Allscripts, a provider of clinical software, information and connectivity technologies for physicians, and Eclipsys, a provider of systems and services for hospitals and clinicians, have signed a definitive agreement to merge in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.3 billion.
Written by Mary Stevens
The potential advantages offered by health information exchanges (HIEs) are well-known. They’ll be vital spokes of the proposed Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) architecture initiative, streamlining patient care and records and providing accurate, nearly immediate test results to practitioners anywhere. The potential is promising, but the reality is no Field of Dreams scenario: If you build an HIE, subscribers will not necessarily come.
Health IT developer Allscripts' customer rapport has dwindled following its merger last year with Misys, according to a report from market research firm KLAS.
Although the relaxation of the Stark Law and the passage of the economic stimulus package have motivated hospitals to subsidize ambulatory EMR adoption for affiliated physician practices, it is challenging for EMR vendors in the small physician group practice space to translate their success to hospitals or large physician groups, according to a new report from health IT research firm KLAS.
Creating a unique patient identification number for every person in the United States would facilitate a reduction in medical errors, simplify the use of EMRs and help protect patient privacy, according to a new study from the RAND Corporation.
Friday, July 30 2010
Friday, July 30 2010
Friday, July 30 2010
Friday, July 30 2010
Friday, July 30 2010
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“We’re beginning a revolution the way information is collected, managed, used and purposed for patients in the U.S. healthcare system,” said David Blumenthal, MD, chair of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, in opening remarks at an audioconference training session on meaningful use and EHR certification last week.
In Part 1 of our closer look at the final rules for meaningful use and EHR certification standards, CMIO’s Jeff Byers spoke with David Blumenthal, MD, chair of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. In Part 2, CMIOs weigh in with mixed reviews.
The framework for meaningful use is “something that had to be done and has been started intelligently,” John P. Glaser, PhD, vice president and CIO of Partners HealthCare System told CMIO. However, the challenges of becoming meaningful users and optimizing health information exchange will require unprecedented levels of communication within organizations and among healthcare systems, he said.
The contractual obligations in the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on modifications to the HIPAA privacy, security and enforcement rules under the HITECH Act for business associates and downstream entities are game changers, according to Amy S. Leopard, JD, from Walter and Haverfield, during a webinar sponsored by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).
Standardizing performance measures, with the help of health IT, will make it possible to collect the right data at the right time to support performance measurement, clinical decision support, clinical research and quality improvement, said Janet M. Corrigan, PhD, president and CEO of the National Quality Forum (NQF) during a webinar hosted by the forum on June 17.