Health Information Technology News

FP Testifies Before House Subcommittee on Health IT Issues, Praises Bill to Help Physicians Purchase Health IT Systems (American Academy of Family Physicians)
As many primary care practices face declining payments and higher operating costs, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to access capital to invest in health information technology, or health IT. An initiative that would allow physicians to secure loans through commercial vendors to purchase health IT systems and give them a deferral period to pay back the loans would help, according to FP …

Usability Experts Discuss User Experience In Health IT (Medical News Today)
User Centric, Inc. will be hosting a full-day seminar on Health Information Technology (HIT) Usability on September 3, 2009 at the University of Chicago’s Gleacher Center. “Learn How to Improve the User Experience in Health IT”, led by usability expert Robert Schumacher, PhD, will discuss techniques and answer questions surrounding usability as it relates to HIT.

Gillibrand announces legislation to improve financing for future infrastructure upgrades (The Evening Times)
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Tuesday unveiled her comprehensive plan to invest in New York infrastructure including priority transportation projects across New York state, new legislation to improve federal financing for future transportation projects and plans to expand access to broadband funding for underserved areas and rural communities implementing health care information technology.

INHS Brings Health Information Technology Conference to Spokane (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
Inland Northwest Health Services in partnership with eHealth Initiative will hold the Northwest Medical Informatics Symposium , a health information technology conference featuring national and regional speakers on September 10 and 11 in Spokane, Washington.

Health staff work watch (Northern Daily Leader)
AN UNPRECEDENTED crackdown on staff working hours and overtime in the information technology department at Hunter New England Health is not the result of budget cutbacks.

Douglas on Containing Health Care Costs (WCAX-TV Vermont)
Gov. Jim Douglas says better care of chronic illnesses and more use of information technology are key to containing the nation’s health care costs.

Media Advisory: Government of Canada to Announce Investment in Local Company That Will Benefit Animal Health-Care … (Marketwire)
CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND–(Marketwire – July 22, 2009) – On July 23rd, the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), will announce an important investment to a Charlottetown-based firm, Timeless Technologies Inc. Timeless Technologies Inc. develops information technology, software applications and databases for the health-care industry. /T/ Date: Thursday, …

Tech companies hope to catch health IT windfall (BizJournals)
Numerous Bay Area technology companies are positioning themselves to benefit from the $19 billion-plus federal stimulus for health care information technology, particularly electronic medical records, either directly or indirectly, through selling hardware, software or consulting services.

Health IT: More certification groups could speed stimulus-related spending (Federal Computer Week)
A federal advisory group has recommended that multiple organizations be able to test and certify vendor systems to meet the economic stimulus law’s requirements for electronic health records.

HIMSS Electronic Health Record Association Supports Achievable ‘Meaningful Use’ Criteria In Comments To ONC (Medical News Today)
The Electronic Health Records Association (EHR Association) has made specific recommendations to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) on measurable criteria for achieving “meaningful use” of electronic health records (EHRs), as called for in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).