It has been an up-and-down year for healthcare informational technology. The biggest story, no doubt, was the impact that national recession had on healthcare investments – way back in January, the picture was bleak. But with the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the industry received a $19 billion shot in the arm from the new Obama Administration. While the money – to be used as incentives for adopting healthcare IT – doesn't begin to flow in 2011, EHR adoption planning has already begun.

In the second half of the year, the top issue has been healthcare reform. The last sentences on that story have yet to be written, but on Dec. 24, the Senate finally passed its own bill. All that remains is reconciling the Senate and House versions and President Obama's signature.

Below you'll find the top issues of the last 12 months, selected by the editors of Healthcare IT News. Clicking on a headline will take you to the original story. This list is obviously subjective -- we'd love to get your input on the stories you think were most important to the industry. Send us an email at editor@healthcareitnews.com or add a comment at the bottom of the page.

Privacy issues dog progess on NHIN
Privacy issues continue to keep the country’s planned nationwide health information network on the slow track, but government and community leaders say it won’t be a problem going forward. Yet things did not go exactly as the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology planned at a demonstration last month, where 19 cooperative organizations were scheduled to use real patient data to show how interoperability works. Instead, they used fictitious patient records to demonstrate greater depth in capabilities for interoperability than the initial trial run held in September.

IT pledge has market on pins and needles
President Barack Obama’s pledge to inject $50 billion into the healthcare field over the next five years to develop and support technology has many in the industry wondering how and where that money might be spent. On Jan. 22, 117 CEOs and business leaders sent a letter to House and Senate leaders supporting federal investment in healthcare information technology, broadband and energy smart grids, saying they “will provide our nation with a near-term stimulus and long-term comparative advantage.”

$19 billion to fuel healthcare IT
The $787 billion economic stimulus package signed by President Barack Obama on Feb. 17 includes $19 billion toward health information technology. While many healthcare IT industry insiders welcomed the spending as providing a needed impetus to pushing the healthcare system into the 21st Century, many also worried about getting IT done right. “I think it’s a terrible idea by the government to invest in healthcare IT – in EMR systems – without investing in standards,” said Marc Probst, CIO at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City.

HHS introduces new HIT Czar
Just as the April issue of Healthcare IT News was going to press, the Department of Health and Human Services introduced David Blumenthal, MD, is the Obama administration’s new National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. “I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to serve President Obama and the American people in the effort to harness the power of health information technology,” Blumenthal said.

Hospitals shun life-saving IT
“Disappointing” and “disturbing” are two words Leah Binder chose to describe the results of a recent survey that revealed only 7 percent of hospitals across the country have adopted CPOE. CPOE, or computerized physician order entry, can reduce adverse events by 88 percent, according to Binder, the CEO of the healthcare watchdog organization The Leapfrog Group.

Obama budget reflects IT promise
President Barack Obama’s expanded fiscal year 2010 budget signals continued commitment to advancing healthcare IT as a way to cut healthcare costs and save lives. Obama’s $3.4 trillion federal budget, released May 8, expanded the outline he presented to Congress at the end of February.

Meaningful use draft approved
The federal health IT policy committee on July 16 approved long-awaited recommendations from its meaningful use workgroup on how providers can qualify to receive incentives through the new stimulus package. Measuring and improving outcomes is a key component.

Reform bill contains IT piece
The Senate Finance Committee health reform package, released Sept. 16, includes measures to advance healthcare IT. The committee’s reform bill has been the most controversial and the last proposal to come out of five Congressional committees that have jurisdiction over healthcare.

50,000 jobs: who will fill them?
The government’s piece of the stimulus package designed to encourage the adoption and use of healthcare information technology is expected to create 50,000 new jobs – maybe more.

Search is on for new CCHIT Chief
Key industry leaders are weighing in on the news that Mark Leavitt, MD, is retiring from his role as chairman of the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology.