InformationWeek

Fujitsu To Offer Cloud Services

December 8, 2009
The company enters the ranks of cloud competitors, supplying compute infrastructure as a service through its expanded data centers.

McKesson Unveils Pharmacy Automation System

December 8, 2009
The system is designed to improve dosage accuracy and patient safety while saving pharmacists' time.

Demand For Health IT Talent Rising

December 7, 2009
Robert Half Technology and Manpower among staffing firms reporting that projected demand by clients for health IT skills will rise early next year.

Can Electronic Medical Records Be Secured?

December 5, 2009
While EMRs promise massive opportunities for patient health benefits and reductions in administrative costs, the privacy and security risks are daunting.

CIGNA Launches Healthcare Podcasts

December 4, 2009
The audio podcasts, available on the iTunes store, are designed to help Americans take care of themselves while on business overseas.

U.S. Health IT Office Reorganizes

December 4, 2009
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has reorganized into groups including a Chief Privacy Officer.

Mental Health Social Network Launched

December 2, 2009
The online environment allows people with mental health problems, as well as their caregivers, connect in a safe and anonymous environment.

Feds Offer $235 Million For Health IT Leadership

December 2, 2009
A new grant program will help leading communities advance and track their use of health IT to improve quality of care and become role models to other communities.

GE Healthcare Buys Wireless Monitoring Device Maker

December 2, 2009
Living Independently Group's wireless technology tracks seniors' daily activities, watching for changes that could signify a medical problem or emergency.

IT Hiring To Increase Next Quarter

December 1, 2009
A 3% increase in IT staffing is forecast for early 2010, with traditional jobs in networking, security, and application development most in demand.

Colorado Healthcare Providers Launch Information Exchange

December 1, 2009
"They've standardized the content so we can exchange and have interoperability with health records," explains the CIO of Children's Hospital.

Microsoft, Google Face Off On Healthcare

December 1, 2009
Microsoft HealthVault and Google Health want to be the repository of choice for millions of personal health records. Are they up to the task?

IBM Buys Database Security Company

November 30, 2009
By purchasing Guardium, IBM is strengthening its ability to sell to healthcare and financial companies.

Feds Providing $80 Million For Health IT Training

November 30, 2009
The government funding helps set up 6-month health IT workforce training programs at community colleges nationwide.

NIST Director Sees Key Role In Emerging Technologies

November 25, 2009
Newly confirmed director Patrick Gallagher outlines the agency's efforts in healthcare IT, smart grid, and cybersecurity.

Physicians Question Health IT Stimulus Requirements

November 23, 2009
A physicians practice industry group expresses concern about electronic health record incentive programs.

Jailbroken iPhones Vulnerable To 'Duh' Worm

November 23, 2009
Cybersecurity companies are warning that new malware can turn modified iPhones and iPods into zombies.

Feds Launch Health IT Blog

November 23, 2009
Health and Human Services' Health IT Buzz blog covers security, regulatory, standards, and other issues.

Network Provides Healthcare Pricing Data

November 20, 2009
Transparent Health Network negotiates healthcare pricing with medical providers, and shares price data with its members online.

Remote Monitoring Yields Healthier Patients

November 20, 2009
Nursing service uses wireless devices to monitor homebound patients and get data to doctors faster, reducing hospitalizations by more than 50%.

Medicine Bottles Get Net Connection

November 20, 2009
A new pill bottle cap with a wireless Internet connection flashes when it's time to take a pill and even calls forgetful patients with reminders.

Healthcare Goes Mobile, Virtual WIth Dell Offering

November 19, 2009
Dell Mobile Clinical Computing solution provides clinicians with single sign-on and roaming capabilities.

EMR Adoption Earns Hospital High Score

November 18, 2009
Achieving its high level of electronic medical records adoption has taken small Maine hospital five years.

Healthcare Provider Saves With E-Invoicing

November 18, 2009
Electronic invoices are saving Memorial Hermann Healthcare System millions of dollars.

Healthcare's New Revenue Generator: Business Apps

November 18, 2009
Banner Health uses $17 million supply chain savings to pay for new clinical information systems.

Healthcare Affiliates Unprepared For Data Breaches

November 17, 2009
Patient privacy is at risk from the companies that healthcare providers do business with, study says.

Healthcare IT Job Outlook Perks Up

November 17, 2009
Business analysts and technology architects face rosy IT job prospects in the healthcare and green energy sectors.

Information Exchanges Let Doctors Share Patient Data Efficiently

November 17, 2009
Several new networks are being launched across the country, and while they vary in size, scope, and clientele, the goals and challenges are similar.

Desktop Virtualization A Remedy For Hospital

November 16, 2009
A New York healthcare provider deploys "zero-client" devices to reduce PC maintenance and improve business performance.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Data Breach Investigated

November 16, 2009
Connecticut's attorney general is looking for tougher protection for healthcare providers after records, which could be useful to identity thieves, were lost.

Quest Stops Killer With Specialized Diagnostic Software

November 15, 2009
New test helps get women suspected of having ovarian cancer to specialists faster.

Senate Bill Would Help Family Doctors Fund EHRs

November 13, 2009
The bill, introduced by Sen. John Kerry, would make small healthcare practices eligible for federal loans.

Health Care IT Gets Personal

November 13, 2009
Analytics, decision-support, and an array of other health IT tools are helping advance the development of treatments tailored to individuals' needs.

Cancer Institute Network Aims To Personalize Cancer Treatments

November 13, 2009
Cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid matches up patients with the right experimental treatments.

Execs Want Focus On Goals, Not Just Metrics

November 13, 2009
They're still using analytic dashboards, but tying the data to strategic goals.

Google Helps You Find A Flu Shot

November 12, 2009
Flu Shot Finder uses Google Maps to help people locate areas where they can get swine flu and seasonal flu vaccines.

Intel Unveils Reader For the Blind

November 11, 2009
The device, about the size of a paperback book, is designed for people who are blind, dyslexic, or have some other disability making it difficult for them to read.

Healthcare Providers Face Security Challenges

November 10, 2009
Three-quarters of organizations that conduct formal risk assessments have found patient data at risk, study says.

Boom Times For Health IT Sector

November 10, 2009
The healthcare IT marketplace is growing by 11% annually, which will likely continue through 2013, says a study from Scientia Advisors.

Healthcare IT Career Tips

November 10, 2009
IT pros without clinical experience shouldn't rule out possible transitions into emerging healthcare IT jobs.

Florida Hospital Dials Up iPhones For Nurses

November 8, 2009
iPhones are helping a Sarasota hospital connect its nursing staff via text messaging, and soon, VoIP telephony.

IBM Launches Healthcare Research Center

November 5, 2009
Dallas facility will focus on how field data from hospitals and clinics can be mined to produce better patient outcomes.

eReferral System Boosts Medical Center Bookings

November 5, 2009
A portal-based referral system from Carefx and a clinical information exchange from GE Healthcare increase appointments and reduce patient no-shows.

IBM CEO Sam Palmisano Talks With Global CIO

November 5, 2009
In a rare and exclusive interview, the man who transformed IBM speaks out on business analytics, cloud computing, and the emerging Smarter Planet.

Health Care Provider Improves Performance With Metrics

November 4, 2009
Presbyterian Healthcare Services uses Actuate performance management software in pursuit of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award.

Desktop Virtualization Speeds Hospital Clinicians

November 4, 2009
By rolling out desktop virtualization from Sychron, Seton Family of Hospitals has reduced the time clinicians spend logging on and off systems each day.

Content Management: Collaboration And Social Networks Change The Game

October 31, 2009
The blurring lines between different types of content mean IT organizations needs to adapt their strategies.

Content Management: Collaboration And Social Networks Change The Game

October 31, 2009
The blurring lines between different types of content mean IT organizations needs to adapt their strategies.

Unified Communications: A Separate Piece

October 31, 2009
As other content systems blur together, UC will be a holdout.

This Content Management Standard Is Worth Backing

October 31, 2009
CMIS standard should make integration easier.

Microsoft HealthVault Deal Puts EHRs Overseas

October 28, 2009
A Bangkok hospital will use Microsoft HealthVault personal electronic health records to track patients via the Web.

$100 Million Healthcare Cost Database Announced

October 28, 2009
Built with settlement money from health insurance companies, it will help drive down medical costs, says New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

Global CIO: What CIOs Can Learn From Kindle

October 28, 2009
The real lesson is in the growing power of machine-to-machine wireless links.

SAP, Nokia Partner On Mobile Security

October 27, 2009
With the joint venture's technology, prescription drugs, software, and other goods could be tagged with smart barcodes to protect them from counterfeiting.

MedPlus Tapped For Health Information Exchange

October 27, 2009
New Mexico will work with technology partner MedPlus to build an electronic infrastructure connecting the state's healthcare providers.

E-Health Records Option Extended To Families

October 27, 2009
Dossia, whose consortium members include Wal-Mart and Intel, is making it easier for employees' dependents to sign up for electronic health records.

H1N1 Flu Tracked By E-Prescription Data

October 26, 2009
Public health officials in Rhode Island are electronically monitoring possible swine flu outbreaks based on drug data from pharmacies.

Lockheed Locks Down Federal Health IT Contracts

October 26, 2009
Awarded $170 million in contracts, the company will provide services for government health information technology systems.

Informatica Launches Healthcare Claims System

October 26, 2009
B2B Data Exchange designed to help insurance companies meet evolving HIPAA standards.

Top iPhone Apps For Health Pros, Patients

October 26, 2009
Healthcare professionals and individuals are finding ways to manage health and wellness with applications for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch.

Mobile Service Tracks Alzheimer's Patients

October 25, 2009
The Comfort Zone service combines GPS and wireless technologies to enable caregivers to monitor Alzheimer's patients.

This Week In Healthcare Information Technology: Oct. 18 - 24

October 24, 2009
Our roundup of InformationWeek's healthcare IT coverage includes federal CTO Aneesh Chopra on cost savings, GE's handheld ultrasound device, government prep work for stimulus funding, and a look at healthcare IT job opportunities.

GE Launches Healthcare Technology Fund

October 22, 2009
Healthcare IT, including electronic medical records and clinical information systems are among the fund's priorities.

Web 2.0 Summit: Intel CEO Expects PC Sales Surge

October 22, 2009
Paul Otellini sees businesses moving to replace their aging hardware and promise in moving to a more distributed approach to healthcare.

Web 2.0 Summit: Fed CTO Talks Healthcare IT

October 22, 2009
Federal CTO Aneesh Chopra says government spending on IT can help cut healthcare costs and improve care quality.

Health IT Metrics Taking Shape

October 21, 2009
The U.S. will release a preliminary definition of "meaningful use"-- a key criterion for healthcare IT providers seeking federal stimulus funding -- in December.

Web 2.0 Summit: GE Introduces Handheld Ultrasound Device

October 21, 2009
CEO Jeff Immelt showed off a forthcoming medical device called Vscan that promises to shake up the world of medical imaging.

Why Your Next IT Job Will Be In Healthcare

October 20, 2009
Federal stimulus billions are fueling demand for up to 50,000 new information technology positions. Most sought after are tech pros with real-world implementation experience, Windows experts, and network admins.

E-Health Records Put Patient Privacy At Risk

October 20, 2009
Healthcare IT managers say their organizations aren't adequately protecting electronic health records, survey says.

Cerner, CDW Partner On EMRs

October 19, 2009
With demand for e-medical records systems by doctors' offices expected to rise, Cerner signs a partner to sell its amubulatory software and services.

Epocrates Adds BlackBerry Support

October 19, 2009
The mobile healthcare software maker says BlackBerry is a fast-growing platform, with more than 20% growth in the past quarter.

Merge Unveils Healthcare IT Apps

October 19, 2009
Systems are designed to ease input of medical data while promoting patient privacy and comfort.

Top iPhone Healthcare Apps

October 17, 2009
Mobile apps are the new frontier in improving data access for healthcare pros and bettering patient care. They could be coming to your pocket soon.

Baucus Bill Champions Healthcare Technology

October 16, 2009
Legislation just sent to the floor by the Senate Finance Committee includes recommendations encouraging rapid adoption and use of health IT systems.

Second Life Solving Real-World Healthcare Problems

October 16, 2009
Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital uses the virtual world for disaster preparedness training, while disabled people turn to it for peer support.

Laptop Theft Nets Data On 800,000 Doctors

October 15, 2009
The stolen laptop contained personal data on nearly every physician in the country.

Healthcare System Signs With Microsoft For Data Exchange

October 14, 2009
Caritas Christi Health Care's pact with Microsoft is part of hospital network's $70 million IT program to improve patient care and reduce costs.

Former U.S. Health Dept. CIO Joins Agilex

October 14, 2009
Melissa Chapman joins Agilex Technologies to help manage the firm's work with the U.S. Health and Human Services Dept.

Mobile Telemedicine Helps Patients In Transit

October 14, 2009
IP-enabled cameras and other telemedicine gear lets doctors remotely examine sick patients in ambulances.

iPhone Apps Help Pro Car Racer Control Diabetes

October 14, 2009
Race car driver Charlie Kimball uses inexpensive consumer apps to manage his diabetes in partnership with his doctors.

Keas Puts Healthcare Advice, Apps Online

October 12, 2009
A startup founded by the former head of Google Health dispenses personalized healthcare information and applications via the Internet.

Mobile App Puts EMRs On Smartphones

October 7, 2009
A Pennsylvania health insurer has deployed a smartphone app enabling members to view and share electronic medical records.

GE Monitor Integrates Patient Data, EMRs

October 7, 2009
The device pulls health data from multiple sources such as hospital imaging systems, labs, and electronic medical records.

Google Health Adds Two Health Plans

October 7, 2009
Health insurers will share members' data with Google via its electronic personal health record platform.

IBM Invents Gene Sequencer On A Chip

October 6, 2009
Breakthrough could reduce cost of genetic scans from $3 billion to $100.

Glide Health Makes Medical Records Mobile

October 5, 2009
With the support of Integrated Medical Professionals, a large medical group, Glide Health aims to make medical records accessible from any mobile phone.

Smartphones Fill Med School Prescription

October 5, 2009
The University of Louisville School of Medicine finds that smartphones give students faster access to health information, and more face-time with patients.

Feds Award $27.8M For Rural E-Health

October 2, 2009
Department of Health and Human Services funding will go to implement electronic health records and other health IT initiatives.

E-Medical Data Valuable To Health Industry

October 1, 2009
If the healthcare industry can overcome challenges in unlocking data in electronic medical records, those databases could become their most valuable assets.

Second Life Helps Save, Improve Lives

October 1, 2009
Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital uses the virtual world for disaster preparedness training, while disabled people turn to it for peer support.

E-Health Records Could Flag Domestic Abuse

October 1, 2009
Predictive computer models that tap into electronic health records highlight subtle patterns of domestic violence that are easy to miss.

Personalized Health Project Integrates E-Medical Data, DNA

September 30, 2009
The Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaboration platform will be used to develop treatments tailored to patients' genetic and other health-related profile.

IBM In Canadian E-Health Deal

September 30, 2009
Big Blue will create a database to store millions of digitized patient records.

New York Health System Launches $400M EMR Program

September 30, 2009
Major hospital network plans to deploy one of the largest electronic medical record initiatives in the nation.

Americans Optimistic On Healthcare IT's Potential

September 30, 2009
Survey respondents like what they see of healthcare technology but fear there's a lack of trained practitioners.

Full Disk Encryption Evolves

September 26, 2009
The Opal standard paves the way for hardware-based encryption.

Congressman 'Crowdsources' Healthcare Bill

September 25, 2009
Texas Republican John Culberson has posted the House healthcare bill online and invited constituents to annotate it using a Web 2.0 collaboration tool.

Med Students 'Unprofessional' On Social Networking Sites

September 24, 2009
Today's Facebook and YouTube posts might catch up with tomorrow's doctors, a study published in a medical journal suggests.

IBM Pilots Telemedicine Project In Italy

September 23, 2009
An IBM 'Smart City' telehealth project aims to keep the elderly in their homes and out of the hospital.

Lab To Market Cloud-Based E-Health Record System

September 23, 2009
Practice Fusion's electronic health record system will be available free to BioReference Lab's 15,000 affiliated physicians.

SAP BI Tracks Swine Flu

September 18, 2009
An emergency services provider is using SAP business intelligence technology to monitor surges in H1N1-related symptoms.

Voice Recognition Tools Make Rounds At Hospitals

September 17, 2009
Voice technologies help doctors and nurses streamline manual work, saving time and money.

Children's Hospital Boston Expands Patient Record Portal

September 16, 2009
Hospital will combine its own patient data with that from physicians' offices to provide comprehensive, patient-controlled e-medical records.

InformationWeek 500: Cincinnati Children's Hospital's Niche Specialties Are Key To Global Goals

September 15, 2009
Fetal Care Portal lets doctors, hospitals share important patient data.

InformationWeek 500: 20 Great Ideas To Steal

September 15, 2009
InformationWeek 500 innovators reveal some of their top projects. Could something similar work at your company? Let the brainstorming begin.

InformationWeek 500: 10 Government Organizations That Understand IT Innovation

September 15, 2009
Cheaper, faster, better isn't just the rallying cry of the private sector.

InformationWeek 500: Stimulus Spending Boosts Healthcare IT Budgets

September 15, 2009
Spending in 2009 is expected to exceed 2008 for nearly 70%.

Health Insurer Deploys Social Media

September 10, 2009
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wisconsin is using Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to interact with its members.

Healthcare Market Hot For IT Staffing

September 10, 2009
The details of the federal government's HITECH stimulus legislation are not final, but healthcare organizations are getting their IT teams in order now.