State governors, as a simple action implemented without great cost or significant policy changes, can use IT to better manage government revenue and resources, according to a white paper published by the National Governors Association (NGA).

GE Healthcare has launched a 90-day evaluation period for its Global Patient Safety Network, offering hospitals and healthcare professionals an opportunity to connect with local and global peers on improving patient safety initiatives.

As adoption rates rise, health IT makes protected health information (PHI) available to more organizations and entities, increasing the likelihood of data being improperly disclosed, lost or stolen. Despite the risks and costs of a potential data breach, many healthcare executives arent doing enough to support their organizations security efforts, but researchers from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) believe theyd do more if the far-reaching consequences of a breach were more clearly outlined.

The goal of websites that publicly report hospital data is to improve the quality of care; however, a study published March 5 in Health Affairs showed that these sites, such as Hospital Compare, may not meet overarching goals. In fact, researchers found that public reporting for at least three conditionsheart failure, pneumonia and heart attackhad little or no impact on patient mortality, and didn't make patients flock to higher performing hospitals.

The data-rich clinical informatics programs necessary for outcomes-based reimbursement reform have been made possible by massive federal investments in health IT and while healthcare organizations have made progress, numerous challenges remain and there is room for improvement, according to research conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Ochsner Health System, a healthcare network headquartered in New Orleans, will use a platform provided by Informatica, a data integration software vendor, as the data integration backbone of its new EHR system.

Hospitals with advanced EMRs have noticed promising results in multiple areas since implementation, according to research conducted by HIMSS Analytics, the research arm of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), and the Advisory Group, a research and consulting firm headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Research published in the February issue of the American Journal of Managed Care assessed the feasibility of engaging adults with diabetes in self-management behaviors between clinic visits by using cell phone text messaging to provide blood sugar measurement prompts and appointment reminders.