A new KLAS report reveals that physicians who are choosing an EMR system within the next two years are considering a larger pool of software vendors. That’s made possible because the market has grown so much. Read »

As EMRs gain greater adoption, multiple types of fraud resulting from exposure of health data has skyrocketed, according to a report by market research company Javelin Strategy & Research. Read »

The Commonwealth Fund released a report on the usage of EMRs in Denmark. All primary care physicians (PCPs) use EMRs and 98 percent can manage their patients electronically. Usage went from 15 percent in the early 1990s to more than 90 percent by 2000. The keys to success are a coherent national policy, financial incentives to adopt health IT and technical support for providers, according to the report. Read »

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. Read »

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. Read »

British Columbia's auditor general released a blistering report on the province’s planned $222 million EHR system. A lack of planning from the start is blamed for a lack of results four years into the program. Interestingly, John Doyle, auditor general, criticized the province for focusing on securing federal funds over creating a solid roadmap. Can you say "cautionary tale" for states that have been notified of ARRA funding? Read »

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. Read »

The Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services announced on Friday nearly $1 billion in grants to states for health IT training, regional extension centers and health information exchange. Read »