Patty Enrado

The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center will analyze data submitted by Quality Health Network to see if health information exchange positively impacts the use of healthcare services.

With the health IT programs under the stimulus bill hitting the ground running - the regional extension centers, statewide health information exchanges, workforce training and Beacon Communities - Dr. David Blumenthal, head of ONC, aptly said, "It's just the beginning of the beginning." Indeed.

CareSpark, a nonprofit regional health information organization (RHIO) serving Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, is proving the value of health information exchanges through several projects that rely on its provider registry.

Cincinnati and Detroit are the two final pilot communities selected under the new Beacon Community Program that is using health information technology to help tackle leading health problems in communities across the country. Between them they will receive $30 million in government money to help in their work.

With states either submitting or receiving approval from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT of their strategic and operational plans for statewide HIEs, the HIE market is booming for vendors.

One of the lesser discussed factors determining whether to adopt EHRs or not is the number of years that a physician who owns his or her practice has left before retirement.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida launched its new mobile web site less than four weeks ago, but early tracking reveals “encouraging” usage for both members and nonmembers.

All the attention of late has been on the final rule for meaningful use of EHRs, but the health IT training made possible by funding under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has a far-reaching impact beyond the healthcare industry.

As we head into the next stage of EHR adoption, now that the meaningful use criteria have been finalized, it's time for health IT advocates to start rallying their physician colleagues to get serious about implementing and deriving value from EHRs.

Payer launches mobile site after its research shows fully one-third of its members use mobile apps on a regular basis.