During Heart Failure Awareness Week (Feb. 9-15), the LUMEDX blog will post on topics related to heart failure program management. In this case study, we will examine how a hospital system utilized performance improvement processes and data analysis to lower heart failure readmissions rates. Background: A hospital system found that its largest expense category over several years was in heart failure (HF) patients due to high readmissions rates. Hospital administrators determined that reducing readmissions rates would enable cost reduction and improve patient care. The Model for Improvement: With guidance from the LUMEDX Healthcare Consultants, the hospital employed the Model for Improvement as a foundation for change. The model asks three questions: What are we trying to accomplish? How will we know that a change has resulted in improvement? What changes can we make that will lead to improvement? By working with LUMEDX to answer the questions above, the ... read more

Did you have a chance to check out the latest healthcare IT news stories around the Web? We’ve captured the top industry news stories from this week that you won’t want to miss. Meaningful Use Comes to CES ​At the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the federal government's plan to drive health IT adoption was a part of the conversation at the Digital Health Summit. Keynote speakers presented on how devices and solutions should be focused on giving consumers control over their healthcare information. In other healthcare IT news, iHealthBeat reports that the sale of connected health and wellness devices will increase by 142% from $3.3 billion in 2013 to more than $8 billion in 2018. These numbers are according to a report from the Consumer Electronics Association and was produced with Parks Associates. 6 Musts for Healthcare Execs for 2014 Healthcare IT News makes recommendations for healthcare executives in 2014. Tips include a focus on physician... read more

Did you have a chance to check out the latest healthcare IT news stories around the Web? We’ve captured the top industry news stories from this week that you won’t want to miss. My Favorite Health IT Quotes of 2013 Healthcare Informatics Contributing Editor David Raths compiles a list of his favorite moments in healthcare IT in 2013. One favorite quote was Farzad Mostashari's statement that "...Our longer term vision is that every healthcare interaction benefits from all the world's knowledge." Healthcare analytics market growth to skyrocket FierceHealthIT reports on a new report from MarketsandMarkets that projects that the global healthcare analytics market will be worth more than $21 billion by 2020. Federal mandates, technological advances, increased healthcare IT adoption, and venture capital investments are cited as strong market drivers. Continued Troubles with Healthcare.gov May Drive Up Costs CBS reports that the problems with the Healthcare.gov website... read more

Did you have a chance to check out the latest healthcare IT news stories around the Web? We’ve captured the top industry news stories from this week that you won’t want to miss. Doctors spending more money on IT According to Healthcare Finance News, doctors are spending more money on healthcare IT purchases. The amount of expenditures in medical practices has gone up 27.8 percent since 2008, according to a study by the Medical Group Management Association. FDA to Regulate Medical Apps that Imitate Devices This past Monday, the FDA released a 43-page document that guides developers of medical apps on how to stay within the parameters of safety. This has been put into place to address concerns about mobile apps that monitor user health and offer medical advice. A Chat With Dr. Farzad Mostashari – Head of ONC In Forbes, we see an interview with Dr. Farzad Mostashari where he discusses topics including his legacy at the ONC, the ONC’s future, The Affordable Care Act,... read more

By Gus Gilbertson and David Wayne In honor of National Health IT Week, we would like to examine the value of investing in healthcare IT as we look to the future of healthcare. Technology has already changed the way that many other industries – from retail, to customer service, to publishing – operate and engage with customers. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that technology is currently disrupting the healthcare industry and giving care providers a way to improve operations and quality of care. As the healthcare landscape continues to shift, providers are being prompted to adopt more evidence-based systems. Healthcare providers need accurate, comprehensive data that can be made readily available for government payers, insurers, registries, and other parties in order to remain competitive and maximize reimbursements. With healthcare IT solutions, care providers have an efficient way to disseminate and access patient information. Using a computer-based system as... read more

Did you have a chance to check out the latest healthcare IT news stories around the Web? We’ve captured the top industry news stories from this week that you won’t want to miss. ONC calls for behavioral mHealth in new app challenge According to EHR Intelligence, the ONC and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration are currently looking for innovative mobile-based solutions to behavioral health disorders and substance abuse. If you are an app developer interested in entering the contest, you can read the rules and details here. Cloud Computing becoming more prevalent in healthcare CIOL reports on the rise of cloud computing in the healthcare space. According to the 2013 Desktop Virtualization Trends in Healthcare report, the proliferation of desktop virtualization in healthcare continues to increase. Health IT spending on pace to top $34.5B According to FierceHealthIT, healthcare IT spending will reach $34.5 billion in North America in 2014. A... read more

Did you have a chance to check out the latest healthcare IT news stories around the Web? We’ve captured the top industry news stories from this week that you won’t want to miss. What is the role of social media in electronic health records? EHR Intelligence covers how many experts – including physicians, lawmakers, and EHR developers – are currently considering ways to integrate social media concepts into the collection and use of electronic health record data. Health IT talent in high demand We covered the demand for health IT talent recently here, and Healthcare IT News reports on how healthcare workers are still in high demand – especially in the IT sector. ONC turns over care compass to patients PhysBizTech covers the ONC’s new project, MyJourney Compass – a project designed to help patients navigate cancer treatment and become more involved in their healthcare decisions. Telemedicine improves care for kids seen in rural ERs Reuters cover a story about how... read more

Did you have a chance to check out the latest healthcare IT news stories around the Web? We’ve captured the top industry news stories from this week that you won’t want to miss. Farzad Mostashari to Leave Federal Health IT Office The Washington Post covers the big news in healthcare this week, which is that Farzad Mostashari has announced that he will be stepping down as the National Health IT Coordinator. Mostashari’s letter to ONC To get a full view of the complete email that Farzad Mostashari sent to ONC staff, head on over to Government Health IT. 12 Cardiology Center Openings and Expansions Becker’s Hospital Review publishes a list of 12 cardiology center openings and expansions that happened in the past month. Will Healthcare Look to Zappos for Inspiration – or to Comcast? Forbes poses an interesting question: as the healthcare industry becomes increasingly customer service based, how will healthcare providers have to start changing their business... read more

According to a recent HIMSS Analytics’ survey, there’s one industry where job growth isn’t slowing – and that’s in healthcare IT. According to the survey, which focused on the healthcare IT workforce, more than 85% of survey respondents said that they had hired at least one employee in 2012. And on top of that, 79% of respondents indicated that they were looking to hire additional staff in the coming 12 months. In fact, organizations are currently having a difficult time hiring enough candidates to fulfill projects and meet deadlines. Though outsourcing projects is an option, this presents a problem once healthcare organizations need to sustain IT systems with upgrades, modifications, and more. As EHR adoption continues to ramp up, healthcare organizations are facing a challenge when it comes to hiring for their IT teams. Nearly half of respondents said that they had to place an IT initiative on hold due to staffing shortages. Even when businesses did find candidates who fit... read more

Did you have a chance to check out the latest healthcare IT news stories around the Web? We’ve captured the top industry news stories from this week that you won’t want to miss. These Graphs Show How Fast Hospitals Are Adopting Computers – And How Far They Have to Go In Forbes, we see a visual representation of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s annual report on health information technology in the United States. The graphs show that hospitals are adopting healthcare IT at a rapid pace, but that there is still a need for hospitals to continue investing in technology. Cardio Notes: ICD Codes Don’t Capture All Strokes According to Med Page Today, researchers have found that an uncommon type of stroke needs its own ICD-9 code. Cardiologists and researchers believe that with a dedicated or modified code, they would be able to identify these cases more accurately. 5 Ways IT helps make sense of costs Jeff Rowe of Healthcare IT News discusses the different ways in which... read more