2010 Article Archive
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December 20, 2010
features
2010’s Overlooked Noisemakers
To summarize this year’s healthcare happenings would be an exercise in futility. Instead, this wrap-up focuses on four topics that profoundly affected providers.
Students Wanted
An expected surge in the number of HIT professionals and generous federal funding make this an opportune time for HIM professionals to expand their knowledge base.
The Benefits of Bar Coding
Patient safety stands out as the main beneficiary of this technology that helps providers meet the “five rights” of medication administration.
MRI and Autism
University of Utah medical researchers have made an important step toward diagnosing autism through MRI.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for autism
departments
Editor’s Note
News Briefs
Kaiser Permanente researchers have concluded that targeted age-specific computerized alerts can reduce the use of a specific blood test that may prove ineffective in older adults.
Coding Corner
Like a kick in the chin, coding for pain management can cause any upstanding coder to mumble in agony.
Datebook
www.watch
The online service EHRevent.org documents safety concerns related to EHR implementations.
Technology Trends
An industry expert offers insights into how Health Level Seven International standards work and how they differ from Web-based solutions.
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
December 6, 2010
Features
The CCD Standard: Building Blocks for Better Data Exchange
Exactly what is a continuity of care document? Where do the continuity of care record and clinical document architecture fit into the puzzle? Industry experts attempt to clarify.
Out of the School
As it stands, behavioral healthcare facilities are on the outside looking in at meaningful use incentives. Nevertheless, that hasn’t deterred some from adopting HIT.
The Connection Between ICD-10 and Meaningful Use
The dawning of the new code set will influence how healthcare organizations shape their meaningful use strategy.
Radioimmunotherapy Advancing
Zevalin and Bexxar are FDA approved to treat follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Learn how they’re being used in a clinical setting.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for lymphoma
Departments
Editor’s Note
Transcription Trends
The National Telecommuting Institute provides opportunities for the disabled to become work-at-home medical transcriptionists.
News Briefs
Physician practices that install EHRs show better financial margins than those that have not, according to a report from the Medical Group Management Association.
Datebook
www.watch
The National Institutes of Health has debuted a database featuring more than 2.5 million images and figures from biomedical literature.
Products and Services
A diagnostic testing company has introduced a mobile platform that permits selected patients to view lab results.
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
November 22, 2010
Features
Establishing Reality-Based Turnaround Times
Healthcare organizations must set reasonable expectations if they are to have a lasting relationship with a transcription vendor.
Major Disconnect
Physicians have shown an affinity for smartphones, but many healthcare organizations lack the ability to properly promote their use.
Repositioned for Success
As more healthcare organizations integrate EMR capabilities with revenue cycle management functions, HIM professionals need to adapt to slightly different roles.
Beating the Odds: New Treatments Combat Atrial Fibrillation
Improved techniques have increased cure rates, but it’s critical that providers recognize symptoms and recommend appropriate treatment.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for heart arrhythmias
departments
Editor’s Note
EHR Insider
Industry experts discuss how the meaningful use rules will affect radiology departments.
Money Matters
For physician practices reluctant to spend big bucks on an EMR, there exists a less-expensive alternative that could be a perfect fit.
News Briefs
New York State has awarded nearly $9 million for a project that will leverage HIT to improve mental health care in the Hudson Valley.
Datebook
www.watch
A new social network helps patients garner the emotional and financial support needed to speed recovery.
Products and Services
New on the market is a Web-based chart abstracting solution that can produce electronic physician queries and tackle ICD-10 codes.
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
November 8, 2010
Features
PHRs Bring Power to the People
Evidence is mounting in favor of PHRs being a viable tool patients can utilize to monitor chronic conditions or maintain their wellness.
Forms Automation — HIM and Beyond
If your healthcare facility is so form-filled that a trip to the DMV feels like a holiday, it may be time to look into some new technology.
Healthcare Jumps on the Mobile Bandwagon
Apps are plentiful for healthcare organizations that want to keep patient information at physicians’ fingertips.
Treating Low Vision
Prompt treatment is key to preventing a serious problem from becoming a life-altering illness.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for peripheral artery disease
departments
Editor’s Note
Transcription Trends
Here’s a recap of the new quality best practices.
Coding Corner
Relax coders, this year’s ICD-9-CM changes are on the light side. With ICD-10 looming, it appears federal officials took it easy on the rank and file.
News Briefs
According to a recent survey, hospital executives are concerned that ongoing IT staff shortages could hamper EHR adoption projects.
Datebook
www.watch
The Mayo Clinic has announced a network designed to help providers improve their use of social media platforms.
Products and Services
Several major players in the transcription/speech recognition industry have reached agreements to collaborate on natural language processing projects.
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
October 25, 2010
Features
Difference Makers
For The Record salutes 10 HIM professionals who are helping the industry transition into an exciting new era.
The Challenge of Timely Access
As eligible providers prepare to meet meaningful use requirements, many experts view the provision to provide timely patient access to healthcare data as a notable hurdle.
Search and Enjoy
Healthcare organizations can enhance their clinical informatics through the use of enterprise search methods.
Menopause and Hormonal Treatment
Leading health experts discuss the merits of employing this controversial technique to counteract the condition’s effects.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for menopause
Technology Buyers’ Guide
departments
Editor’s Note
CFO Zone
Learn how technology can ease the strain on chief financial officers looking to stay on top of revenue cycle management.
News Briefs
A two-year initiative aims to help New York City's community health centers meet meaningful use and medical home standards for care.
www.watch
California physicians have filed a lawsuit against Blue Cross Blue Shield over the insurance company’s latest online doctor rating system.
Products and Services
A new centralized tracking and workflow program allows healthcare organizations to manage all protected health information disclosures.
Datebook
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
October 11, 2010
Features
The Squeeze Is Coming — Hospitals Scramble to Absorb 2011 IPPS Changes
On top of meeting meaningful use requirements, providers face a tough challenge from the updated inpatient prospective payment system guidelines.
RAC Lessons Learned
Enough data have been compiled to get a reading on possible trends in the Recovery Audit Contractor program.
The Value of Enterprise Content Management
By offering forms development and enormous archiving ability, ECM provides solid support to EHR expansion.
Contrasting Approach
ABLAVAR is the first FDA-approved blood-pool MR agent that offers additional time for imaging and possibly some new applications.
departments
Editor’s Note
EHR Insider
It takes sound planning and solid communication to protect against improper remote access to EHRs.
News Briefs
Only 2% of U.S. hospitals in 2009 would have met federal meaningful use requirements, according to researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health.
Technology Trends
Learn how healthcare organizations can obtain physician buy-in when it comes to speech recognition.
Datebook
Products and Services
Consumers in the Sutter Health network can connect with doctors and hospitals through a free app.
www.watch
A group of 48 organizations led by the Markle Foundation has recommended the use of a “blue button” that would allow patients to download their health records.
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
September 13, 2010
Features
Patient-Centered Medical Homes: An Old Concept Gets Recharged
This approach leans heavily on HIT to make healthcare more accessible, more focused on outcomes, and more involved in engaging patients in their own care.
Coding’s Endgame
Sloppy discharge summaries can create problems throughout a hospital, most notably in the realm of patient care.
Permission Predicament
Industry experts discuss how best to handle consumer consent for health information exchanges.
Vertebroplasty — Sorting Things Out When Studies Conflict With Clinical Experience
Two clinical studies report that vertebroplasty is no more effective than a sham procedure. What happens when research data and doctors’ clinical experiences collide?
Coding and Transcription
Coding for vertebroplasty
departments
Editor’s Note
Technology Trends
Project HealthDesign is working to demonstrate how to improve the health of people with chronic disease by helping them capture information about the patterns of their everyday lives.
News Briefs
Results from a new study indicate that fewer than one third of the nation’s office-based physicians were e-prescribing and that even fewer doctors used important components such as checking for harmful drug interactions.
Datebook
Products and Services
IBM and Aetna subsidiary ActiveHealth Management have created a solution that provides clinical support for physicians and allows patients to access their own data.
www.watch
According to a Harris Interactive poll, the number of people who regularly go online to search for health information jumped by 10 percentage points over the past year.
EHR Insider
A rural nun/doctor uses technology to better serve her patients.
By the Numbers
August 30, 2010
Features
MAC Attack
Healthcare organizations can inoculate themselves against MAC audits by implementing appropriate policies and taking valuable steps to improve their efficiency in responding and appealing.
All in the Family
When it implemented Epic clinical systems, Hackensack University Medical Center opted to utilize in-house staff rather than hire additional employees or rely on consultants.
How Do You Define Interoperability?
Different people and different organizations have varying ideas of what constitutes interoperability among information systems.
Ankle Replacements Keep Boomers Moving
Eager to maintain their active lifestyles, boomers can take advantage of cutting-edge techniques and devices that make ankle replacement a promising option to combat ankle arthritis or injury.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for joint replacement
departments
Editor’s Note
Transcription Trends
Meet two men who help broker the deals that keep the transcription industry in what seems like a constant state of flux.
News Briefs
According to Spyglass Consulting Group, physicians dig using smartphones so much that the number employing the devices rose 60% over a four-year span.
Datebook
Products and Services
Verizon has unveiled a cloud-computing solution that facilitates the sharing of patient information among healthcare providers.
www.watch
A new website offers healthcare professionals a forum where they can share their experiences and ideas on how best to handle meaningful use requirements.
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
August 16, 2010
Features
How to Avoid CPOE Pitfalls
Implementation Learn the steps healthcare facilities can take to help ensure a successful relationship with computerized physician order entry.
Text Appeal
Industry experts weigh in on a new transcription solution that allows the secure exchange of digital records and medical images via text message.
RACs — There’s Beauty in the Beast
Coding experts explain how it’s possible for healthcare organizations to embrace the recovery audit contractor process.
Twin Accomplishment
A doctor’s pioneering procedure gives new hope to countless expectant mothers whose pregnancies are complicated by twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for multiple gestation
Departments
Editor’s Note
Evolving Education
For HIM professionals seeking a new twist on their careers, becoming consultants offers an opportunity to explore different avenues.
News Briefs
Patients who communicated with their doctors via e-mail received better care and achieved better health outcomes, according to a Kaiser Permanente study.
Datebook
Products and Services
iRemoteScan for the iPad and iPhone allows individuals to remotely operate scanners connected to PCs and workstations.
www.watch
A new website has launched where medical practices can compare and choose EHR systems.
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
August 2, 2010
Features
Faulty Construction
Because EHRs lack a human-centric design, the technology often fails to win over physicians who decry its inability to fit into their workflow.
Selling Physicians on the Value of Speech Recognition
No matter how advanced the technology, it will prove ineffective if hospital staff aren’t willing to give it a try.
And So It Is Written…
Find out what industry leaders think of the final meaningful use guidelines.
Adult ADHD — Hidden Diagnosis
Adult ADHD often goes unnoticed, but its effects are very real, leading to poor work performance and failed relationships.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for ADHD/ADD
Consulting & Outsourcing Buyers’ Guide
Learn the ins and outs about the companies ready to lend a hand to your facility.
Departments
Guest Voice
An HIT expert fills in readers on the new guidelines for EHR certification.
Coding Corner
Many factors can affect a coder’s productivity. Learn how departments can fairly and accurately measure their staff’s output.
News Briefs
The HealthPartners Research Foundation will fund a study of whether EHR systems help reduce patients’ risk of developing heart disease.
Products and Services
The AHIMA’s latest RAC guidebook helps HIM professionals manage the demands of an external audit.
Datebook
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
July 19, 2010
Features
The EHR Life Cycle
Implementing an electronic records system can be a lengthy and daunting project, but expertise from the HIM department can ease the burden.
Transcription’s Place in a Digital World
Speech recognition, the changing role of medical transcriptionists, and meaningful use are transforming how the industry approaches its future.
Proposed HIT Patient Safety Program Receives Mixed Reviews
Is it practical to create a national database that can confidentially report patient data errors and unsafe EHR conditions?
Therapeutic Controversy — The Effects of Supplementing Cancer Treatment With Antioxidants
Do they help tumor cells or normal cells thrive? Researchers are divided on the substances’ role in helping to curtail cancer’s deadly path.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for chemotherapy treatment
Departments
Editor’s Note
EHR Insider
By adding electronic records technology to their practices, physicians change the dynamic of how they interact with patients.
News Briefs
A 12-month pilot project aims to assess the impact of sharing physicians’ encounter notes with patients through online medical record portals.
Datebook
www.watch
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released software that hospitals can use free of charge to compile, analyze, and post data on the quality and cost of their healthcare.
Products and Services
ExecuScribe and BayScribe have developed Web-based documentation software designed to improve the dictation process.
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
June 21, 2010
FEATURES
National MPI
A number of factors make it unlikely that a suitable system will be devised to tag each patient with a unique identifier recognizable in all healthcare settings.
The Mechanics of Inpatient Chart Review
Under intense pressure to code accurately and quickly, coders need a little bit of detective in them to successfully navigate the history of a patient’s hospital stay.
Fill in the Blank
By conducting a thorough assessment of their IT operations, healthcare organizations can get a read on their chances of meeting meaningful use criteria and collecting federal incentive funds.
Pause for Concern
Leading researchers discuss sleep apnea symptoms, treatment, and an eye-opening study involving elders.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for sleep apnea
DEPARTMENTS
Editor’s Note
Transcription Trends
Industry leaders offer their thoughts on MedQuist’s acquisition of Spheris.
News Briefs
HIT backers recently received more reason to boast when Kaiser Permanente found EMRs helped patients lower their heart disease risk.
www.watch
A recent national survey indicated that about one half of parents of children aged 17 and younger would like to be able to communicate online with their child’s physician’s office.
Products and Services
A new book provides an overview of the social media tools healthcare organizations are using to connect with patients, colleagues, and others.
Datebook
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
June 7, 2010
FEATURES
Negative Exposure
Cell phone cameras add another variable to patient privacy concerns that must be addressed by healthcare organizations.
A Dash of Compliance
PEPPER reports have returned with a new look, one that industry experts say can help providers spot payment errors.
EDMS: Solidifying the Union Between Paper and the EMR
Many hospitals are starting to realize the need for a true electronic document management system in addition to a robust EMR.
The Buzz About Bioidenticals
Fueled by celebrity media reports, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy has become one of the health topics du jour.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for menstrual disorders
DEPARTMENTS
Editor’s Note
Business Brief
Federal funding for electronic record projects has created an unprecedented need for qualified HIT professionals.
News Briefs
Arizona State researchers suggest that while EHR use may lead to lower mortality rates for certain conditions, the technology does not save hospitals money or reduce patient complications.
Datebook
www.watch
Patients who have been the victim of an adverse medical event can share the details of their experiences by logging on to a new Web site.
Products and Services
An enterprising Florida-based company has begun offering consulting services designed to help providers meet meaningful use criteria.
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
May 24, 2010
FEATURES
Mission Critical: Telemedicine in the ICU
Futuristic technology is transforming a children’s hospital’s pediatric ICU, but a recent study questions whether such projects are worth the expense.
Dialed in to Data Exchange
A platform launched by Verizon provides a way for medical transcriptionists to share digitized patient notes detailing care and treatment with doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers, but it’s not without its detractors.
Adult Educational Principles in Clinical Informatics
Make the effort to learn how to best teach staff, and chances are your EMR implementation will go that much smoother.
2010 Coding & Revenue Cycle Buyers’ Guide
Coding departments are sure to find the help they need from this extensive listing of leading vendors.
Addressing Anesthesia Concerns
To avoid complications, healthcare professionals can take these steps to ensure older patients have the best chance for a healthy recovery.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for delirium
DEPARTMENTS
Editor’s Note
Coding Corner
Resident coding expert Judy Sturgeon, CCS, pens a letter to physicians that extols the virtues and value of DRG coders.
News Briefs
A survey conducted by the Center for Studying Health System Change discovered that EMRs could both help and hinder patient-doctor communication.
www.watch
The U.S. Department of Labor has laid the groundwork to create an online platform aimed at improving access to healthcare opportunities, including HIT-related jobs.
Products and Services
An online simulator allows healthcare organizations to practice real-world scenarios in preparation for the transition to ICD-10.
Datebook
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
May 10, 2010
FEATURES
Grant Money, Great Opportunity
Recipients of federal HIT funds are making plans to take full advantage of the Obama administration’s generosity.
Unreasonable Request?
HIM experts have raised serious concerns about meaningful use criteria that require hospitals to provide most patients with an electronic version of their records within 48 hours.
Document for Success
By implementing a clinical documentation improvement program, healthcare organizations can support better patient care and increase their bottom line.
Shingles: Painful and Debilitating
Caused by the varicella-zoster virus, this infection of the nervous system requires prompt treatment if a patient is to avoid serious discomfort.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for shingles
DEPARTMENTS
Editor’s Note
EHR Insider
Are meaningful use incentive payments driving EMR adoption among small physician practices? A new survey has some telling answers.
Technology Trends
Employed correctly, a real-time location system can prove to be a valuable asset in terms of cost savings and patient care.
News Briefs
Despite stiffened requirements, new research suggests health data remain at risk.
Datebook
www.watch
Adults living with chronic disease are disproportionately offline in an online world.
Products and Services
MedQuist and Artificial Medical Intelligence have inked a deal to collaborate on computer-assisted coding technology.
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
April 26, 2010
FEATURES
Transcription Efficiency
What steps can HIM managers take when they receive the ultimatum to increase transcription operations?
E-Prescribing Standards: More Clarity Needed
For the technology to become commonplace, industry experts say participating parties must receive stronger guidance from federal regulations.
From DNA to Dashboards: Data Mining on the Brink of a Breakout
If nothing else, technology has enabled the healthcare industry to collect huge volumes of data. Now, creative organizations are starting to put it to good use.
PET Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
Imaging physicians at some facilities believe this exam provides superior images to a traditional stress test, particularly for women and patients who are overweight.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for chest pain
DEPARTMENTS
Editor’s Note
Evolving Education
Regional extension centers hope to make life easier for providers pining for meaningful use.
News Briefs
A Florida couple has been indicted for paying an ambulance company employee to steal patient information.
Datebook
www.watch
Medsphere has introduced an online calculator to estimate the stimulus dollars a facility can expect and the date of a return on investment for implementing the company’s EHR.
Products and Services
3M has released software that enables physicians to dictate notes and view patient information on their mobile device using Wi-Fi or a 3G connection.
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
April 12, 2010
FEATURES
Tiny Tool, Huge Potential
Small in stature but standing tall with healthcare thinkers, the iPhone turns information exchange into a simple, straightforward process.
Injections & Infusions: Will the Confusion Ever Go Away?
Like some New Wave French films, these services will cause coders’ heads to spin.
Plug Into the Future
As science advances, cancer registry practices must follow suit, meaning providers and personnel face challenges to stay up-to-date.
Tough Call
Healthcare professionals must take the proper steps to differentiate between a diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disorder and sinusitis.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for temporomandibular joint disorder
DEPARTMENTS
Editor’s Note
News Briefs
A survey by the Medical Group Management Association shows more than two thirds of practice administrators say meaningful use requirements would lower physician productivity.
Transcription Trends
Learn how a Wisconsin-based health system took advantage of partial dictation to improve documentation.
Datebook
www.watch
At the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, patients are now able to view selected portions of their medical records online.
Products and Services
HP and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives have created a scholarship fund for future HIT leaders.
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
March 29, 2010
FEATURES
Physician Documentation: Slow No More
Newer, more advanced technologies arriving on the scene are expected to make the documentation process easier, allowing physicians to maintain the efficient and timely workflow they desire.
Data Disconnect
The complex nature of healthcare information is just one major hurdle that need to be cleared before efficient local, regional, and national exchanges can be established.
ICD-10 Timetable — Where Does Your Organization Stand?
It may be three years in the distance and other federal initiatives may seem more urgent, but industry insiders say providers should be well into the assessment phase.
More Options Emerge for Scoliosis Patients
The use of minimally invasive procedures has the medical community excited and curious about the direction of treatment possibilities.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for scoliosis
2010 EHR Buyers’ Guide
Here it is, the most “meaningful” guide in print.
DEPARTMENTS
Editor’s Note
EHR Insider
Despite the heavy buzz surrounding EHR adoption, many facilities still live in a hybrid world where HIM departments face unique challenges.
News Briefs
Smaller EMR vendors are hanging tough, reports Kalorama Information, whose recent findings show no single company owns the market.
Datebook
Products and Services
The Institute for Health Technology Transformation has announced a scholarship fund for educational programs taking place in 2010.
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
March 15, 2010
FEATURES
Pick of the Litter
When it comes time to select a document destruction vendor, healthcare organizations must consider several factors, including the influence of the HITECH Act.
Offshore Transcription: A Seaworthy Choice?
Several important factors must be considered to ensure medical records will be handled properly by overseas medical transcriptionists.
Heavy Load: The Burden of Meaningful Use
Besides the possibility of implementing an electronic record system, healthcare organizations will have other issues to confront if they want to meet federal requirements.
New Flu, Old Problem
The H1N1 pandemic focuses attention on the implications of this influenza strain for older adults.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for H1N1 flu
DEPARTMENTS
Editor’s Note
News Briefs
Epocrates recently published results from a survey of its physician users that found about 20% of them plan to buy an iPad.
Coding Corner
A coding manager demystifies the rules surrounding vessel variations.
Datebook
www.watch
Nine in 10 hospitals use social media to some degree, but most indicate it does little to attract new patients, according to a recent study.
Products and Services
Graduates of the HIT program at the Borough of Manhattan Community College are now eligible to sit for the RHIT exam.
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
March 1, 2010
FEATURES
Medicaid Integrity Program Promises New Headaches
The federal government’s latest project to collect overpayments differs greatly from the work being done by recovery audit contractors.
Tap Into the Power of PHRs
This underutilized tool generates and stores information that can make the healthcare experience more valuable for both patients and providers.
No Better Time for Telehealth
A pair of studies illustrates the power of at-home patient monitoring in terms of both care and cost savings.
Newer Treatments Hold Hope for Multiple Myeloma Patients
Trials experimenting with combinations of new and existing therapies are more promising than ever.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for multiple myeloma
DEPARTMENTS
Editor’s Note
On the Case
The medical records department played a key role in a Wisconsin hospital’s bid for Stage 7 designation.
News Briefs
Cisco Systems and Molina Healthcare are among the participants in a California project to provide health and wellness services to underserved communities throughout the state.
Technology Trends
GE Healthcare has introduced a number of tools that interface wireless technology with patient monitoring devices.
www.watch
The National Library of Medicine has launched a mobile version of its popular MedlinePlus site.
Products and Services
HP hardware will soon be bundled with McKesson’s EHR and practice management software.
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
February 15, 2010
FEATURES
United They Stand
By engaging in training sessions and maintaining the lines of communication, hospitals and their affiliated physicians can acquire the resources to combat RAC audits.
IT Vendor Negotiations in the ARRA Era
The negotiating field has been revamped as healthcare executives and technology companies operate in a world where meaningful use takes precedence.
Beat the Odds
A number of factors make successful implementation of an emergency department information system a challenge to many healthcare organizations.
Gadolinium Contrast — Seeking a Better View
A couple of recent studies provide additional data on the possible dangers associated with gadolinium contrast and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.
Coding and Transcription
Acute renal failure update — Responses to common coding issues
DEPARTMENTS
Editor’s Note
News Briefs
The VA and Kaiser Permanente recently launched a pilot medical data exchange program that enables clinicians to obtain a more comprehensive view of patients’ health.
EHR Insider
Create a patient-centric record that is complete, timely, and accurate to stay a step ahead of the meaningful use criteria.
www.watch
Walgreens pharmacy patients now have the ability to securely download their prescription history to Microsoft’s HealthVault.
Products and Services
To meet the demands of greater regulation, the AHDI and MTIA have released a manual to address best documentation practices.
Datebook
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
February 1, 2010 
FEATURES
Denials Management Strategies
It takes more than a whip and a chair to make staff aware of how they can guarantee the hospital receives proper reimbursement for services.
Do Privacy Hurdles Impede Data Exchange?
Some industry experts argue that too-strict privacy laws are hampering the electronic exchange of health information.
Precarious Position
Learn how medical transcription businesses can successfully tackle security risk analysis to bolster their defenses against impending HITECH regulations.
Exercise as Medicine
Baby boomers are discovering that exercise can serve as “medicine” against the many types of ailments that become more prevalent as they age.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for spinal cord injuries
2010 Transcription Buyers’ Guide
Searching for state-of-the-art transcription companies that offer old-time service? You’ve come to the right spot.
DEPARTMENTS
Editor’s Note
News Briefs
Although physicians support EHR use, concerns about potential privacy breaches remain an issue, according to two research articles.
Transcription Trends
The Medical Transcription Service Consortium plans to develop a common framework for the exchange of health information among consortium members and their clients.
Products and Services
New software enables physicians to use a single smartphone for voice communication, e-mail, Internet access, and dictation.
www.watch
For the first time, the VA is putting online raw data from its annual hospital report card.
Money Matters
A CHIME survey measures chief financial officers’ concerns with obtaining stimulus dollars.
Datebook
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
January 18, 2010
FEATURES
Escape Query Quandaries
Industry experts offer suggestions on how to best handle the process that benefits both physician and hospital—whether the doctor knows it or not.
Healthcare 2010: What’s in Store?
Top thinkers in the HIT profession field questions that provide an inside look at this year’s prospects.
The Rush Is On
New grants are in place to help the HIM industry fund the arrival of 50,000 new workforce members.
Diagnosing Pulmonary Embolism
Should CT angiography and its significantly higher radiation dose be used instead of V/Q scintigraphy to diagnose pulmonary embolisms in young women? There is plenty of room for debate.
Coding and Transcription
Coding for Marfan syndrome
DEPARTMENTS
Editor’s Note
Technology Trends
A HIMSS survey questions healthcare organizations’ ability to meet HITECH requirements.
Coding Corner
Often overlooked but always appreciated, the American Hospital Association’s Central Office serves as a national sounding board for the coding profession.
News Briefs
Three Denver-area providers have formed a health information exchange that impacts more than 1 million patients.
Products and Services
Dell has introduced a mobile virtual computing offering that allows clinicians single sign-on and session-roaming capabilities on any device for applications they’re authorized to use within a facility.
Datebook
www.watch
The Alzheimer’s Association is using Web-based technology to let caregivers track their loved ones’ travels.
By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on healthcare’s facts and figures.
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