IT News editors. Seattle event to deal with industrywide issues. By BerNIe MoNegaIN, eDITor seattle Canadian provinCe launChes $6M it projeCt Manitoba, a western province of Canada, has launched a $6 million pilot project that will use information technology to connect chronic care patients with primary healthcare providers after hours. The project, called CareLink, will enable after hours calls to be automatically routed to participating primary-care clinics through the Health Links-Info Santé provincial call centre, which provides Manitobans with access to registered nurses 24/7. Date: 9/19/08 healthCare it expeCted to grow in sluMping Market As the global IT market contracts during worsening economic times, the healthcare IT sector is forecast to grow, according to research firm Datamonitor. Technology vendors are up against a struggle as IT budgets are expected to shrink in 2009, researchers say in “Technology Trends: Analyzing Global Enterprise IT Budgets 2008,” a Datamonitor report released Sept. 18. Most enterprises globally are planning to cut back increases in IT expenditures, according to Datamonitor. The exception is the healthcare sector, which is planning a significant number of increases in IT spending in 2009. Date: 9/18/08 – Medical Identity Theft, ICD-10 and Personal Health Records are among the ‘hot’ topics on tap for the American Health Information Management Association 2008 Convention and Exhibit, which opens here Oct. 11 at the Washington State Convention Center. AHIMA has scheduled a news conference on ICD-10 on Oct. 13 (room 319 at the convention center). The organization will present a brief position statement on ICD-10 before answering questions. American Health Information Management Association CEO Linda Kloss has already said ICD-10 will better allow for the measurement of quality patient care and the international exchange of information on public health, pandemic and research that will help make policy and care decisions. crowds flock to the exhibit hall to see the latest technology during a break in session at the american health Information Management association convention last year in Philadelphia. “The American Health Information Management Association is excited to hear the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to adopt ICD-10 classification upgrades,” she said. aHIMa see page 8 kan-ed awards $2.1M for video ConferenCing Kan-ed, a statewide information network administered by the Kansas Board of Regents, has named 94 organizations as recipients of equipment and technology grants. Kan-ed has so far awarded $2.1 million in grants this year to its members for upgrades or enhancement of video-conference equipment. Kan-ed serves to connect the state’s hospitals, libraries, higher education institutions and K-12 public and private schools with high-speed bandwidth. Date: 9/15/08 nyC health departMent takes on blood pressure As part of an awareness campaign for hypertension, the New York City Health Department has donated blood pressure monitors to pharmacies in areas where there are high rates of hypertension. The NYC Health Department purchased LC300 blood pressure monitors, which automate blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, from Burtonsville, Md.-based Lifeclinic International. The monitors will be distributed to pharmacies in east and central Harlem, the south Bronx and north and central Brooklyn. Date: 9/17/08 More at HealthcareITNews.com e Connect: WeBBrIeFS 1008 needs to continue to drive the news: Survey healthcare IT adoption and – The nation’s ➔ shows 18 new HIEs interoperability. Healthcare healthcare IT chief, Robert M. started this year. IT needs to be combined with Kolodner, MD, says a new report what it Means: other aspects of reform, such released by eHealth Initiative ➔ Exchange members as those promoted by the HHS shows tangible evidence of healthreport boost in care, value-driven healthcare initiacare IT progress. reduced costs. tive, he said. Kolodner and other leaders at Janet Marchibroda, CEO of a briefing last month commented on eHI’s “Fifth Annual Survey of Health the eHealth Initiative, said this year’s survey Information Exchange at the State and Local shows a 30 percent increase in the number Levels,” a poll of 130 commu- of operational HIEs over last year. “We are making a lot of progress and I’m nity-based initiatives in 48 states, which revealed signif- very excited,” she said. “We’re seeing some icant advances in healthcare real impact and getting some results.” Many HIEs reported improvements in information exchanges. Healthcare IT has “with- care and reduced costs, according to the out question” changed and report. The survey showed 18 new HIEs Janet will continue to change over were started since last year. Marchibroda Yet sustainability remains a challenge, time, Kolodner said. The use of electronic health records by providers has according to Marchibroda. The majority of become more routine, he said, and personal HIEs no longer receiving federal funding are now backed by hospitals, state governments, health records are emerging. Kolodner said the federal government eHI see page 10 By DIaNa MaNos, Senior Editor WashinGtOn eHI report shows growth Promises, in health data exchanges promises By DIaNa MaNos, Senior Editor t CCHIt launches HIe program By DIaNa MaNos, Senior Editor ChiCaGO ● – The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology launched its new Health Information Exchange Certification program on Oct. 1. The launch follows 14 months of development and a successful pilot, CCHIT officials said. The pilot included the Delaware Health Information Network, HealthBridge, Inland Health and Vermont Information Technology Leaders. The commission is accepting applications for the first phase of inspection for 2009 HIE certification. “With health information exchange still being in an early developmental stage, we are offering a modular approach to certification that will accommodate the wide variety of organizations involved,” said Mark Leavitt, MD, the comMark Leavitt, MD mission’s chairman. “First, all organizations will be required to satisfy uniform security criteria. Then, in the months to CCHIT see page 10 presidential campaign trail is blazing hot with at least one healthcare issue in accord between the candidates. Transparency. Both GOP candidate Sen. John McCain (RAriz.) and Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) believe that healthcare consumers should know what they are getting and how much it will cost them. Healthcare IT will be the driver making that transparency possible. According to a September report issued by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation washington (ITIF), a nonpartisan think tank, the 2008 presidential candidates’ general policies are substantially more focused on innovation and technology than past elections. But, ITIF said, if the United States is to maintain its position as the world’s leader, the next president “must support the digital transformation of the economy beyond the federal government.” With 16 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product spent on healthcare, few lawmakers on and off the campaign trail could argue with that. According to ITIF, MaNos see page 12 he Watch http://www.HealthcareITNews.com http://www.HealthcareITNews.com http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=10044

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Healthcare IT News - October 2008 Contents Seattle's Slate Board 2.0 MGMA Newsmaker IT Battles Infection Beyond Adoption Excellence in Maine Carrot and Stick HP Layoffs Mobile Workstations Automating Offices

Healthcare IT News - October 2008

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