Health Management Technology articles from March 2003

Health Management Technology archives from March 2003

The Eleanor Rigby of HMT. (From The Editor).
March 1, 2003... Someone once told me that there are no original ideas, only ideas that are borrowed from others and adapted. Here's one I borrowed from an editorial in one of our sister publications and adapted for HMT readership and my particular style of...

Big tech push by big HMO. (Computerized Patient Records).(Kaiser Permanente)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Kaiser Permanente, the nation's largest integrated health delivery organization including health plans, hospitals and medical groups, has announced a $1.8 billion, three-year project to computerize patient medical records for 8.4 million...

Handheld market declines in 2002. (Wireless).(according to Dataquest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Sales of personal digital assistants (PDAs) dropped 9 percent in 2002 to 12.1 million from 13.3 million units the previous year, according to Dataquest, a unit of research firm Gartner Inc. Sluggish sales to businesses was a key factor in the...

Tufts Health Plan commits to PDAs. (Wireless).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... In healthcare, handhelds are taking hold--and showing ROI value more readily than in other business sectors. After a yearlong pilot, Tufts Health Plan, Boston, in February announced it will permanently implement one of the nation's largest...

Privacy and security accreditation. (HIPAA Notes).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... URAC announced it is creating the first accreditation programs addressing both the privacy and security of health information. The programs, to be unveiled in April, will allow all types of covered entities to demonstrate--to themselves and to...

Technology for TPAs. (HIPAA Notes).(EDIRecall)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Recall Systems Inc., an Atlanta-based provider of automation technology for TPAs, has released EDIRecall, a new turnkey solution that allows TPAs to communicate eligibility and claims status information electronically in a HIPAA-compliant...

Sensor for post-authentication security. (HIPAA Notes).(ComputerProx TF2000 )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... ComputerProx Corp. announced a new version of its TF2000 proximity sensor, a plug-and-play "walk away" security product for desktops. The TF2000 addresses a central question in authentication solutions and HIPAA privacy and security: What...

Cedars-Sinai physicians cautious; hospital suspends system. (Physician Order Entry).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Interest in physician order entry systems is soaring, but some healthcare systems adapt more slowly than others. In contrast to reports of computerized order entry (CPOE) system successes in large hospitals such as Brigham and Women's and...

EMRs still high on physician action lists. (Practice Management).(IntegriMED)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The leading concerns for private-practice physicians are dealing with paperwork and insuring proper documentation, managed care issues and lack of time for patient care, according to a new survey of office-based primary care and specialty...

More payers post hospital quality data. (Health Plans).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... A trend to post hospital performance data on the Web continues to grow, with more health plans lining up to support quality care and patient safety strategies. MVP Health Plan Inc. of Schenectady, which covers 540,000 lives in New York and...

Microsoft to unveil operating system.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... In April, Microsoft will launch its new operating system, Windows Server 2003. Promoting a long list of improved functions for enterprise systems, Microsoft hopes to convince Windows NT Server 4.0 users to migrate to the new system. The...

Louisiana combats fraud.(ACS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The State of Louisiana has contracted with business process and IT outsourcing specialist ACS, Dallas, to develop and implement a fraud and abuse prevention system for the state's health benefits and life insurance program. Under the $700,000,...

Wi-Fi laptops.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... IBM has introduced a new ThinkPad R Series laptop featuring Wi-Fi connectivity based on both the 802.11a and 802.11b standards. The unit is IBM's first laptop to support both standards and one of the first laptops available to support both...

A final checklist: it's never too late--there is still time to take some critical steps to advance your organization toward HIPAA compliance. (HIPAA Watch).
March 1, 2003... There is little doubt that the most significant thing facing our industry this year will be the dawn of the HIPAA privacy rule. It has been the focal point for everyone in healthcare since we stopped worrying about Y2K. In my capacity as...

Managed care's challenges: health plans use new IT to meet the burgeoning challenges of costs and consumerism. (Health Plans And Technology).
March 1, 2003... With a tidal wave of information hitting the managed care industry, providers and payers look to software vendors for ways to efficiently collect and manage data. But the problem is challenging, since federal and state guidelines--including...

Referral management made easy: Mid-Atlantic IDN assumes responsibility for developing its own automated referral management system. (Clinical information systems: case history).
March 1, 2003... The most onerous task of physicians is referral management. Doctors who participate in managed care plans must use multiple, incomplete and outdated paper directories first to find the right referral doctor; then they must have staff...

Justifying the RIS before the PACS: a logical migration to a digital and paperless imaging environment requires analysis. (Diagnostic Imaging).
March 1, 2003... In recent days, it has become popular for most vendors to talk about an upgrade to a fully digital and paperless environment through a RIS/PACS (radiology information system/picture archiving and communications system) consolidated solution....

Three phases of EDIS: installation of a comprehensive emergency department information system enables a Virginia IDN to revitalize its ED services. (What works: EDIS).
March 1, 2003... In real estate, location is key. In emergency services, it's speed and quality. In the late 1990s, Carillon Health System in Roanoke, VA, was a healthcare organization with many opportunities for improvement. Emergency department wait...

Front-end finesse: a combination of the right technology and adept planning and implementation skills brings financial efficiency to a Phoenix specialty practice. (What works: practice management).
March 1, 2003... It's no longer enough for a medical practice to deliver high-quality patient care. An equally important part of the success equation is streamlined management of financial and operational processes. PROBLEM Arizona Oncology Services...

Right on schedule: California healthcare organization finds an automated scheduling system that can keep pace with its increase in patient volume. (What works: scheduling).
March 1, 2003... When a healthcare organization implements a well-defined business objective for increased performance, a vital part of its success is having the right technology behind it. PROBLEM The Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation provide a...

Large-volume capacity. (Printers, Copiers & Scanners).(HP Laser Jet 9000mfp multifunction printer)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The HP Laser Jet 9000mfp (multifunction peripheral) provides 600 by 600 dpi network printing, copying, scanning and digital sending capabilities to increase productivity, reduce costs and save space. It offers 50 ppm black-and-white print and...

Networkable solution. (Printers, Copiers & Scanners).(Sharp AR-M208 Imager multifunction printer)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The AR-M208 Imager offers duplex copying capability, 600 by 1,200 dpi enhanced PC printing, 1,100-sheet standard paper capacity and options that include network printing and scanning. It prints or copies 20 ppm and features a 40-sheet Reversing...

High-output laser printer. (Printers, Copiers & Scanners).(Lexmark T420dn)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Designed for small workgroups, the T420dn is a monochrome laser printer that provides network printer functionality with a low profile and small footprint of 10 inches high by 16 inches wide by 16.7 inches deep. Weighing about 30 pounds, it...

Multitasking productivity. (Printers, Copiers & Scanners).(Kyocera KM-C830 multifunction printer)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... When fully configured, the KM-C830 is a networkable full-color imaging system with copy, print, scan and fax functions. In addition, it's multitasking, so it can print while scanning, for example. With 600 by 600 dpi quality, the system...

Multifunctional system. (Printers, Copiers & Scanners).(Canon imageRUNNER 5000i)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Capable of meeting the black-and-white scanning, printing and copying needs of large workgroups and small departments, the imageRUNNER 5000i uses the existing infrastructure of networks and the Internet to permit distribution of hard copy and...

Scanning versatility. (Printers, Copiers & Scanners).(Kodak i200 scanner)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The i200 Series Scanners provide color, bitonal and grayscale scanning at the same speed--up to 134 images per minute--for optimum productivity. The i250 performs single-sided scanning; the i260 allows simultaneous dual-sided scanning. Both...

Scan-print-copy desktop device. (Printers, Copiers & Scanners).(Xerox Stylus CX5200 multifunction device)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Stylus CX5200 delivers standalone color copying with water- and fade-resistant inks, 48-bit scanning, and up to 22 ppm printing in black and up to 11 ppm printing in color. By incorporating Resolution Performance Management advanced imaging...

Good form: a massive hardware replacement generates efficiency for a New York IDN. (What works: printers, copiers, & scanners).
March 1, 2003... Whoever invented the term "paperless office" was not familiar with the healthcare industry. Getting work done without the stacks of papers and forms we deal with on a daily basis seems like an impossibility. Sooner or later, managing all of...

Multiple users of anytime, anywhere access to information: Virginia IDN extends its use of remote access beyond caregivers to empower its in-house support staff. (Remote Access).(Symantec's pcAnywhere)
March 1, 2003... For many industries, the axiom "time is money" holds true. For healthcare organizations, however, the value of time is even greater. In emergency rooms and trauma centers, for example, minutes well-spent can save lives. That's why Sentara...

Bed-der than ever: Pittsburgh hospital uses automated bed tracking and control to speed efficiency in its ED. (Workflow management: case history).(TeleTracking Technologies Bed-Tracking System)
March 1, 2003... In 1999, UPMC McKeesport, a 243-bed teaching hospital outside of Pittsburgh, found itself in a double dilemma shared by many hospitals nationwide. Not only was its emergency department (ED) often overloaded, but it also was difficult to find...

Biometric authentication solution. (New Products & Services).(Oberthur Card Systems Authentic Bio-ID)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Authentic Bio-ID is an authentication solution that combines the high-security technologies of smart cards, biometrics and public key infrastructure for securing facilities and information. It comprises a multiapplication Java card with a...

Forms processing software. (New Products & Services).(Datacap Components)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Datacap Components are the data and document capture software that enable FileNET users to integrate forms processing capabilities into FileNET's Panagon Capture architecture. They let FileNET Capture be extended to encompass handprint (ICR)...

Secure patient tracking. (New Products & Services).(OnTrack Emergency Department application upgraded)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... HIPAA-friendly security features have been added to OnTrack Emergency Department patient tracking and data management systems. The security features were designed to support the flow of emergency departments while meeting the spirit of HIPAA...

Claims review, analysis. (New Products & Services).(Info-X ships Edit Engine)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Edit Engine interfaces with existing systems via an XML protocol to provide logic and data for identifying coding, compliance and medical necessity errors. Expert compliance and reimbursement logic is encapsulated into a collection of...

Improved practice management. (New Products & Services).(MicroFour's PracticeStudio)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Windows XP enhancements to PracticeStudio, a practice management solution utilizing touch screen and voice technology to provide a comprehensive and integrated EMR and office management system via ChartPower and PracticeWizard modules, include...

Doubled storage capacity. (New Products & Services).(Sony Advanced Intelligent Tape 3 tape drive)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The third-generation Advanced Intelligent Tape drive, AIT-3, doubles the capacity and performance of AIT technology over the previous generation. With ALT-3 media cartridges, it provides 100 GB of uncompressed capacity (260 GB with 2.6:1...

IT monitoring solution. (New Products & Services).(InfoCare)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... InfoCare is a totally integrated IT monitoring solution that enables service providers and mid-tier organizations to monitor the availability, performance and security of critical networks, systems and applications in historic and real time....

Enhanced care management. (New Products & Services).(CareEnhance Resource Management Software 5.0)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... CareEnhance Resource Management Software version 5.0 is more powerful and flexible business intelligence software that enables managed care organizations to measure, report and improve clinical and financial performance. Enhancements include...

Real-time analytics. (New Products & Services).(CACHE 5 database)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... CACHE 5 is the new version of the post-relational database that enables real-time analytics in transaction processing environments. New Transactional Bit Map Indexing helps with complex queries with nonstandard data types such as graphics,...

Vulnerability assessment upgrade. (New Products & Services).(Application Security ships AppDetective 3.0.4)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... ASAP Update 3.0.4 upgrades AppDetective to perform discovery scans, penetration testing and security auditing of Lotus Domino version 6 servers. It is designed for current Domino users looking to upgrade to version 6 or new customers looking to...

Managed care hotlist.
March 1, 2003... MANAGED CARE HOTLIST Company ACMS Inc. Circle Card Number 227 RSLeads Number www.rsleads.com/ ...

Thrive or survive: will new health plan IT needs spur vendor consolidation? (Viewpoint).
March 1, 2003... Advances in information technology, the rise of consumer-driven healthcare and the need for ROI-driven medical management have created new payer requirements for purchasing technology. Today, health plans are deploying technology solutions that...