EVENTS

JAN

Conference on Remote Patient Monitoring

Philadelphia

FEB

HIMSS' Annual Asian Health IT Conference

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

MAR

Conference on the Future of Medical Banking

Nashville, Tenn.

View All Events

FROM THE FOUNDATION

Statewide Telehealth Center Established

The California Center for Connected Health will coordinate strategy and planning for statewide telehealth adoption and use. Sandra Shewry will lead the multimillion-dollar effort to bring better health care to underserved areas.

Better Nursing Through Technology

Nurses prefer to work in hospitals where safety, quality, and their own job satisfaction are top priorities. This report examines how technology can improve both nurses' work environment and the level of care they provide.

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Friday

IBM CEO: Government Health IT Investment Will Create Jobs

IBM CEO Samuel Palmisano told President-elect Barack Obama's transition team that based on the company's research, a $10 billion government investment in electronic health records and other health IT would create 212,000 jobs. Palmisano also told the Obama team that expanding broadband access and improving the electrical grid also would create new jobs this year. Wall Street Journal.

Telemedicine Services Underutilized by Texas Physicians, Report Finds

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission found that few physicians in the state use telemedicine services. The commission plans to make several changes to encourage telemedicine use, such as reimbursing for more telemedicine services. Government Technology.

More Physicians Use Smartphones, PDAs in Clinical Care

Physicians are adopting mobile devices at a faster rate than the general public, according to Manhattan Research. Some industry experts predict that the use of smartphones and PDAs will drive an increase in electronic health record adoption. American Medical News.

Hawaii Health Plan Set To Launch Online Physician Service

Next week, the Hawaii Medical Service Association will launch a Web-based service that will let state residents consult with physicians via the Internet. Proponents of the service say it will increase access to care, but others argue that online visits could lead to misdiagnoses. New York Times.

Simulation Technology Plays Role in Medical Curriculum at UW

The University of Washington's Institute for Simulation and Interprofessional Studies uses medical simulation to train medical students for surgery. The school plans to use simulation technology to boost collaboration among different medical professions. Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Health IT Leaders Offer Recommendations for Federal Funding of Health Care IT Efforts

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Bob Doherty of the American College of Physicians, Dave Roberts of HIMSS and Robert Zirkelbach of America's Health Insurance Plans discussed health IT funding strategies with iHealthBeat.

FEATURES

Five-Star Rating of Nursing Homes Gets Mixed Reviews

by George Lauer, iHealthBeat Features Editor

A new online rating system for nursing homes unveiled by the federal government last month is getting mixed reviews. Critics question its validity while some industry groups and nursing homes welcome the new Web site as a valuable tool to help people navigate the difficult task of choosing a nursing home.

PERSPECTIVES

Industry Predictions: What Are the Drivers Shaping Health Care IT in 2009?

by Jane Sarasohn-Kahn

Predictions, sure things for 2009: From macroeconomic stimulus to electronic prescriptions, changes coming next year should put health IT firmly in the mainstream.