HIMemo

NHIN forum seeks public input

Discussions on how trial implementations are addressing standards-based, private and secure information exchanges will be the focus of the fourth National Health Information Network (NHIN) forum to be held December 11-12 in Long Beach, CA.

The program will seek public input and shared experiences from state and regional health information exchanges as they participate in trial implementations of the NHIN, according to information on the HHS Web site.

Forum supporters include the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology, the Health Information Technology Standards Panel, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Click here for information about this and the previous three forums.

Click here to register for the forum.

[ via EHR Connection ]

NIST releases guides for securing devices used for remote access, portable data security, security testing

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released three Special Publications November 13 that offer guidance for remote access data security, a guide to encryption for portable data storage devices, such as laptops or personal digital assistants (PDA), and security testing and analysis of findings. These publications include Special Publication (SP) 800-111, Guide to Storage Encryption Technologies for End User Devices, SP 800-114, User's Guide to Securing External Devices for Telework and Remote Access, and Draft SP 800-115, Technical Guide to Information.

To view the press release and publications, click here.

[ via HIPAA Weekly Advisor ]

CCHIT certifies six EHR products for acute care hospitals

The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) announced November 5 that it has certified six EHR products designed for use in acute care hospitals.

The four fully certified products include:

• CPSI System 15 from Computer Programs and Systems, Inc.
• Sunrise Acute Care 4.5 SP4 from Eclipsys Corporation
• EpicCare Inpatient Spring 2007 from Epic Systems Corporation
• Healthcare Management Systems 7.0 from Healthcare Management Systems, Inc.

Products receive full certification when inspections demonstrate their compliance with 100% of CCHIT's published criteria.

The two pre-market, conditionally certified products are ChartAccess 1.0 from Prognosis Health Information Systems and Soarian Clinicals 2.0CS with Siemens Pharmacy and Medication Administration Check 24.0 from Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. Conditionally certified products receive full certification upon verification of their operational use in a hospital site.

Click here to read the CCHIT press release.

[ via EHR Connection ]

AMA to develop health IT contracting guidelines

The American Medical Association plans to develop contracting guidelines for the sharing of electronic health record systems between physicians and hospitals, the association announced recently. Under a policy adopted at AMA’s semi-annual policymaking meeting, the association also plans to educate physicians on potential adverse consequences associated with the health IT partnerships, and encourage user-friendly and interoperable IT systems for health care facilities.

A Lingua Franca for Health IT

Take the idea of a patient record in electronic form, subject it to uncontrolled growth and you get the amorphous and confusing mass--or mess--that comprises electronic medical, health and personal records. Extend this idea to the logical next level, information exchange, and you confront an environment that's only vaguely understood, whether the information is kept within a health care system, meant for many organizations in a region or intended for a patient's own use.

For the full story, click here.

CCHIT makes EMR certification simpler

Given pressure on vendors to re-certify early and often, it's definitely a good sign that the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) is rolling out plans to make EMR certifications simpler. CCHIT is now working with the MITRE Corp. on an open source software-testing framework, dubbed LAIKA, which will let vendors test and verify on their own whether their products meet CCHIT standards. The software, which will be distributed by Apache 2.0, should be be available at no charge as of March 21.

With HHS's demanding that re-certifications take place every 12 months to meet its safe harbor rules, vendors have been in a quandary, as they typically only do upgrades every 18 to 24 months. The new tool won't change the vendors' development cycle, but it will help them determine where they stand and possibly take steps to meet standards on the revolving 12 month schedule HHS has set. All in all, while this won't be a cure all, it can't be a bad thing either.

To find out more about the new software, read this Healthcare IT News article.

[ via FierceHealthIT ]

Groups launch campaign to promote e-prescribing

A coalition of medical and consumer groups, labor unions, large employers and health insurance companies is planning to roll out a high-impact advertising and lobbying campaign promoting the use of e-prescribing. The group, which was brought together by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, is backing pending legislation which would require doctors treating Medicare patients to handle prescriptions electronically. The PCMA, for its part, represents pharmacy benefit managers like CVS Caremark and Express Scripts.

Right now Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) and Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) are considering e-prescribing measures which would become part of a larger Medicare legislative package backers hope to pass by the end of this year. Because the Medicare package also contains language putting a stop to the pending 10 percent cut in physician Medicare payments, they're gambling that physician groups won't dare oppose the broader legislative initiative. However, the AMA has already written to Kerry and Schwartz, stating that while the association backs e-prescribing, it's against making e-prescribing a requirement.

To find out more about the initiative, read this article from The Hill.

[ via FierceHealthIT ]

Report calls health data bank legislation catalyst to EHR adoption

Legislation that would create health data banks could help overcome barriers to EHR adoption, according to a report issued October 26 by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

Patients would have full control and ownership of their medical records under the proposed legislation, but they would not be allowed to alter information submitted by authorized users such as physicians.

Health record data banks can help overcome resistance to EHR adoption that is rooted in concerns about cost, interoperability, and privacy, the report noted. Patient and insurer fees paid to data banks for managing the information would provide physicians a financial incentive to participate, according to the report.

Click here to read the foundation's report.

Click here to read the proposed legislation.

[ via EHR Connection ]

IAHSS guidelines are up for review

Security directors now have an opportunity to comment on draft guidelines that deal with the use of force by security officers, which were developed by the International Association of Healthcare Safety and Security (IAHSS).

The IAHSS Guidelines Task Force is seeking input on the proposed guidelines. To review the proposal and provide comment, click here.