Even as many providers work toward initial implementation of an EHR into their practices, other healthcare stakeholders have begun to dedicate their efforts to incorporating new health IT into emerging systems such as Accountable Care Organizations and Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH). Read »

As part of ONC’s Beacon Communities program, several San Diego healthcare providers are getting set to launch a health information exchange (HIE) that will link area hospitals, clinics, ambulances, and other health care facilities electronically. Read »

The 62 regional extension centers (RECs) provided feedback that enabled the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT to announce the rollout of five new initiatives aimed at driving greater EHR adoption. They're great ideas, but shouldn't they have been in place when the RECs were first announced? In other words, shouldn't ONC have anticipated these needs? Read »

Last week, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) announced the six winners in four categories for its 2010 Davies Awards of Excellence. The winners are being recognized for their innovative use of EHRs to improve care. Read »

If you've got a lot of money and your reputation on the line in an effort to create a huge paradigm shift in how we as an industry deliver healthcare, you need to create an infrastructure and make available the resources to support this tsunami of social and technological change. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has carefully architected such an infrastructure. Read »

I don't normally blog on Fridays, but after speaking with Dr. David Blumenthal, head of ONC, yesterday after the announcement of the final two Beacon communities, I didn't want to wait to post until Tuesday. Read »

A recent report shows that despite the big push for health IT adoption, only 2 percent of hospitals in the U.S. can meet the federal government's criteria for meaningful use of EHRs. Are you surprised? Read »

Many hospitals and physician offices are beginning to embark on the journey to implement and derive meaningful use out of EHRs. The Beacon communities will demonstrate how health IT can improve clinical outcomes, drive efficiencies and increase patient safety. Early adopters of EMRs and EHRs will also serve as role models in terms of where to find value and ROI. There has to be a business case for any IT investment, and finding multiple business cases for EHRs will only increase adoption. Read »

It’s never too early to start work on the 2013 quality measures, which is exactly what the federal health IT panel is doing. Read »

This is the third installment of the interview conducted with Heather Haugen and Jeffrey Woodside, MD, whose book, Beyond Implementation: A Prescription for Lasting EMR Adoption, was published in May. Read »