Health Information Technology News

Veterans Health Administration runs competition for health IT ideas (Federal Computer Week)
The Veterans Health Administration has launched a contest to see which employees and contractors can dream up the best ideas for improving its use of health IT.

Electronic Health Records Need Better Monitoring (redOrbit)
The push is on for healthcare providers to make the switch to electronic health records but it is hard to tell how well these complex health information technology systems are being implemented and used, writes a health informatics researcher at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in a Feb.

Douglas Ash, Lockheed Martin Vice President, Elected Vice Chair of the Information Technology Senior Management Forum (PRWeb via Yahoo! News)
The Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) is proud to announce the recent election of Douglas Ash as Vice Chair for the 2010 2011 calendar years. As Vice Chair, Douglas will be directly responsible for assisting the ITSMF board and its 180+ members in strategic growth and operational performance.

Electronic health records need better monitoring, UT prof reports (EurekAlert!)
( University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston ) The push is on for health-care providers to make the switch to electronic health records but it is hard to tell how well these complex health information technology systems are being implemented and used, writes a health informatics researcher at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in a Feb. 3 commentary in JAMA, the …

Microsoft eyes ‘robotic doctor’ to cut health costs in poor countries (EurActiv)
Craig Mundie , chief research and strategy officer at Microsoft , says growth in the world’s population means low-cost technologies must become accessible for billions of people. A leading figure in the information technology sector believes virtual doctors can help raise health standards in the developing world.

PatientKeeper to Host HIMSS-Sponsored Webinar on Meaningful Adoption of Healthcare Information Technology (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
BOSTON—-PatientKeeper, Inc., the leading provider of Physician Information Technology, today announced that Chief Executive Officer Paul Brient and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Donald Burt will co-host a Webinar sponsored by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society titled Meaningful Use Requires Meaningful Adoption: Reporting From the Trenches on February 2, 2010 at 2 p.m.

Pick-Up In Health-Care Deals Seen As Overhaul Plan Stalls (Nasdaq)
Significant health-care deals, largely on pause for the past 18 months, are poised to pick up now that the threat of major industry-wide changes from U.S. health-care overhaul legislation has diminished.

Health IT Helps Practices Grow, Improve Patient Care (American Academy of Family Physicians)
Can an electronic health record, or EHR, system really benefit a primary care practice? Can health information technology, or health IT, help physicians in solo and group practices run more efficient and profitable businesses and provide top-notch care to patients of all ages? AAFP News Now recently talked to four family physicians who said their practices and their patients are reaping the …

Colorado Business (Denver Post)
Ciber Federal, a division of Greenwood Village-based Ciber Inc., announced that it was part of a team that won the National Aeronautical and Space Administration Marshal Space Flight Center Information Technology Services Contract. Ciber will provide more than 60 workers for five years, generating revenues exceeding $26 million.

HHS preparing to award $50M for Health IT Research Center (Federal Computer Week)
HHS is preparing to launch its Health IT Research Center devoted to meaningful use of electronic health records under the economic stimulus law.