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September 30, 2008

Programs receive $700 million push to help physicians adopt EHRs
In keeping with federal regulations announced in 2006, hospital organizations, government agencies, employer coalitions and insurance companies have launched 90 programs offering a total of $700 million in physician subsidies for implementation of electronic health records (EHRs), according to a study by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT). The Chicago-based commission's "CCHIT Incentive Index" notes that at least 43,000 physicians are being offered subsidies for certain EHR costs. Twenty of the programs call for sole use of CCHIT-certified records, according to CCHIT Communication Manager John Morrissey. Another $150 million of the expected funding will go toward a Medicare project providing payments to 1,200 practices with certified EHRs. http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/... and http://ehrdecisions.com/wp-content...

Insurance issues lead to telemedicine efforts not scoring big in California
Despite efforts by California officials to promote telemedicine as a way to reduce impact of a physician shortage in central and southern areas of the state, the technology isn't catching on as hoped. The problem? Many specialists don't want to see patients who lack private insurance, even through a high-tech hookup. "It's difficult to pay the specialists who need to see the patients," said Jennifer Smith, who manages a telemedicine project at the UC Merced. "And it's also just that telemedicine is new. There are not a lot of specialists who have this equipment themselves." The state - and federal government - is doing what it can to generate interest. In 2007 California received a three-year, $22.1 million grant from federal health officials to provide high-speed Internet to rural areas. The state predicts there will be 17,000 fewer doctors than needed by 2015. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/story/469471.html

GAO: VA, DoD need to improve electronic data-sharing goals
The departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense have made progress in sharing health information electronically, but the departments still have work to do when it comes to setting compatible goals, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office. According to "Information Technology: DoD and VA Have Increased Their Sharing of Health Information, But Further Actions are Needed," the departments "need to establish a clearer path to interoperability" to meet the requirement of connecting health data by year's end. "The departments have agreed on numerous standards, [but] nonetheless, questions remain," Valerie Melvin, GAO's director of human capital and management information systems, said. In the report, GAO found varying gaps in the level of information exchange. "The definition of full interoperability remains unclear," Melvin said. "They have not defined an interoperability goal." http://www.senate.gov/~veterans/public/media/GAO_Final_9_24_08.pdf

British DoH, NIHR open $7.4 million Healthcare Scientist Research competition
Britain's Department of Health (DoH) and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) have started a three-year, $7.4 million [USD] research fellowship scheme to help healthcare scientists improve patient services and treatment. The Healthcare Scientist Research Fellowship Scheme will fund areas of research that will have direct patient benefit. Research projects may include helping patients to self-care and self-manage, developing diagnostic tests, enhancing therapeutic services or improving the National Health Service (NHS)'s ability to monitor disease. NHS scientists are invited to develop a research project that could both address a patient care issue and promote links between the NHS and university research groups. Successful applicants will be selected by a panel, including representatives from the DoH, the NIHR and the NHS. Funding will be awarded for up to two years on a full-time or proportionate part-time basis. Application forms and other information can be found on the NIHR Web site at www.nccrcd.nhs.uk. http://www.ehealthnews.eu/content/view/1331/27/ and http://www.nccrcd.nhs.uk/healthcarescientists/

Kentucky drug tracking system receives $400,000 federal grant
The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded a $400,000 grant to the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting program (KASPER), a computer tracking system designed to prevent illegal prescription drugs. The two-year funding is earmarked to increase use of KASPER use by health care and law enforcement professionals, expand analysis of KASPER data to support improvements in public health and safety, and to foster collaboration and data sharing with other states that have prescription monitoring programs, according to Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear. "Abuse, misuse, diversion and illegal sale of prescription drugs are some of the greatest threats facing the safety and welfare of Kentucky citizens today," Beshear said. "KASPER is a rich source of information for practitioners and pharmacists, and a tremendous investigative tool for law enforcement to assist in solving these problems." http://www.govtech.com/articles/418237 and http://chfs.ky.gov/os/oig/KASPER.htm

EPR development in Netherlands means $65.6 million in aid for GPs, pharmacists
Implementation of a national electronic patient record (EPR) project in the Netherlands is progressing slowly but steadily, with 200 of the nation's 8,000 general practitioners expected to be on the infrastructure by the end of the year, according to Reina Kloosterman, head of health and social issues at the Dutch embassy in Berlin. All GPs are expected to be on the system by the end of 2009. But doctors must be connected to the infrastructure efficiently and without putting too much financial burden on them. And, the public needs to be informed about the EPR and privacy issues need to be addressed. A total of $65.6 million [USD] will be paid to roughly 10,000 Dutch GPs and pharmacists for the necessary updates and the installation of the interconnectivity services; another $65.6 million is needed to set up the first two modules of the Dutch national EPR, Kloosterman said. http://www.ehealtheurope.net/news/...

Biodefense Science Board endorses disaster response-based EMR system
The National Biodefense Science Board (NBSB) has approved recommendations for an electronic medical record (EMR) system designed to help federal officials respond to disasters. The EMR system should be integrated with future patient tracking and medical resource availability systems, and be as compatible as possible to current EMR programs, according to NBSB. "There is a critical need to integrate the various patient-tracking and medical resources availability systems in use during a response to ensure that medical needs of patients are captured and that [patients] are transported to facilities that are ready to receive them and have the medical resources to treat them," the board notes. NBSB was asked to examine the system and the country's medical surge capacity under the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006; the board plans to send its recommendations to the Health and Human Services Department. http://www.govhealthit.com/online/news/350592-1.html and http://www.hhs.gov/aspr/conferences/nbsb/ndms-rpt-0809.pdf

Germany's IHE publishes how-to guide on phrasing health IT bids
In an effort to help hospital representatives learn how to phrase bid invitations for health IT solutions, the German section of Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) has released a how-to paper. IHE regularly runs "connectathons" in which IT companies can show how well they have implemented IHE profiles and get a certificate for their work. "There are more than 50 integration profiles available now, but the problem is that often they are not known to the people who are responsible for bid invitations in hospitals," said Hans-Peter Bursig of the medical section of Association of the Electronics Industry (ZVEI). The paper shows that the interoperability of health IT solutions is increasingly becoming a mainstream topic, even in a country like Germany, which has never been famous for following international standards in the field of health IT, the paper's authors note. http://www.ehealtheurope.net/news/4177/ihe_publishes_tendering_recommendations

NATO goes telepresence to help Afghanistan-based soldiers 'meet' loved ones
NATO's service provider is using one of the most advanced corporate collaboration tools developed by Cisco, and constructed by BT and General Dynamics C4 Systems to bring together Afghanistan-based servicemen and women and their relatives in Europe in a series of virtual meetings. Cisco, BT and General Dynamics have provided a Cisco Telepresence unit at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium and another unit more than 5,400 kilometers away in Kabul, Afghanistan. Through this link, servicemen and women in Afghanistan are able to bridge the distance and meet virtually with loved ones as though they are in the same room, according to Director Lt. General Ulrich H. M. Wolf. "Being able to give our front-line service people the impression of actually being in the same room as their loved ones many miles away is a powerful morale booster," Wolf said. http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2008/prod_091908.html

Hypercom to issue first card for new German smartcard reader
Scottsdale, AZ-based global payment technology producer Hypercom Corp. has announced that its medCompact device will be the first healthcare terminal to receive e-Health Basic Command Set (BCS) approval from Berlin-based healthcare organization Gematik. In October, the device will be available as part of the introduction of the country's new health card. "This is a first for Hypercom, a first for the electronic transaction industry and a significant step forward in the launch of Germany's new health card infrastructure," said Frank Büttner, Hypercom's vice president e-health. Germany's e-Health card program is one of the largest IT projects worldwide with a planned deployment of more than 80 million electronic health insurance cards. http://www.greensheet.com/newswire.php?newswire...

Proposed e-prescription controlled substance rule earns hospital group's support
The American Hospital Association has thrown its support behind the use of electronic prescriptions for controlled substances. In a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), AHA notes that the DEA's proposed rule can lead to improved efficiency, safety and quality of care in hospitals. AHA "supports the voluntary participation aspect of the DEA's proposal," according to the letter. However, the DEA is urged to ensure that implementation of the rule is "aligned with other efforts within the federal government and the private health care sector to avoid conflicts and redundancy." The DEA's proposed rule can be viewed at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2008/fr0627.htm. http://www.ahanews.com/ahanews_app/jsp/... and http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/pressrel/pr062708.html

Indian Railways to take telemedicine network national
New Delhi-based Indian Railways is taking its telemedicine network nationwide. Currently available in 18 locations, including Rangia, Badarpur and Guwahati, the company wants to add telemedicine services to 20 more places in mostly rural communities throughout India. Implemented by Konkan Railway, the telemedicine project is the use of electronic communication and information technologies to provide healthcare when distance separates medical specialists from the patient. It also includes educational use of these technologies such as distance learning of health subjects. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/09231431.htm

• 2008 AHIMA Convention and Exhibit
  October 11-16, 2008 - Seattle, WA
  The 2008 AHIMA Convention and Exhibit presents incomparable opportunities to connect with colleagues and learn from key leaders who influence change in health information management. Take advantage of the exceptional educational sessions, explore the exhibit hall and network with fellow HIM professionals.
  
  
• Canadian Society of Telehealth conference
  October 4-7, 2008 - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  Joint meeting of Canadian Society of Telehealth and International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth
  
  
• 2008 5th Annual Connected Health Symposium
  October 27-28, 2008 - The Conference Center at Harvard Medical, Boston, MA
  Who Provides, Who Decides, Who Pays: Consumers, Clinicians and Business Models in the Connected Care Era

To showcase your event here, please email us at events@telemedicinealerts.com

In the Current Issue of the peer reviewed publication Telemedicine and e-Health

Long-Term Future of Telemedicine in Germany: The Patient's, Physician's, and Payer's Perspective
Christian Thielscher, Charles R. Doarn
Telemedicine and e-Health. September 2008, 14(7): 701-706.
In-depth interviews were conducted of 20 key decision-makers in Germany on the application of telemedicine in Germany's healthcare system. The individuals were leaders of influential organizations, including associations and sickness funds. They felt that telemedicine will play a role and patients expect this to enable better care. The integration of the "Gesundheitskarte" or smart card is a key tool in the adoption of telemedicine in Germany. Full Article

Published 10 times a year in print and online, Telemedicine and e-health covers all aspects of clinical telemedicine practice, technical advances, enabling technologies, education, health policy and regulation and biomedical and health services research dealing with clinical effectiveness, efficacy and safety of telemedicine and its effects on quality, cost and accessibility of care, medical records and transmission of same.

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