Digital Government

Letter: Wisconsin Medicaid uses method to stop the gaming of performance measures

A reader states that using automated performance measures and an independent third party helps stop the gaming of the health system.

Digital Government

Voice-recognition tool aids battlefield doctors

The technology reduces the time spent documenting surgery and other care provided to wounded service members.

People

Agencies cite data sharing to aid troops

Meanwhile, senators probe why suicides are increasing among service members returning from wars.

People

USDA provides RFID ear tags for cattle

The tags help health officials electronically identify an animal to halt the spread of bovine tuberculosis.

People

VA data center outage hobbles VistA again

The system went down for several hours on April 10, affecting 12 medical centers from Colorado to California.

Digital Government

Stolen laptop reveals security gap

Several federal directives outline a path to security, but all require follow-through.

People

States, feds still struggle to share health information

Technical and policy gaps remain in the patchwork of systems that send data about disease outbreaks to national repositories.

Digital Government

Letter: Mobile pharmacies aren’t enough

A reader who managed logistics for an emergency pharmacy response system after Hurricane Katrina says the government needs to do more to prepare for future disasters.

People

Mobile pharmacies to help in emergencies

The Veterans Affairs Department has rolled out several pharmacies housed in steel trailers that can withstand a Category 3 storm.

Digital Government

Letter: Government must protect patient information

The founder of Patient Privacy Rights says data security should go hand-in-hand with individuals’ legal control over their personal health information.

Digital Government

HIE's top state e-health agendas

Commonwealth Fund finds adoption, policy development key priorities

People

Bush administration calls for health IT to control costs

As part of a bill designed to cut costs, the administration could require doctors and hospitals to use electronic health records in treating Medicare patients.

Digital Government

HHS seeks ONCHIT funding increase

The President's 2009 budget funds an incentive program for physicians to adopt health IT and covers an effort to use health IT in patient safety.

People

Resolution Health taps new VP

Susheel Jain will oversee corporate and product strategy at the health care company.

People

Report lauds VA's focus on quality care, health IT

The department has improved shared decision-making and performance measurements, the Congressional Budget Office said.

Digital Government

Senators press Justice to permit e-prescribing of controlled substances

Letter to attorney general escalates pressure on Drug Enforcement Administration.

People

VA renews QuadraMed health data contract

The agency will continue using QuadraMed's encoder software to help with managing health information and billing and compliance workflow.

Digital Government

Senators urge DEA to legalize e-prescribing of controlled substances

Pressure to require e-prescribing grows as HHS Secretary Leavitt issues a statement backing a health IT mandate in exchange for higher Medicare payments for doctors.

Digital Government

Support grows for e-prescribing

HHS, lawmakers and associations make their cases to implement the technology

Digital Government

Letter: Revamping funding opens doors for new systems

Using a commercial implementation for health IT would give users -- patients and professionals -- the friendliest graphic user interfaces and most logical forms.