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The Medical Group Management Association says many medical groups may not achieve "meaningful use" and will not qualify for the EHR incentives if the criteria are too burdensome.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program has announced the funding of 111 projects in 35 states via $34.9 million in grants designed to expand access to health care services and increase educational opportunities in rural areas via telecommunications, computer networks, and other resources.

Physician smartphone adoption rates will experience significant growth over the next few years, according to the latest physician report from Manhattan Research. Currently, 64 percent of U.S. physicians own smartphones, but this rate will increase to 81 percent in 2012, according to the report.

Doctors in the United States and Canada lag behind other countries in the use of electronic health records, according to responses of 10,000 physicians in 11 countries queried for the 2009 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey.

The state of Rhode Island has launched a new system for tracking H1N1 flu that uses prescribing data provided by pharmacies throughout the state via a secure electronic link. Enabled by the state's e-prescribing and the digital healthcare infrastructure, the system is believed to be the first of its kind.

Microsoft has launched a new Web site, www.h1n1responsecenter.com, with a self-assessment tool to help individuals with flu-like symptoms determine whether their illness is severe enough to warrant immediate medical attention, and whether they are at risk for developing severe disease. The site also offers practical advice for those with flu-like symptoms.