Technology (BenefitsLink.com)Headlines re Technology, gathered by BenefitsLink.comSnooping Into Health Records Often Unnoticed- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "Snooping into celebrity health records by workers at UCLA Medical Center sheds light on a largely hidden ailment facing employers: their own people peeking at confidential data." (Workforce Management; free registration required)http://www.workforce.com/section/00/article/25/57/75.html Medication Managers and Drug Stores Merge Networks- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "The drug store and pharmacy benefit management industries on Tuesday will announce a combination of their information systems in order to boost electronic prescribing by physicians." (AP via The New York Times; free registration required)http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Electronic-Prescribing-Merger.html?scp=14&... New York Times Letters to the Editor Discuss Editorial Supporting Nationwide Adoption of Electronic Health Records- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "The New York Times on Monday published several letters to the editor responding to a June 24 editorial about the need for nationwide adoption of electronic health records." (Kaiser Family Foundation)http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=53038 New Standards for Digital Medical Record Released- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "A coalition of employers, health insurers and health care providers released a set of policy and technical guidelines that they say makes storing personal health records online easier and more secure." (Workforce Management; free registration required)http://www.workforce.com/section/00/article/25/62/39.php Baltimore Sun Examines Google, Microsoft Personal Health Record Systems- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "The Baltimore Sun on Thursday examined 'two of the most-likely-to-be-huge' personal health records services: Google Health and Microsoft's Health Vault. According to the Sun, some experts believe that within four years PHRs 'will be ubiquitous,' and people will be able to 'store information in one digital location, and then share it with whomever they choose.'" (Kaiser Family Foundation)http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=53013 Microsoft, Google and Others Agree to Electronic Health Records Standard- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "In a move designed to prompt more people to store their medical records online, Microsoft ( NSDQ: MSFT), Google ( NSDQ: GOOG) and several others have agreed on privacy standards to protect patients' information. The list includes WebMD ( NSDQ: WBMD), MedicAlert, AARP,Consumer Reportspublisher Consumers Union, BlueCross BlueShield, and other insurers." (paidContent.org via The Washington Post; free registration required)http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/25/AR2008062503465.html Summary of the Protecting Records, Optimizing Treatment, and Easing Communication through Healthcare Technology Act of 2008 (PDF)- (Found July 2, 2008 ) 6 pages. Excerpt: "To amend the Public Health Service Act to promote the adoption of health information technology, and for other purposes." (American Benefits Council)http://www.americanbenefitscouncil.org/documents/health_it_dingell-barton_summary.pdf Reps. Barton, Dingell To Introduce Legislation That Aims To Spur Nationwide Adoption of Electronic Health Records- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "According to CongressDaily, the lawmakers last month released a draft of the legislation that 'generated a torrent of comments from the health care, high-tech and consumer advocacy communities,' many of which focused on patient privacy concerns. In response to those concerns, the lawmakers clarified the definition of a security 'breach' and increased patient privacy protections in the bill." (Kaiser Family Foundation)http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=52917 Opinion Our Pen-and-Paper Doctors- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "With electronic health records seen widely as a way to make medical care better and possibly cheaper, it is disturbing how slowly they are being adopted by American physicians. If this country does not accelerate the conversion from paper to modern technologies, many of the gauzy promises of health care reform made by politicians and health planners will become irrelevant." (The New York Times; free registration required)http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/opinion/24tue2.html?partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&... USA Today Examines Online Second-Opinion Services- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Excerpt: "'A limiting factor' in the use of online second-opinion services is that most health insurers do not cover such consultations, USA Today reports. However, Cigna Medical Director Lyndon Laminack in April announced that the company will become the first major insurance provider to cover the service. In July, Cigna will begin a two-year trial offering remote second opinions to select patients through e-Cleveland Clinic . . . ." (Kaiser Family Foundation)http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=52899 |