Jeff Rowe
Amidst a still-faltering economy, the bright spot has been healthcare IT, thanks to ARRA and its HITECH Act. Just as there is a lot of hope and energy invested in moving the healthcare industry into the 21st century, there are equal parts of anxiety and pessimism that billions of dollars will be spent without transforming the industry in the form of increased quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery, and reduction of medical errors and cost.
As the deadline for submitting public comment for the meaningful use criteria draws near, it seems as if there has been an uptick in concern and criticism being voiced regarding the federal government’s legislative efforts to drive healthcare IT adoption.
The Consumer Partnership for e-Health released consumer and employer responses to criticism about various aspects of the meaningful use criteria for EHR adoption. At first blush, it was surprising to see general support for the criteria. Then again, this nonpartisan group comprising consumer, patient, and labor organizations whose mission is to improve healthcare quality and achieving a patient-centered healthcare system through IT and knowledge sharing, represents some pretty knowledgeable parties. In other words, their responses aren't from the general public who are given sound bytes on healthcare reform and transformation.
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) has launched CIO State Network (StateNet), an online communication and resource network for healthcare chief information officers to keep abreast of state matters related to the HITECH Act and other state health IT activity. It’s a great idea and a strategic move for CHIME.
Given the number of reports, studies, and analyses that are produced by or for the federal government each year, it’s easy to wonder how much of the time and resources spent assessing policies and programs actually yield tangible results.
As discussion continues concerning the recently proposed Meaningful Use standards for HIT, it appears increasingly likely that federal policymakers will allow providers more flexibility when it comes to qualifying for incentives.
When the Department of Health & Human Services rolled out its Beacon Community Program, it spoke in terms of supporting those healthcare communities that were leading the way in the move to implement new health IT.
The Departments of Health and Human Service and Labor announced last Friday nearly $1 billion in grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for healthcare IT training, regional extension centers (RECs) and health information exchange.
A survey conducted by market research firm division GfK Roper reveals that EHR usage is growing in the primary care physician and specialist groups. Of the 1,000 adults polled, 48.4 percent reported that their PCP or specialist documented their last visit electronically in the exam room. Within this group, 45.2 percent noted that their physician switched from paper to electronic in the last two years, while 14.3 percent indicated that the switch was done in the last six months. Is this trend – if it is a trend – a result of ARRA?
Is third time the charm for New Hampshire? Lawmakers in New Hampshire have been trying to pass legislation that gives patients control over who sees their medical records. Under HB 1649, patients can request an audit of who has accessed their electronic medical records.