Healthcare IT News for VARs – September 9, 2013
Business Solutions searched recent headlines for news of interest to VARs serving clients in the healthcare industry.
EHR Design Shortcomings Result In "Workarounds"
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association found healthcare providers working in outpatient clinical settings create paper or computer “workarounds” to meet challenges not addressed in EHR design. The study found common reasons for the workarounds are efficiency, memory, and awareness.
Army To Upgrade EMR System
The U.S. Army is preparing to upgrade its EMR system. An article in The Gateway states Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4), the current Army EMR system, will use a new iteration of the MC4 software suite, known as EMR 2.2.0.0, that includes an upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 and enhancements for medical logistics.
FDA Providing Guidance On Healthcare Apps
A Health IT Outcomes article points out there are more than 40,000 healthcare apps but the Food and Drug Administration has reviewed less than 1 percent of them for accuracy and safety. The potential for mobile “care” via smartphone is an opportunity for developers – who will have guidance for healthcare apps from the FDA next month.
Long-Term Care Facilities Behind In EHR Adoption
A Health Data Management article says long-term care and skilled nursing facilities have a much lower rate of EHR systems adoption. Funding the new systems – without benefit of an incentive program like the one created for other healthcare providers – is a major hurdle.
HIMSS Survey: Outsourcing Up, Skilled Health IT Workers In Demand
The inaugural Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) workforce survey shows 24 percent of healthcare providers surveyed outsource system design and implementations rather than hire, and 28 percent outsource project management. Also, 31 percent state they had to put some IT initiatives on hold due to staffing shortages, and 43 percent of healthcare providers and 56 percent of vendors said there is a lack of qualified people inhibiting them from being fully staffed.
Healthcare IT Talking Points
A Government Health IT article considers whether waiting for ICD-10 is difficult for IT vendors – some of whom are ready to switch to their ICD-10 products and some of whom are still scrambling to meet the October 2014 deadline.
An article on The Motley Fool’s website looks at the halo effect of EHRs in pharmacies – how offering these services makes their pharmacies more efficient, but also can improve sales in other areas of the stores.