Electronic health record (EHR) management

How one medical center overcame legacy EHR systems

Parkview Medical Center needed to free data held hostage in legacy systems. Here's how the institution succeeded and how other healthcare organizations can follow. Continue Reading

HIPAA compliance checklist: The key to staying compliant in 2020

Putting together a HIPAA compliance program can be fraught with difficulty. Review best practices and a HIPAA compliance checklist to avoid common pitfalls and pass an audit. Continue Reading

AI usage in healthcare upgrades imaging, analytics, automation

Computer vision, deep learning and automation are making greater inroads into radiology, robot-assisted surgeries, virtual nursing assistants and fraud detection. Continue Reading

Meditech EHR moves to public cloud, points to industry trend

When EHR vendor Meditech partnered with Google Cloud Platform, it joined Cerner in a push toward the public cloud. The trend presents new opportunities and new challenges for healthcare CIOs. Continue Reading

Top 5 reasons to do an EMR replacement

Switching EMR systems is no picnic. But what if your provider gets acquired, or your small practice starts to grow beyond the EMR's functionality? Continue Reading

CIO talks lessons learned from Meditech Expanse upgrade

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center community hospitals CIO Jeannette Currie goes deep on challenges and lessons learned from a major EHR upgrade. Continue Reading

Cerner layoffs underscore company's move to reduce costs

Cerner laid off 255 employees as it seeks to reduce operating costs. One analyst said it's further evidence that the Meaningful Use boom years are gone. Continue Reading

Proposed interoperability in healthcare rules called 'essential first step'

Proposed rules are a good first step toward interoperability in healthcare, but don't go far enough, according to healthcare leaders. Continue Reading

Datadog Log Management is now HIPAA-compliant

Datadog has achieved HIPAA compliance for its SaaS platform Log Management, so it can now better reach more customers in healthcare industries. Continue Reading

Senator to ONC, CMS: Take interoperability in healthcare slow

In a hearing, chairman of the Senate HELP Committee cautioned ONC and CMS officials to go slow if they want to get interoperability in healthcare done right. Continue Reading

Patient engagement strategies get consumerization booster shot

Healthcare organizations are being tasked with developing effective methods to keep their patients engaged, with nudges from government agencies that anything less won't be tolerated. Continue Reading

Physician burnout eased with homegrown tech

Kaiser Permanente fights fire with fire by developing digital tools to reduce technology-related physician burnout. Continue Reading

How CIOs can help alleviate EHR issues

EHRs can be more problem than solution for healthcare organizations, but CIOs can help by talking to practitioners and holding vendors accountable. Continue Reading

Hospital taps Parachute Health to cut cord on fax machine

New York City's Hospital for Special Surgery deployed software from Parachute Health Inc. to bring the fax machine directly to its EHR system. Continue Reading

Why the FHIR standard may not get us to interoperability

Too many versions of the FHIR API are floating around, and that could stall healthcare's move to interoperability. Can FHIR's supporters and detractors come together? Continue Reading

Questions about the FHIR standard? We have expert answers

Think you're in the know when it comes to the FHIR API? A hands-on FHIR training session at AMIA 2018 answered some questions you might not have thought to ask. Continue Reading

New ONC health IT draft report aims to improve EHR usability

A new draft report from the ONC acknowledges the challenges with EHRs and provides suggested solutions, including decreased regulation and more stakeholder cooperation. Continue Reading

How to make protecting electronic health records simpler, safer

Want a safer EHR system? Assess the risks, log every single error and then assemble a cross-functional team to investigate. It's a painstaking -- but necessary -- process. Continue Reading

Future of connected healthcare includes chatbots, Medicare changes

Remote patient monitoring and chatbots will be mainstream in healthcare -- eventually. Partners HealthCare's Joseph Kvedar, M.D., offers his view on why it takes so long. Continue Reading

How data duplication in healthcare is diagnosed

Electronic health record systems have helped reduce duplicate patient data in hospitals -- but they haven't cured the problem. Find out how organizations are addressing the issue. Continue Reading

Will AthenaHealth sale alter customer service, consultant wonders

AthenaHealth announces it is set to be purchased for $5.7 billion by two private equity firms. One consultant plans to watch the new company's customer service levels. Continue Reading

Where blockchain in healthcare might actually make a difference

It’s almost too easy to dismiss the idea of blockchain in healthcare. The first major application of blockchain -- Bitcoin – does feel kind of sketchy (all the currency that went “missing”) and the ... Continue Reading

A new breed of interoperable EHR apps is coming, but slowly

Pioneering work with the FHIR API is beginning to pay off in interoperable applications for EHRs. And that could mean sweeping changes in healthcare. Continue Reading

Learn about the leading EHR software products and their features

Read in-depth about leading EHR tools on the market and how their capabilities, pricing and implementation offerings and mobile features can match up with organization needs. Continue Reading

Hospitals battle duplicate medical records with technology

See how IT executives at two healthcare organizations weed out patient identification errors related to duplicate medical records -- a significant problem, according to research. Continue Reading

Hospitals battle duplicate medical records with technology

 Continue Reading

Patient vs. healthcare consumer? Musings on the CVS/Aetna merger

During an interview on the PBS News Hour, CVS CEO Larry Merlo drew an interesting distinction when speaking about the future of healthcare. Fresh from the merger with Aetna, Merlo said people ... Continue Reading

News roundup: 3 new blockchain in healthcare use cases

Three companies see the promise of blockchain in healthcare in this week's news roundup. Here's the latest from Change Healthcare, MTBC and Ambrosus. Continue Reading

Compare EHR systems with these key features in mind

Compare EHR software options and look at the features they offer healthcare organizations for mobile access, certifications, reporting, workflow automation and document management. Continue Reading

AHIMA Convention 2018 highlights EHR innovations

Health information professionals shared visions of more effective EHR systems at the 2018 AHIMA Convention, including how to better identify LGBTQ patients in EHRs. Continue Reading

Considering a cloud-based EHR system? Here's what to know

Implementing an EHR platform in the cloud can offer healthcare organizations lower costs and more accessibility, but they must be aware of connectivity and infrastructure drawbacks. Continue Reading

CoxHealth gains from outsourcing to Cerner ITWorks

Cerner partners with more than 30 organizations to deliver outsourced IT operation management. One of those systems, CoxHealth, got faster, more stable IT management model. Continue Reading

The importance of EHR tools in today's healthcare industry

A strong EHR system can effectively acquire and centralize vital patient information like lab orders, medications, medical history and referrals, if buyers know what they need. Continue Reading

A first person view of today's medical records system. It's not pretty

The cardiologist walked in to the hospital room and handed me an envelope. “My notes and his test results are in there,” he said. “Don’t lose that – it’s gold.” Gold? Sure. But that envelope was ... Continue Reading

Cloud in healthcare rises above privacy, compliance pressures

The cloud hovers over just about everything these days, including hospitals and health systems. Healthcare CIOs fully understand that migration is inevitable, but security of sensitive patient records and maintaining compliance with federal health and privacy regulations can create huge stumbling blocks. That also partly explains why the flight path to the cloud in healthcare has lagged behind many other industries.

In September's Pulse, our editor's letter explores the pain of healthcare organizations and their IT decision-makers who have to balance the need to modernize with the concerns for patient privacy. Along those lines, our cover story examines the brave new world of the cloud in healthcare and focuses on one CIO who maneuvered through the legal gauntlet of HIPAA-mandated vendor-provider business associate agreements. In another feature, learn how establishing healthy working relationships with vendors can help hospitals get past the anxiety of securely storing documents in a cloud architecture.

Also in this issue, exhaustive research reveals acquisitions taking place in healthcare and finds that artificial intelligence applied to medical imaging is attracting a significant amount of investment dollars. In addition, CIOs can lower the pressure to implement cloud in healthcare programs in their hospitals by following five diagnostic and testing steps that can lead to innovative software applications and successful deployments. And in another feature, we look at the widespread opioid epidemic and the role health IT can play in battling the crisis using weapons like analytics and integrating electronic health records with prescription databases.

 Continue Reading

5 steps for creating a healthcare technology innovation plan

Before investing in and implementing a new technology initiative, healthcare CIOs should first diagnose the condition they want to solve. Then they can research possible cures. Continue Reading

In the medical imaging market, AI drives investment dollars

Investors in medical imaging technology leaned toward software that improves AI-related radiology and associated workflows, as evidenced by detailed research. Continue Reading

Opioid crisis solutions include analytics, EHR integration

Health IT stands ready to help battle opioid deaths through greater use of data analytics and improved integration of EHRs and prescription drug databases. Continue Reading

Cloud for healthcare presses on but is slowed by HIPAA anxiety

Facing mounting pressure to take steps toward the healthcare cloud, hospital systems find themselves balancing modern infrastructure trends with HIPAA safeguards. Continue Reading

Why the healthcare BAA makes the cloud journey much tougher

Applying public cloud to healthcare can create a brave new world for hospitals. The CTO of Providence Health & Services strongly advises reading the healthcare BAA very carefully. Continue Reading

An inside look at the potential of blockchain in healthcare

Blockchain could be the solution to fix the tricky problem of healthcare data ownership. Longtime blockchain researcher Adrian Gropper, M.D. explains how it could work. Continue Reading

Use a patient approach with healthcare APIs

With this week’s news that healthcare interoperability is getting a boost from the support of six major tech companies, it’s tempting to think that is where the breakthroughs are going to happen. ... Continue Reading

Tech giants support FHIR standard. Will that make a difference?

Six tech giants have vowed to help healthcare interoperability efforts. It could be encouraging, or no help at all. Experts offer their predictions on the value. Continue Reading

AI lowers hurdles to digital transformation of healthcare

Depending on the organization, the digital transformation of healthcare comes in many stages and flavors. Consensus dictates that artificial intelligence is one of the major reasons for undertaking the painstaking process of transformation from paper-based to digitized forms of healthcare. AI's potential benefits are seen as enormous in helping meet the never-ending quest by hospitals and health systems to provide more efficient and cost-effective patient care.

The July issue of Pulse opens with our editor's letter and great expectations for improved patient engagement that can come with the digital transformation of healthcare. Along those lines, our cover story examines the roadblocks to digital transformation and AI implementation, including slowdowns in government funding, landing the right tech skills and ensuring accurate data -- as seen through the eyes of hospital IT professionals who share their experiences in overcoming these challenges. In another feature, we look at the rewards of going digital and implementing AI -- greater integration of electronic health records, better access to patient data, more accurate diagnostics and stronger population health management.

Also in this issue, infograph statistics show the critical role AI can play in preventing heart attacks and diagnosing early stages of cancer; healthcare APIs take center stage among government health regulators; and AI's great strengths don't necessarily immunize it from clinical fraud, hacks and medical errors.

 Continue Reading

Healthcare APIs weave into common lingo of federal officials

It's hard to imagine that a federal health policy announcement would have ever included the term 'API', but it's on the minds of health regulators. Continue Reading

Healthcare digital transformation maps the new patient journey

The modern patient experience features flavors of consumerism combined with healthcare data. Giving patients greater access to that information is one area in which technology options thrive. Continue Reading

Use of AI in healthcare seen saving lives of patients

Prevention of heart attacks and diagnoses of cancer may one day improve, thanks to AI. Infograph statistics reveal promising findings for AI applications in healthcare. Continue Reading

Healthcare AI struggles with funding and data quality

Finding enough funds and validating data quality can be heavy challenges when it comes to adopting AI technology in healthcare organizations. Hospital IT professionals explain their approaches. Continue Reading

Digital transformation in healthcare boosts patient engagement

As healthcare becomes increasingly digital, patients expect a top-notch experience accessing their medical information as they bid farewell to paper records. Continue Reading

After implementation of electronic health records, design rises

Data presentation and interface design will influence how physicians use EHRs in the future. New tools that integrate better with health records will feed off of analyzed data. Continue Reading

What technology can make medical records retrieval more efficient?

When healthcare providers need to retrieve medical records from an EHR, keeping in mind where the data is stored will affect how quickly and efficiently the records can be accessed. Continue Reading

Researchers use EHR data to predict opioid prescriptions

EHR data can help healthcare providers identify which patients in a hospital were most likely to be prescribed opioids after discharge, according to researchers at the University of Colorado ... Continue Reading

Apple Health app pilot combines engagement and interoperability

The Apple Health app pilot combines flavors of EHR interoperability and patient engagement, according to some hospitals involved in the early stages of the effort. Continue Reading

HIMSS notebook: EHR trends embraced by vendors with AI and CRM

EHR trends were among the news at HIMSS 2018. Cerner and Salesforce are teaming to bring patient data into healthcare CRM. Meanwhile, Epic and Nuance promoted an AI assistant. Continue Reading

New and established healthcare technology companies make big moves

I am floored by how many players made significant moves in recent weeks to become new healthcare technology companies or further anchor their existing position in the industry. Consider these ... Continue Reading

Four healthcare technology trends to watch in 2018

Healthcare organizations should be prepared to see applications for blockchain and more uses for AI in 2018. Analytics provided by EHR vendors will also emerge. Continue Reading

Epic's EHR: Challenges and lessons learned at Mass General

MGH CIO talks about the hospital's recent move to Epic's EHR. The hospital has encountered EHR challenges including moving off homegrown systems and a staggered implementation. Continue Reading

Copy and paste functions in EHRs have worth beyond medical upcoding

Use of the copy and paste functions in EHRs remains controversial, but it may not simply be a tool for medical upcoding. Continue Reading

Implementing, using computerized physician order entry

A CPOE system eliminates the need to place orders for tests and prescriptions on paper. But the learning curve, and the cost, can be high. This guide explains the basics of CPOE. Continue Reading

Medical devices, electronic records remain disconnected

Medical devices should integrate with EHR systems to ensure timely updates to patients' vital signs. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done. Continue Reading

Meaningful use resource for radiologists goes online

A new online resource uses simple widgets to sort out meaningful use eligibility and compliance requirements for radiology practices of all sizes. Continue Reading

Workgroup focuses on quality measures for Stage 2 of meaningful use

Policymakers want help from the health care community in crafting quality measures that will be incorporated into the meaningful use program. Continue Reading

Hospitals on track to meet meaningful use criteria, according to HIMSS

An HIMSS survey found hospitals are able to meet several core Stage 1 meaningful use requirements. Their progress will be monitored by HIMSS on a quarterly basis. Continue Reading

CCHIT launching custom EHR certification program for hospitals

CCHIT's new EHR certification program will let hospitals continue to use home-grown EHR software and still qualify for meaningful use incentives. Continue Reading

U.S. docs can take EHR implementation cues from abroad

Think you've got it tough with your EHR implementation? It's a piece of cake compared to elsewhere. Continue Reading

CIOs chime in about health IT workforce shortage

Staff who can help implement electronic health records and who understand clinical software systems are hard to find, executives say. Continue Reading

Why the switch to ICD-10 will be worth it

Many have deemed the ICD-10 conversion costly, expensive and disruptive. But the mandate is not without its benefits, including more precise payments. Continue Reading

Health information exchange progress hard to measure

Vendors struggle as much as government entities when it comes to health information exchange, KLAS says. See which vendors have put forth the most effort. Continue Reading

Health IT sending older physicians over the retirement cliff?

More confirmation from the field that some physicians might say "no deal" to ONC and close down their practices instead of going paperless. Continue Reading

Mitigating cost, management of health IT intellectual property

To avoid intellectual property headaches, the HITSC explores national licensing options for standards that are incorporated in EHRs. Continue Reading

Motorola unveils its first health care EDA

The wireless device maker's enterprise digital assistant for health care represents its next-generation attempt to help nurses ditch pagers, phones and scanners. Continue Reading

Veterans Affairs opens new pilot site for VLER initiative

The Department of Veterans Affairs hopes to demonstrate the value of health IT through a partnership with a Beacon Community designee to further develop its virtual lifetime electronic record. Continue Reading

Grants will help rural health care implement IT

HHS is giving more than 40 RECs grant money to implement EHRs in rural health care facilities. It's a good initiative, but it can't be the only one. Continue Reading

ONC doles out first EHR certification powers

ONC gives Drummond Group and CCHIT first crack at EHR certification for meaningful use incentive payments to health care providers. Continue Reading

Only 2% of hospitals are ready for meaningful use

Researchers have found that only 2% of hospitals can achieve meaningful use with the EHR system they have. More must be done to expedite the transition. Continue Reading