New online tool calculates ICD-10 financial risk exposure
Physician practices looking to assess their exposure to financial risk in relation to ICD-10 compliance have a new online tool at their disposal. The HIMSS ICD-10 Task Force and Jvion announced on June 27 the release of their collaboratively developed ICD-10 Financial Risk Calculator. MORE

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Practices must surmount daily financial and regulatory challenges June 27, 2012 | Frank Irving - Editor
Newly released research from MGMA-ACMPE reinforces the dominance of financial and regulatory concerns among the day-to-day challenges faced by medical practice professionals. The association for administrators and group practice leaders based its findings on 1,252 responses to its fifth annual "Medical Practice Today: What members have to say" survey.
Harvard research links EHR use with malpractice claims reductions June 26, 2012 | Mike Miliard - Managing Editor
Electronic health records hold promise along many avenues ranging from clinical documentation to coordination of care. And now, according to Harvard Medical School researchers, another advantage can be added to the list of potential benefits: a reduction in malpractice claims among EHR users.
5 reasons mHealth is here to stay June 25, 2012 | David Lee Scher, MD
Mobile health is already part of the overall digitalization of healthcare, but widespread adoption of smartphones, tablets, patient portals and the like won't happen overnight. At the same time, there's no reason to doubt the long-term acceptance of these technologies. Here are five reasons mHealth will become a major part of healthcare.
Pilot programs make Rx data available to physicians at point of care June 22, 2012 | Mary Mosquera - Contributing Editor
As part of the Obama administration's efforts to reduce prescription drug abuse, a pilot program will make prescription drug use data available to healthcare providers and pharmacists when they treat patients during office visits and in emergency departments.
HIT stakeholders collaborate at White House forum June 22, 2012 | Diana Manos
Health IT prominently appeared on the White House agenda on June 19, when an invited group of hospital executives, physicians, nurses and other stakeholders gathered for a two-hour discussion. Panelists zeroed in on how health IT is advancing nationwide.
EHR incentive payments approach $6 billion June 21, 2012 | Diana Manos
Eligible providers have received more than $5.7 billion in incentive payments for the meaningful use of electronic health records, according to information released June 19 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Standards community explores Blue Button for access to health data June 19, 2012 | Mary Mosquera - Contributing Editor
The Blue Button concept, developed by the Veterans Affairs Department to enable patients to download their health information to a computer or personal health record (PHR), may come into play in relation to how people gain access to data residing in their clinical records.
CMS and ONC schedule June 27 provider overview of meaningful use June 18, 2012 | PhysBizTech staff
Eligible professionals (EPs) and eligible hospitals can participate in a call devoted to the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs on June 27 from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET. The call, presented by CMS and ONC, will cover the use of certified EHR technology to meet meaningful use requirements.

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Tips on 3 big medical practice transitions June 26, 2012 | Madelyn Young - Content Writer, CareCloud
Three of the toughest transitions doctors and administrators face are physician retirement, office relocation and practice acquisition. As healthcare professionals navigate these big shifts, they sometimes overlook or neglect important aspects of their operations. Adhere to the following advice to avoid common pitfalls.
The 7 deadly sins of meaningful use -- and how to avoid them June 21, 2012 | Katie Vacca - Product Support Specialist and Meaningful Use Expert, Amazing Charts
Despite efforts to educate the medical community, there’s still a lot of confusion around the process of attestation, which has earned meaningful use a reputation for being complex and daunting to pursue. The reality, however, is that the meaningful use incentive is not that difficult to attain — so long as physicians know the pitfalls to avoid.
5 areas to track as you prepare your EHR for ICD-10 June 20, 2012 | Dave Lareau - CEO of Medicomp Systems
With the introduction of ICD-10, EHRs must also be capable of producing documentation with a high degree of specificity and ideally offer the appropriate codes. As you prepare your EHR for ICD-10 and future requirements, here are five key considerations.
How to use CMS's updated FAQ system June 06, 2012 | PhysBizTech staff
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has upgraded the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section of its website to incorporate FAQs on the EHR Incentive Programs on the same page as other CMS program FAQs. Here's a quick walk-through on how to use the updated system.
What to do if your EHR has functionality issues June 05, 2012 | Mary Mosquera - Contributing Editor
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) issued an advisory last week explaining what steps to take if an electronic health record doesn’t do all that it is certified to do.
7 tips for EHR success May 30, 2012 | James Deck - President, MTS Healthcare
Some physicians are hesitant to implement EHR systems while others are skeptical. We need to provide tips that really work for both camps of physicians. Here are seven pointers gathered directly from consultants who are out in the field every day assisting providers in the ambulatory care setting.
10 ways to promote your practice in relation to NHIT Week May 29, 2012 | Frank Irving - Editor
The summer months tend to fly by, so it's really not too soon to start planning for an annual opportunity to promote your practice, National Health IT (NHIT) Week, which will take place Sept. 10-14.
What to study before purchasing cyber insurance May 14, 2012 | Michelle McNickle - New Media Producer
There's no denying that data breaches pose an increasing threat to healthcare entities of all sizes. That's why current risk-management strategy calls for consideration of cyber insurance, according to a recently released report.

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Integrating Faxes into Today's World of Healthcare e-Records March 19, 2012 | Resource Central
This white paper examines the obstacles preventing the move away from fax machines, and the benefits of having a communications system that integrates faxed documents into healthcare systems and solutions.
Making (the most) of Technology Transitions: EHR imperatives and opportunities in today's medical practice March 19, 2012 | Resource Central
Medical practices have been contemplating the prospect of moving from paper-based records to electronic health record (EHR) systems for decades. But relatively few have begun taking steps to make the transition – until now. This white paper examines the factors that have kept many medical practices from moving forward with EHR over the years and the factors that are prompting action today; explains some of the technological requirements of making the transition to EHR and how to begin to meet them; and explores the significant operational, clinical and administrative benefits to be gained in the process.
Selecting the Right EHR for the Life of your Practice and Your Patients March 19, 2012 | Resource Central
If we are at or approaching a technological tipping point in the history of healthcare, then it has never been more important for physician practices to select the right electronic health record (EHR) – and there are tangible reasons to believe so. This whitepaper comments on recent customer surveys, and discusses foundational criteria for selecting the right EHR solution, determining your “game plan” and the process for assessment and selection. Justin Barnes is chairman emeritus of the national Electronic Health Record Association (EHR Association), and is vice president of marketing, industry affairs and government affairs for Greenway Medical Technologies, Inc.
Accessing Medical Records on Mobile Devices March 19, 2012 | Resource Central
The emergence of a new class of Android (TM) mobile devices creates an opportunity for doctors and medical professionals to access patient data wherever they are. Read this white paper to learn how to access patient data and view medical images on Android devices.
3 Steps to Faster EMR Adoption with Desktop Virtualization & SSO March 19, 2012 | Resource Central
The Meaningful Use objectives in the HITECH Act are creating new urgency for hospitals and other healthcare provider organizations to implement EHR and CPOE systems. This white paper outlines three key steps that your organization can take to accelerate EHR and CPOE adoption. Read on to discover out how the combination of desktop virtualization and single sign-on make it faster and easier to deploy new clinical applications while optimizing the clinician experience, protecting patient data, and reducing cost and complexity.
Enabling Fast and Secure Clinician Workflow with One-Touch Desktop Roaming March 19, 2012 | Resource Central
The move from paper-based medical records systems to electronic medical records (EMR) technology is improving patient outcomes, increasing clinician productivity, and lowering costs. However, access to patient information must not only be secure, but also fast, convenient and reliable. Technologies that provide security but frustrate clinicians will slow EMR adoption to a crawl. In this white paper, you’ll learn how you can solve this “last mile” problem and maximize user adoption by providing fast, convenient, secure access to EMR data across multiple clients, where and when the clinician requests it.
The State of EHR Adoption: On The Road to Improving Patient Safety March 19, 2012 | Resource Central
Despite being identified as an essential tool to support quality care initiatives, improve patient safety and reduce healthcare costs, EMR and EHR systems have been stuck in a slow growth cycle. However, pressure is quickly mounting on caregivers to adopt and demonstrate meaningful use of EMR/EHR technology. Healthcare Informatics Research recently interviewed nearly 500 healthcare organizations to shed light on the current state of EMR/EHR adoption. Download this report to discover how organizations are overcoming obstacles to adoption, how they're benefitting from EMR/EHR solutions, and where the industry is going next.
EHRs and patient access: 'My body, my record' or 'The doctor knows best'? June 22, 2012 | Arjen Westerink - Director of Business Development, VitalHealth Software
Physicians and patients must find a balance between patient access rights to personal health data and physicians’ rights to create the definitive medical record and keep certain information private.
New privacy and security how-to for physicians is a must-have June 19, 2012 | Mac McMillan - Privacy and Security
Finally, a resource created just for the physician’s practice: The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has released its Guide to Privacy and Security of Health Information for eligible providers.
AMA calls MU Stage 2 'too demanding' June 13, 2012 | Jeff Rowe - Contributing Editor
The American Medical Association is asking the feds for adjustments to the Meaningful Use Stage 2 proposal in no uncertain terms.
Physician groups push for broader certification June 11, 2012 | Jeff Rowe - Contributing Editor
The idea of “usability” is a pretty subjective category to be attempting to measure and standardize.
EHR customization: How different should specialty EHRs really be? June 06, 2012 | Arjen Westerink - Director of Business Development, VitalHealth Software
All specialties need a constellation of specific functionality, but based on general best practices we know work with a robust EHR at its core to drive clinical and business functions.
Health IT faces unspecified challenges in ICD-10 implementation June 01, 2012 | Carl Natale - ICD10Watch
Deborah Grinder, author of three books on ICD-10 coding, notes that some EMRs aren't built to capture all the specificity possible.
How far can policymakers move the ball? May 30, 2012 | Jeff Rowe - Contributing Editor
What's the appropriate ongoing role for public policy in the health IT transition?
Vendors need the extra year on ICD-10 timeline May 29, 2012 | Carl Natale - ICD10Watch
Vendors need to have the tools ready. Healthcare providers aren't doing anything without involving existing or new vendors.

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NextGen Healthcare selected by large Kansas-based multi-specialty physician group June 26, 2012 | Industry Release
NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: QSII) and a leading provider of healthcare information and connectivity solutions, today announced an agreement with Mowery Clinic, LLC to deploy NextGen® Ambulatory EHR, NextGen® Practice Management, NextGen® Patient Portal and several other NextGen® product offerings across its enterprise.
Greenway’s PrimeRESEARCH to exhibit at DIA 2012 June 21, 2012 | Industry Release
Greenway Medical Technologies, Inc., provider of the single-database electronic health record (EHR), practice management and interoperability solution PrimeSUITE®, is exhibiting its PrimeRESEARCH™ solutions at the DIA 2012 48th Annual Meeting June 24-28 in Philadelphia.
Woburn Pediatrics deploys ADTRAN’s Virtual Wireless LAN to support mobile EMR system June 21, 2012 | Industry Release
ADTRAN®, Inc., a provider of converged access and unified business solutions, has announced that Woburn Pediatric Associates has deployed ADTRAN’s virtual wireless LAN (vWLAN®) solution with ADTRAN’s Bluesocket® 1800 series 802.11n access points, to help physicians, nurses and staff access patient medical information from any treatment room within Woburn Pediatrics’ two locations.
Anoto facilitating adoption of MU certified EHR technology June 19, 2012 | Industry Release
Anoto, the world leader in digital pen and paper technology, today announced that its digital writing solutions are being increasingly utilized by healthcare providers to input structured data into a patient's electronic health record (EHR) directly from paper. The result is the adoption of Meaningful Use certified EHRs across a range of areas including hospitals, ambulatory care facilities and physician practices.
MDLIVE announces app-enabled telemedicine platform that unites patients, physicians and insurers June 19, 2012 | Industry Release
MDLIVE, a leading provider of online and on-demand healthcare delivery services and software, announced today the release of Virtual Medical Office 3.0, a cloud-based software platform that enables insurers to expand the reach of their provider networks by ensuring seamless and secure virtual collaboration between patients, medical professionals and plan administrators via voice, video, email and mobile devices. The HIPAA-compliant platform also provides physicians, caseworkers and utilization nurses with transparent access to clinical data from patient medical records, lab results and in-home telemetry devices for real-time risk assessments, wellness advice, diagnosis and treatment.
MTBC partners with PDR Network to provide their EHR users seamless access to the latest drug and safety information June 18, 2012 | Industry Release
MTBC, a leading healthcare IT company serving providers throughout the country, announced today a new partnership with PDR Network to integrate PDR's suite of interactive drug information and safety services with MTBC's ONC-ATCB electronic health record (EHR). MTBC users will soon have access to PDR Network's updated drug information, safety alerts, medication adherence and product support programs, which will enhance their experience and further enable them to provide optimal patient care.
AirStrip expands platform to provide real-time mobile access to EHR systems June 14, 2012 | Industry Release
AirStrip Technologies, Inc., the leader in mobile patient monitoring solutions, has expanded its platform to deliver information currently housed in electronic health record systems to clinicians using mobile devices. For the first time, within a single mobile solution, physicians have real-time access to medical device data such as ECG waveforms as well as all other current and historical patient information imperative to clinical decision-making but formerly locked away in difficult to access, often disparate records repositories.
MDC adopts MedX as EMR vendor June 14, 2012 | Industry Release
Miami Dade College (MDC) has selected to partner with MedX Medical Management and Technologies as their local Electronic Medical Records (EMR) provider. MedX will implement iSalus Healthcare's OfficeEMR web based system into the entire medical campus. MedX will also train and be consultants to MDC on the successful adoption of EMR into medical practices as well as train and consult MDC's Medical Billing and Coding school on new procedure of medical billing within a EMR platform.

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