The future of health IT could be bright, but more work is needed

This will be my last blog for this site. I will soon be transitioning to another corner of the TechTarget universe where analytics is the name of the game. The occasion got me thinking about where the health IT industry is now and where it has the opportunity to go. Even though I will no longer be...
Ohio nurses call for delay of EMR implementation

Nurses at the Massillon, Ohio-based Affinity Medical Center called for the delay of their facility's EMR implementation due to safety concerns. The nurses outlined their concerns in a letter sent to hospital officials, citing a lack of training with the new system and understaffing in the days...
FDA’s medical device security guidance starts important conversation

Last week, The Food and Drug Administration released draft guidance on hospital networks and medical device security. The guidance comes at a time when both are increasingly coming under attack, creating a need...
Clinical data analytics still in infancy, as big data gets bigger
When it comes to optimizing clinical data analytics in hospitals, IT leaders say the age-old adage rings true: If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. In a recent webinar, IDC Health Insights research director Cynthia Burghard said even though healthcare hasn’t historically been a...
Health systems and IBM form analytics data alliance

Four hospitals systems, IBM Corp., and the Premier healthcare alliance announced plans to
House demands explanation of IRS HIPAA policies after raid
The IRS is being audited, in a sense, by a Congressional subcommittee. A House committee has called for an investigation of the Internal Revenue Service's policies, procedures and accountabilities under HIPAA in response to an...
Biosense case proves need for mobile medical applications regulations

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) created a stir this week when it sent a letter to app developer Biosense Technologies asking the company why it has not sought clearance for its uChek Urine Analyzer app. It...
Patient portal messaging systems may help reduce malpractice liability
Never mind the likely HIPAA violations that will occur when physicians and nurses start using their smartphones and iPads to message each other about patients, or worse yet, messaging patients directly over such non-secure channels: It could also be ratcheting up your malpractice risk.
Experts to form healthcare analytics group

A group of data analytics experts will meet in Washington, D.C., to explore how to best use predictive analytics to benefit...
Get EFT processes in line for HIPAA compliance
While most healthcare providers think of clinical data when it comes to crafting HIPAA compliance strategies, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA) processes are affected by updated...