Each week Emily Eckland will look into government health IT and how it is being transformed. The report will cover some of the best practices and the latest technologies that are developing the manner in which health care is being managed and delivered.
Survey: Doctors Reluctant to Adopt EHRs
Many doctors still don't know about health IT stimulus money and are reluctant to adopt the technology in their offices. A health IT and consulting firm surveyed more than 1,000 doctors and found that more than half of them had little or no knowledge about American Recovery and Reinvestment funds. Even though doctors said they liked the idea of financial incentives associated with electronic health records, they're still worried about the initial costs and whether it will disrupt their workflow.
Remotely Diagnosing Heart Problems
11-04-09Doctors in Nebraska recently completed a first-of-its-kind diagnosis using health IT. A newborn was diagnosed with a potential heart problem after doctors remotely performed an echocardiogram on the baby in real-time. The procedure took place at a hospital and the data was transferred 115 miles away to a pediatric cardiologist. Doctors diagnosed the baby using a mobile camera connected to an ultrasound and then streamed the footage through wireless video conferencing technology.
Tracking H1N1 in Schools
11-04-09The CDC is working to upgrade some of its databases to keep a closer eye on the spread of the H1N1 virus. The CDC is teaming up with the Department of Education to improve the system that tracks school closings. Their goal is to provide real-time data on the number of schools that are closing because of swine flu and the number of teachers and students who are sick. During the H1N1 outbreak this spring, the CDC collected data from schools, but wasn't able to use the information to gauge the severity of the outbreak.
Public Surveys on Privacy, Security
11-04-09The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT wants your help when it comes to deciding privacy and security policy. The ONC plans on surveying the public about their views about health IT exchange, privacy issues and security. Officials also want to see what consumers have to say about how their health information is shared. Before they start polling people over the phone, the ONC is asking people to comment online. Once the survey is done, officials will hold a Web seminar to discuss the results.
Treating Patients With Web 2.0 Tools
11-04-09People who suffer from depression, anxiety and stress can alleviate the symptoms just by going online. A study from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that consumer health IT tools show significant promise for improving various health conditions. The study focused on Web-based stress management systems and interactive self-help applications. The study says the combination of Web 2.0 tools and traditional clinical treatments prove to be an effective way to treat patients.
Bridging The Language Gap
10-28-09Patients and doctors will no longer be lost in translation, thanks to a new telemedical device. Officials say the three-way phone is a recession-friendly approach to breaking down language barriers and improving care. The phones will help communication between doctors, non-English speaking patients and medical interpreters and is available in more than 175 languages. A hospital system in Dallas is already planning to put the phone in every patient room in their hospitals.
More Grant Money for States
10-28-09The federal government hopes $1.2 billion will help states and private companies become more involved in health reform and the advancement of health IT. Grant applications have already been sent to states. Nearly $600 million worth of the funds will go toward creating regional health IT support centers to help providers implement electronic health records. Another $564 million will be set aside for statewide health IT exchange networks.
50,000 Health IT Jobs Expected
10-28-09If government predictions are right, health IT will create 50,000 new jobs in the future. The new jobs will be needed at all levels, from engineers to IT workers. People who have experience in the computer science and informatics fields will be especially attractive to potential employers, but the federal government will put some money toward training employees. Nurses could have the hardest time transitioning from paper to digital, but the training will help to close the informatics gap.
Using Technology to Fight H1N1
10-28-09A hospital system in Atlanta is using technology to fight H1N1 and the seasonal flu. Hospital officials are using a Web-based emergency preparedness and incident management platform to communicate with other hospitals in the system. Using an event log, the hospitals can manage and share information about H1N1 cases, vaccines, and H1N1-related news from local and federal agencies. The hospital also uses the tool to distribute Tamiflu, monitor supplies and bed availability and keep tabs on patient surges.
Not Enough Funds for Patient Privacy?
10-28-09A new survey has some troubling news when it comes to protecting patient privacy. Of more than 500 IT companies surveyed, 61 percent said they don't think they have enough resources to meet privacy and data security requirements. Seventy percent said they don't think their managers consider it a priority. Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder of The Ponemon Institute - which conducted the survey - says the findings show a lack of resources and support puts electronic health information at risk.
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