Health Data Management articles from March 2009

Health Data Management archives from March 2009

Shortening the Chain.(Editor's Notes)(Editorial)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Gary Baldwin, Editorial Director I was raised to be frugal. Perhaps that's why I don't understand modern economics. The zeal with which our country eagerly participated in the buy-borrow-sell-and-buy-again cycle that eventually...

Insights from a Hacker, a Futurist and a Pundit.(Newsline)
March 1, 2009... A former computer hacker, a futurist and a political pundit will provide insights at the HIMSS Conference and Exhibition in its "view from the top" sessions. Kevin Mitnick, a former hacker and founder of Mitnick Security Consulting, will...

Study: Applications Lack Decision Support.(Newsline)(Report)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Joseph Goedert A new report from the National Research Council concludes that several provider organizations seen as leaders in the use of health information technology fall short in offering decision support and problem-solving...

Newsline Digest.(CCHIT ponders expansion plans)(Report)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Digest compiled by staff CCHIT Ponders Expansion Plans The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology early this year sought comments on plans for expanding its certification programs. Chicago-based CCHIT's...

Unraveling the Claims Snarl; Providers, payers take steps to streamline the many steps involved in getting paid.(Cover Story)(Report)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Howard J. Anderson, Executive Editor This story is part one of a four-part series on revenue cycle management. Part two, which will appear in the June issue, will focus on health plan contracting. With the nation in a deep...

Overcoming an adversarial relationship.(Cover Story)(Report)
March 1, 2009... Sometimes, a good, old-fashioned conversation can help unravel the claims snarl. Two provider organizations that were applying lean manufacturing principles to re-engineer revenue cycle management discovered that major local payers had similar...

Ramping Up on Wireless; Hospitals are finding novel uses for wireless technology or adding new functions to existing networks.(Feature: EHR Achievement Series)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Joseph Goedert, News Editor Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and College of Engineering are gearing up to test if cell phones can help chronically ill patients better adhere to their medication...

Feds free up frequencies.(Feature: EHR Achievement Series)(Report)
March 1, 2009... The Federal Communications Commission last November adopted rules to permit unlicensed radio transmitters, including medical telemetry systems, to operate in unused television spectrum, called "white spaces." The order permits telemetry...

All Systems Go; Sprawling health systems face multiple challenges in integrating electronic health records across often vast geographic reaches.(Feature: EHR Achievement Series)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Gary Baldwin, Editorial Director This is the second in a six-part series that highlights the accomplishments of industry leaders in implementing electronic health records. Part 1 focused on academic medical centers, with other major...

Navicure Grows its EDI Business; A clearinghouse veteran assesses the industry and challenges in the coming year.(Corporate Strategy)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Joseph Goedert, News Editor Claims clearinghouse Navicure Inc. continues to grow its transactions processing business. Building on that, the company will offer new services to clients this year. Despite the headway, CEO Jim...

Feet to the Fire; Software helps a hospital track insurers' compliance with their own contracts.(Hospitals)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Joseph Goedert, News Editor In 2000, medical necessity denial decisions by insurance companies cost Marrero, La.-based West Jefferson Medical Center $700,000. Because of an aggressive response to denials, that's a lower figure...

Reader Comments.(Readers' Perspective)
March 1, 2009... Abner King CIO Steele Memorial Medical Center, Salmon, Idaho "There are tremendous benefits to CPOE but they are more often than not diluted by limited physician adoption or even outright resistance. An additional factor that...

Spotlight on Servers; Why one group practice spent extra for peace of mind.(Group Pratices)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Howard J. Anderson, Executive Editor Many group practices devote little time and effort to selecting a server when rolling out a new practice management or electronic records system. But Stu Patty says that taking the time to make...

Measuring Cognitive Services; Reporting tool shines light on the unheralded interventions pharmacists make.(Clinical Quality Reporting)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Gary Baldwin, Editorial Director The Valley Hospital is a busy place - just ask Carlo Lupano. Pharmacy manager at the 451-bed hospital, Lupano works with 40 full-time pharmacists. Together, they process more than one million...

Change Manager.(Executive Session)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Gary Baldwin When Dee Cantrell, R.N., joined the information systems department at Emory Healthcare 15 years ago, she was surprised by its paucity of clinical automation. Since becoming CIO in 2000, she has spearheaded a massive...

Forecasters Predict I.T. Spending Growth.(A Closer Look)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Howard Anderson, Executive Editor Predicting the pace of growth in health care information technology spending from year to year is never easy. But this year, it's especially difficult, given the wild card of the Obama...

Longer Deadlines for ICD-10, HIPAA 5010.(Newsline)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Joseph Goedert The Department of Health and Human Services has approved final rules, with later compliance deadlines, adopting the ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure code sets and the HIPAA 5010 transaction sets. The compliance...

Report: Privacy Rule Hinders Research.(Newsline)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Joseph Goedert The HIPAA privacy rule continues to have a negative effect on health research, according to a new report from the Association of Academic Health Centers, Washington. The rule imposes barriers that slow the pace...

Payers Settle Ingenix Dispute.(Newsline)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Joseph Goedert Health insurers UnitedHealth Group and Aetna Inc. have agreed to fund establishment of an independent database run by a not-for-profit organization to determine out-of-network reimbursement rates for consumers across...

Groups Call for Patient EHR Access.(Newsline)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Joseph Goedert A dozen organizations, including patient advocates, vendors and health information exchanges, have sent members of Congress a letter urging improved patient access to their electronic health records. Health I.T....

Deloitte: $530 Billion Can Be Saved With I.T.(Newsline)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Howard Anderson A new report by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions says the United States could save $530 billion in health care costs over 10 years by spending $220 billion on information technology and other reforms. ...

2009 HIMSS Conference features many changes.(Newsline)
March 1, 2009... Byline: Howard Anderson Those accustomed to attending the HIMSS Conference and Exhibition are in for some big changes this year. For the first time in decades, the biggest event in health care information technology will not be held in...