Practice Technology

Many physicians worry that if they install an electronic health record system, they will also have to become computer geeks to keep it operating. I've learned that you don't need to be IT-savvy, but you'll be happier if you are.

It wasn't too long ago that many of us toted around a cell phone, pager, PDA, and a laptop-a veritable RadioShack holstered at our waists. Now most of these devices can be consolidated into a single cell phone.

After securing agreements in two states earlier this year, Boston-based physician-visit website American Well has announced plans to expand its services nationwide.

E-mail and voicemail are excellent and convenient means of dealing with prescription renewals, appointment reminders, and other standard administrative tasks.

A new report from UnitedHealth Group says the U.S. healthcare system could reduce costs by $332 billion over the next 10 years if healthcare providers update their technology.

After spending eight years and $1.6 billion, Canada has made little progress toward its goal of implementing electronic health records by 2010, according to a recent report.

Medicare is proposing a rule that would simplify reporting requirements for the Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program and the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative and set the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year 2010.

Physicians fail to tell patients about abnormal results in one out of every 14 medical tests, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Though the Phoenix area has seen a high adoption rate for electronic health records, it also is the first region to experience a "deinstallation" trend, a recent report says.

Patients and physicians report virtual doctor visits done through videoconferencing were similar to face-to-face visits on most measures.

Let's take a look at how a "utopian medical practice" in the not-too-distant future functions from the perspectives of the patient, physician, office staff, nurse, billing department, and referred physician.

If an area hospital has offered to help you purchase an electronic health record system, don't worry about missing out on the potential $44,000 incentive payment from the economic stimulus act.

Practices that aspire to become medical homes are required to set self-and evidence-based standards for access, communication and clinical care, create and document team-based strategies for achieving these standards, and document movement toward achieving standards.

Physicians who visit most of their patients in their homes or nursing homes won't be able to earn the 2 percent bonus for e-prescribing on their Medicare claims, according to the current legislation.

Something has gone awry to create an environment that leaves well-intended physicians victimized when government audits reveal their software systems have allowed-even facilitated-submission of non-compliant and potentially fraudulent claims.

The $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which promises potential incentives of as much as $64,000 for physicians who adopt an electronic health record system, may have spawned a new cottage industry: EHR selection consultants.

More physician leaders have adopted information technology tools, such as electronic medical records and e-prescribing, than five years ago, but they are generally unsatisfied with the products available.

In what's being touted as a potential game-changer for health information technology, Wal-Mart is entering the business of electronic health records.

Contrary to the conventional wisdom spewed by EHR vendors and the looming mandate presented by the Obama administration, coding claims with electronic health records is not for everyone.

A new computer decision-support tool for physicians can result in more recommendations from specialists being implemented during a patient's hospitalization, according to a study by its developers.

A group of prominent Maryland healthcare institutions has submitted a plan to create a statewide health information exchange that will allow hospitals to share electronic medical records.

Doctors worried about patients trashing their reputations online can now ask them to sign a waiver promising they won't.

Most medication errors in primary care practices are prescribing errors--many of which could be prevented by electronic tools, according to a new study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Federal officials are providing little guidance thus far on how physicians can access funds in the $787 billion federal stimulus package to help offset the cost of buying and implementing electronic health record systems.

Last month, UnitedHealthcare launched a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) pilot project in Arizona with employer IBM, which could boost participants' income by as much as 20 percent on top of their current billings