Google has launched its much-anticipated Google Health platform for storing and managing personal medical data.

With about three months left to go before a public demonstration in September of how a Nationwide Health Information Network would work, officials from the five federal healthcare agencies participating in the trial run say they are kicking into high gear.

A report released May 16 by the Government Accountability Office regarding America's long-term fiscal outlook was no surprise. GAO called the nation's healthcare spending unsustainable. "The question is how and when the nation's current imprudent and unsustainable path will end," GAO said.

Healthcare IT News posts original news stories on its Web site daily. Here are a few selected by Editor Bernie Monegain.

With the 24th Annual Towards the Electronic Patient Record Conference and Exhibition under its belt, the Medical Records Institute will now turn its attention to planning for its silver anniversary 2009 conference in Palm Springs, Calif.

The National Alliance for Health Information Technology has released its definitions for key healthcare technology terms.

My Two Cents: Editorial By Editor, Bernie Monegain

Letters to the editors: United States Could Learn from Canadian Information System; Case's opinions have little basis in fact

Editoral Commentary from HIMSS Fellows on HIE funding

Associate Editor Richard Pizzi interviews William Bria, MD.

The security of electronic medical records has been national news in recent months, thanks largely to the widely publicized breaches of celebrity medical records at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Johns Hopkins Medicine International will use telehealth technology to boost its global second opinion service.

The Los Angeles Times recently quoted actor Dennis Quaid as saying, "They have a bar code system in every checkout stand of every supermarket in the country. How could it be so complicated, and so expensive?" It is not that hospitals aren't sold on information technology preventing medical errors, say the experts. Rather, it's the complexity and cost of such projects that create the greatest barriers.

Delhi Hospital in Delhi, La., and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport have completed their first exchange of patient information, part of a plan to connect 44 rural hospitals.

Patients at St. Vincent Heart Center of Indiana will be able to carry their medical records with them in case of emergencies.

In the face of an upcoming federal crackdown on Medicare billing, a significant majority of Healthcare IT News readers say their organizations will use information technology to comply with auditors' requests for documentation.

Six Maryland hospitals to employ eICU; Michigan health system goes online for order entry; Premier gives thumbs up to Eclipsys software; Kaiser boosts training at its call centers

The National Rehabilitation Hospital, widely considered one of the nation's top medical rehab facilities, has inked an IT deal that its leadership hopes will result in enhanced revenue and cost reductions.

The Virginia Commonwealth University Health System will deploy wireless technology in its new 385,000-square-foot critical care hospital to ensure guaranteed connectivity for mission- and life-critical applications.

Physicians in more than 30 communities around the country will know this month whether they have been selected to participate in a government-sponsored EHR demonstration project.

As The Doctors Clinic begins to replace paper and legacy technology with a new electronic medical record system this month, one thing IT manager Jeffrey Goddard doesn't have to worry about is bandwidth.

As the incidence of type 2 diabetes grows to epidemic proportions in the United States, officials in various states are searching for ways to monitor the health of their diabetic residents to make certain they receive proper care.

Kaiser Permanente has completed the rollout of its outpatient electronic health record system in nine states and the District of Columbia.

Collaboration among physicians, patients, technology developers, and policymakers must occur if e-health activities are to transform healthcare in the United States, according to a recent position paper from the American College of Physicians.

North Carolina physicians choose new IT platform; Arkansas clinic replaces legacy EMR system; Connecticut docs access management services; Washington, DC health centers to automate

WellPoint members now have the ability to look up provider information such as physician office location and directions on their cell phones and BlackBerries.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services has inked a $179 million, seven-year contract with Unisys.

With healthcare among the top three issues concerning Americans in this presidential election year, AHIP Institute 2008, in San Francisco June 18-20 is poised to put health plans in a leadership position in the national discussion.

Aetna is working with NaviMedix to provide physicians access to members' personal health records at the point of care.

HealthEdge has secured a $13 million investment commitment from Psilos Group.

CMS launches PHR pilot for Medicare beneficiaries; North Carolina Blues receive BTE Certification; Michigan Blues offer Medicare info online; Blue Cross of Idaho extends PBM contract by five years

The days of nurses filling out their schedules on paper and rushing to the hospital to grab prime vacation slots are rapidly fading, thanks to the advent of automated staffing solutions.

MedQuist Inc., Royal Philips Electronics has sold its shares to CBaySystems Holdings Ltd. for $11 a share.

Hospira acquires Sculptor, makers of VeriScan Rx; CDW Healthcare, Beth Israel collaborate on IT platform; Cardinal Health bolsters MedMined software package; MEDHOST adds data sharing to emergency dept. software

McKesson's RelayHealth subsidiary acquisition of HTP "fills a nice gap" in the healthcare payment continuum.

A Connecticut nurse is spending six months in jail after her conviction in April of second-degree reckless endangerment following the death of a child under her care.

Clinical Toolkit: Product Spotlight on Cardiology Systems

Management Solutions: Claims Processing

RFID solution beefs security for healthcare industry; Philips' new cardiology solution targets workflow, efficiency; Omnicell introduces complete bedside point-of-care-solution; New Mammo PACS streamlines breast imaging

A compilation of recent hirs, promotions and moves in the healthcare information technology industry.

LookAhead: Conferences, exhibitors, and other events for the months of June and July.

Clinical Toolkit: Product Spotlight on Cardiology Systems

RFID solution beefs security for healthcare industry; Philips' new cardiology solution targets workflow, efficiency; Omnicell introduces complete bedside point-of-care-solution; New Mammo PACS streamlines breast imaging

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