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Unlike many community hospitals, Great Plains Regional Medical Center (GPMC) in North Platte, NE, used the now legendary Y2K as an opportunity to examine all its IT needs. At the [...]

The article focuses on the integration of new analytical technology in laboratory testing with information technology, emphasizing the need for collaboration and mutual respect among providers, laboratorians, and information technology professionals. Topics include the challenges of managing information and data in healthcare, and the implementation concerns of an all-in-one Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

The article focuses on Mary Greeley Medical Center Laboratory in Ames, IA, being awarded the Lab of the Year for its outstanding initiatives in improving operational performance, employee retention, and the lab's culture. Topics include customer service, productivity measures, and fostering a culture of respect and teamwork among the staff.

With several healthcare reform-related programs already beginning to demand an extremely broad range of data reporting from providers, and the meaningful use process under HITECH continuing to move forward, healthcare IT leaders are faced as never before with a menu of data reporting mandates that are set to redraw the landscape of healthcare. In this cover story package, we look first at the overall picture, and then offer case studies from the pioneering organizations that are already moving forward into the future of healthcare, one organized around the industry's new accountability agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance and benefits and conducting planning sessions for sterile processing (SP) leaders and teams. Topics include factors that allow for the operating room (OR) and SP staff to ensure that a surgical procedure can occur, role of an SP manager, and a simulated session between SP professionals discussing the issue only after it has been brought to leadership's attention.

The article informs the significance of adopting an all-in-one Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to address data management challenges in medical laboratories. It mentions the benefits of seamless integration and interoperability within LIMS, including improved data quality, streamlined workflows, and enhanced productivity.

In the article, the author discusses the efforts by Duke University Health System to document the clinical, financial and operational benefits of unique device identifiers (UDI) for device and supply information management in its cardiac catheterization (Cath) and electrophysiology (EP) laboratories. Among the benefits are improved supply chain efficiency, reduced rejected charges, and enhanced recall response. Also cited are the possible reasons why hospitals are not taking advantage of UDIs.

The article discusses diagnostics and treatment innovation in U.S. healthcare as of November 2022. Topics covered include the evolution of the point-of-care technologies (POCT) and rapid testing market, the POC supply and storage challenges, and the application of POCTs to new patient populations and conditions like POC ultrasound (POCUS). Also noted are remote monitoring advancements in cancer care and wound management.

The article discusses the role of laboratories in the transition of the U.S. health care sector to patient-centered care. Topics covered include are the challenges faced by clinical laboratories to adopt a patient-centric model and the rise of accountable care organizations in the country. Also mentioned is the implications of the transition for the issue of patient privacy.

Discusses the advantages of mobile technology to the work of physicians. Improvements in the clinical workflow of physicians; Benefits from mobile dictation; Inefficiencies eliminated by electronic billing.

The article focuses on the changes in the radiology practice in healthcare industry. It discusses readmissions reduction program for health professionals under Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). It also discusses the changing trends of payment, policy, and technology in radiology practice.

The article discusses a 2013 announcement from the U.S. Joint Commission in which the commission indicated that it will expand its performance measurement requirements for accredited general medical/ surgical hospitals from four to six core measure sets.

The article focuses on specimen collection and handling best practices in the laboratory total testing process. Topics include the importance of patient identification, appropriate specimen types, timing of specimen collection, specimen quantity and integrity, transport medium, and challenges and considerations for blood, urine, stool, and nasopharyngeal swab specimens.

The article indicates that the effective implementation of a mature, capable library information system (LIS) is essential for achieving safe, effective and efficient care for patients. It examines the forces shaping LIS and electronic health records (EHR) structure, as well as defines terminology related to electronic management of health information. It also discusses standards and compliance of EHR, and elaborates on risk stratification and the lab's role in healthcare decision-making.

The article focuses on issues related to population health management such as accountable care organization (ACO) and patient-centered medical home (PCMH) development. It features conclusion from medical group leaders with at health systems on fundamental learnings about population health management issues. According to Darryl Cardoza of Hill Physicians Medical Group, the key difference between accountable care, managed care, and population health, are the management of their entirety of care.

The article presents an interview with medical group organization leaders on the hurdles to adopt strategic information technology baselines needed for the new healthcare reforms which aim to make healthcare more transparent. They include Tim Terrell, Chief Information Officer (CIO), Cornerstone Health Care, Francis X. Solano, Vice President, Physician Services Division, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) health system and Glenn Mamary, Vice President and CIO, Hunterdon Healthcare. INSET: Meet our Virtual Panel Members.

The fact that many clinical performance measures are now being designed with EHRs as their data source may lead to systemic improvements in patient safety. Healthcare Informatics looks at four healthcare providers whose IT infrastructures already underpin their performance improvement strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the efforts of chief medical informatics officers (CMIOs) to guide their colleagues towards the meaningful use of quality data reporting in the U.S., under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. The Texas Health Resources integrated systems in Arlington and the HealthEast Care System in Minnesota are some health care providers moving ahead to comply with HITECH.

The article presents an overview on how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will affect various types of healthcare organizations. A number of topics from clinical information systems with organizations seeking streamlined workflow capabilities and financial systems discussing the impact of the legislation on organization finances to wireless technologies and protection of patient data and imaging/PACS IT and dramatic transformations in diagnostic imaging are covered briefly. There is also a guide of selected products and services for medical professionals.

Healthcare IT leaders nationwide are moving forward steadily to introduce evidence-based care tools into clinician workflows, both with regard to the development of order sets in computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems, as well as in the context of the medical diagnosis process. As they advance in these areas, they are finding that building everything from scratch is simply too labor-intensive a prospect. And as hospitals and medical groups turn increasingly to the commercially sponsored offerings available, they are finding the insertion of evidence-based decision support to be a plus in winning doctors over to CPOE adoption. INSET: Is Process King? Getting physician buy-in is key to success in.... [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article deals with the collaboration between chief information officers (CIOs) and healthcare information technology (IT) leader colleagues in providing interoperable electronic health record (EHR), picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) and radiology information system (RIS) products. Karen Thomas, vice president and CIO at Mainline Health, and her colleagues made smoother access to diagnostic images, radiology reports and other data. One of the factors affecting the progress of hospitals include ongoing system consolidation. INSETS: Where are the PACS and RIS Markets Headed? One Expert's...;Interoperability: Imaging Center CIO Viewpoint.

The CIOs and CMIOs from Trinity Health System, Beth Israel Deaconess, Summa Health System, and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh share their experiences toward meaningful use and offer tips for navigating the long road ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an interview with Partners Healthcare Executive Director Sandy Aronson. When asked about the concept behind the GeneInsight platform, he describes that their organization improves at the sequencing technology that promoted identifying variance in patients. He gives examples of what researchers look for to help clinicians such as having a cancerous tumor. Particular focus is also given to the issue of reimbursement in the integration of genetics into healthcare.

The article discusses the latest in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing as of February 2008. Four rapid HIV antibody tests have been introduced as a means of diagnosing HIV diseases. Unlike from previous processes, these tests can be received the same day and can be done at both clinical and non-traditional sites. They are also considered beneficial since they can be non-invasive; however, their non-invasiveness is argued since it will likely outweigh the small deficit in specificity.

The article explains why there is a need for a solid governance plan to effectively implement a computerized physician order entry (CPOE). Although selecting the right technology is a critical component for the successful deployment of CPOE, the author believes that there is a need to first create an effective governance plan which centers on clinician workflows. Pre-identified order sets should be created before deployment to effectively integrate CPOE into clinician workflow.

The article discusses the Electronic Health Records (EHRs)- laboratory information systems (LIS). It mentions that EHR incentive program rewards healthcare professionals for achieving Meaningful Use (MU) objectives. It also mentions that the EHR and the LIS have different tools to support analytics needed by Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). To make the best use of, maximize efficiency and reduce costs, and to improve results, LIS and EHR technology should be combined is also suggested.

The article focuses on the development of a bar code system for bedside documentation process by the University of Missouri Health System, an academic health system in Columbia, Missouri, to improve quality and safety of patient care. It informs that the problem of transferring of patient's vital signs to electronic health record has been solved by developing a method for mobile patient bedside documentation.

The article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different electronic medical record (EMR) activation options. It was mentioned that the leadership of EMR implementation at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital took evidence-based approach to determine their activation approach. One of the primary types of approaches within the geographic dimension is a big-bang approach that is all units at once. A survey was made in 2008 related to activation strategies.

An interview with Jane Metzger, co-author of the report "Hospital Quality Reporting--The Hidden Requirements of Meaningful Use," is presented. When asked about the difficulty of satisfying the hospital requirements, she refers to deconstructing measure specifications into their data elements. She says the work involved in collecting 15 quality measures is more complex than people realize. She believes that chief information officers (CIOs) should move forward on electronic medication record (eMAR).

The author discusses the greater pressure faced by radiologists as the healthcare industry moves to a value-based model of care in the U.S. Topics covered include the need to portray radiologists as knowledgeable physicians, the need for radiologists to transcend image interpretation, and radiology's value in lowering per capita cost.

The article discusses studies which examined the attitude and perception of nurses toward the adoption of electronic health records (EHR). The studies analyzed the effect of automated systems on nurses' workflows, and its effect on clinical outcomes. One of the studies compared direct-versus-indirect patient care, while another examined the perception of hospital staff on the influence of bedside barcoding for medication delivery on patient safety.

The article discusses an increase which has been seen in the number of hospital supply chain departments which have expressed interest in utilizing mobile device applications for iPhones and tablet computers. A discussion of the positive impact that the applications can have on the operation of supply chain departments is presented. INSET: FDA eyeing mobile apps.

The article offers tips on installing clinical information system (CIS) from industry experts with minimal problems. 4medica chief executive officer (CEO) Oleg Bess advises selecting an electronic health record (EHR) that suits the needs and the financial, clinical and information technology (IT) resources of the hospital. KLAS research director Paul Pitcher suggests selecting a system that meets the functionality, meaningful and business requirements.

The article offers information on connecting Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) with Electronic Health Records (EHR). It states that the shared data featured range of information, which included insurance information, medical history and immunizations. It mentions that arranging EHR without LIS is like making a diagnosis with only 30 percent of the diagnostic data.

The article considers the challenges in integrating information from separate radiology information system (RIS) and picture archiving and communication system (PACS) onto one electronic medical record (EMR). According to the author, in order to activate the communication between mismatched EMR and PACS, vendors should either invoke their system or to proceed to the HL7 interface. He added that Meditech RIS can and will invoke DR Systems' PACS every day, but electronically printing the record occurs in two steps from two different servers.

Answers several questions on clinical medicine and other issues relevant to medical laboratories in the U.S. Repeat analysis of any values obtained by chemistry or hematology instrumentation; Liquid calibrators for instrument; Parathyroid hormone and ionized calcium.

The article explores the growing use of CAD/CAM technology in dentistry, in which advantages and disadvantages of the sector's increasing dependence on technology is discussed. Topics discussed include the state of technology adoption among dental practices, reasons why depending mostly on CAD/CAM technologies can hurt the practice and the benefits of CAD/CAM technology use for crowns and bridges.

The article focuses on the improvement in patient satisfaction scores (PSS) at the acute care facility Carroll Hospital in Westminster, Maryland after the deployment of the digital inpatient rounding solution GetWell Rounds+. Topics mentioned include the inefficiencies of the hospital's nurse leader rounding program including the failure to customize patient questions, the use cases for the rounding tool including benchmarking and audits, and the other areas of PSS with improvements.

This article discusses the value of patient history for physicians in making accurate diagnoses. Topics covered include the need by clinicians for actionable historical information such as patient data, test results, past visits and diagnoses, why an electronic medical records (EMRs) do not tell a complete historic patient data, and how the integration of EMR with an independent clinical archive (ICA) can help clinicians, such as reducing the number of places they need to look for data.

The article discusses evaluation of key performance indicators associated with the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) in the U.S.

The article emphasizes the benefits of medication therapy management (MTM). The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created MTM in an effort to create safeguards, systems and services that can reduce medication-related complications. MTM programs were designed to enhance medication utilization, reduce adverse drug events, and improve therapeutic outcomes.

The article reports on the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' 2010 release of its final regulation on meaningful use of electronic health records in health care facilities. An overview of the Intravenous Device (IVD) Industry Connectivity Consortium, which was founded in 2008 to create and encourage the adoption of a unified connectivity standard with the goal of reducing the cost and variability of data exchange between IVD devices and health information technology, is presented.

The article discusses how can healthcare organizations in the U.S. reduced their operational costs without affecting the quality of their service. It claims that cooperation among physicians, clinical staff members and hospital executives is needed for the development of innovative ways to enhance patient care. It cites the growing popularity of the accountable care index (ACI) as a standard for quality in the sector.