ONC to start EMR ‘meaningful use’ in 2011 Dr. David Hunt, chief medical officer in the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), said the government plans to implement a basic level of criteria for the “meaningful use” of electronic medical records in 2011, which primarily will be evidence that providers have purchased and are using EHRs. The standards will eventually be tightened in 2013 and 2015, which Hunt labeled as a period of “process” and “outcomes.”
Editor’s Note: To be prepared for privacy changes based on new health IT laws, make sure you attend the 90-minute training session “HITECH: Its Impact on Case Management” on September 30, 2009.
Hospitals are using voice recognition technology to reduce time spent on manual processes and increase time spent on patient care. Nurses at Butler Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania cut time spent on phone calls and paperwork by at least 75 percent during a pilot project using Vocollect's AccuNurse voice-assisted technology and Boston Software System’s workflow automation tools.
Two weeks after starting its immunization program this year, Walgreens said it already has administered 1 million flu shots — almost matching the 1.2 million shots it gave last year. The company also said it will begin offering $1 million worth of flu shot vouchers to uninsured adults from its nine tour buses.
Editor’s Note: Have you gotten your flu shot? What about your family and patients? Let me know
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The Kaiser Family Foundation’s annual study on health costs found employer-sponsored health insurance premiums increased 5 percent this year to a total of $13,375 for family coverage.
The Brookings Institute released “Bending the Curve: Effective Steps to Address Long-Term Health Care Spending Growth” today. The 10-page report provides concrete steps to address the nation’s single most important fiscal issue, and offers hope for reform.
Hospitals are adopting a “manufacturing mindset” toward reducing costs and are training staff to identify and cut out wasteful spending. Kansas University Hospital has formed in-house partnerships that look for cost savings and North Kansas City Hospital has restructured its supply chain processes.
Editor’s Note: Has your organization implemented this procedure? Let me know
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A Kaiser Permanente hospital reduced medical errors by 80 percent and lowered its patient fall rate by 25 percent after adopting low-tech prevention solutions. Nurses administering medication wear yellow sashes warning people not to disturb them, and patients at risk of falling wear red socks to alert staff.
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