Technology (BenefitsLink.com)Headlines re Technology, gathered by BenefitsLink.comInternet Health Records: Convenience at a Cost- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "There are Web sites that allow you to keep information about your medical treatment online, where you and your doctor can access it easily. An article in the New England Journal of Medicine on Thursday asks if electronic medical records are the next big thing in health care. The answer When it comes to keeping these records yourself, it depends." (Morning Edition via National Public Radio)http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89688554 Warning on Storage of Health Records- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "In an article in The New England Journal of Medicine, two leading researchers warn that the entry of big companies like Microsoft and Google into the field of personal health records could drastically alter the practice of clinical research and raise new challenges to the privacy of patient records." (The New York Times; free registration required)http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/business/17record.html?ex=1366084800&en=639915605dcf... Research Studies Demonstrate Benefits of Health IT on Patients- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "New data from 11 research studies conducted by the Center for Connected Health in Boston demonstrate that connected health technologies can help patients manage their care, Healthcare IT News reports." (California HealthCare Foundation; free registration may be required)http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2008/4/9/Research-Studies-Demonstrate-Benefits-of-Heal... CMS Issues Final Rule on Electronic-Prescribing Standards Under Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "The rule establishes standards for the electronic transmission of information of the medications covered under the Medicare prescription drug plans of beneficiaries and the availability of generic versions of those treatments. The standards allow physicians and other health care providers, as well as pharmacies and Medicare prescription drug plan sponsors, to share information about medications taken by beneficiaries. In addition, the standards allow pharmacies to inform...http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=51334 Insurers Look at Virtual Visits to Doctor- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "Aetna Inc., one of Philadelphia's dominant insurers, and Cigna Corp., which is based here, have announced that they will pay for doctors' visits on the Web. Aetna expanded a pilot program in California, Florida and Washington to the rest of the country on Jan 1. Cigna will start paying in January." (The Philadelphia Inquirer)http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20080330_Insurers_look_at_virtual_visits_to_doct... Insurers Pay for Web-Based Physician Visits- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "Health insurers Aetna and Cigna have announced that they will pay for online physician visits, and patients will be required to contribute a copayment for the visits, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports." (Kaiser Family Foundation)http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=51257 Alliance Seeks Public Comment to Define Six Health Care IT Terms- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "The alliance's network workgroup is considering definitions for 'regional health information organization' and 'health information exchange,' while its records workgroup is considering definitions for 'electronic medical records,' 'electronic health records,' and 'personal health records' (Health Data Management, 325)." (California HealthCare Foundation; free registration may be required)http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2008/3/26/Alliance-Seeks-Public-Comment-To-Define-Six-... Employer Consortium Moves Forward with PHR Project- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "Dossia, a not-for-profit consortium of eight large employers, is slowly moving forward with its plans to provide five million employees, dependents and retirees with personal health records, Health Data Management reports." (California HealthCare Foundation; free registration may be required)http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2008/3/21/Employer-Consortium-Moves-Forward-With-PHR-P... Google Unveils Online Health Record Pilot Program- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "Google and the Cleveland Clinic agreed to partner on a program to store patient health records online. The patients, who volunteered for the electronic transfer of their records, will be able to access their own records. Though all health profiles will be password-protected, critics have accused the program of raising more problems than it solves." (Search Engine News)http://www.seochat.com/c/a/Search-Engine-News/Google-Unveils-Online-Health-Record-Pilot-Pr... Pennsylvania Health Care Alliance Launches Web Site Providing Quality-of-Care Information for State Hospitals- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "The site includes quality information for state hospitals on treatment of heart attacks, heart failure, pneumonia and hospital-acquired infections during a certain year. According to the alliance, the four categories were chosen first because they are the most common and costly illnesses for hospitals to treat . . . ." (Kaiser Family Foundation)http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=51050 |