Study: Medical homes improve care
June 18th 2010A two-year national demonstration project of the patient-centered medical home concept of 31 primary care practices shows that the model does improve care, but patients still complain of lack of income and personal relationships with physicians, according to study results.
Home monitoring improves blood pressure control, study finds
June 10th 2010The use of at-home blood pressure monitors and Web-based reporting tools that connect clinicians and patients via the Internet appears to significantly improve patients? ability to manage their hypertension to healthy levels, according to a recent study from Kaiser Permanente.
Survey: telehealth improves outcomes, but pay an issue
June 10th 2010Improved patient outcomes are the biggest benefit of the use of telehealth, and the main barrier to telehealth adoption is reimbursement, according to a national survey of healthcare and information technology professionals sponsored by Intel Corp.
Use of EHRs helps speed treatment of STDs
June 10th 2010Practices using paper notes should consider switching to electronic health records to improve the efficiency with which they recall and treat sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, according to research conducted at the Patrick Clements Clinic, Central Middlesex Hospital, London.
Commission recommends voluntary technology certification programs
June 10th 2010A proposal by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to establish a temporary program to certify electronic health record systems, followed by a permanent program, has elicited formal comments from the Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission.
MGMA: HITECH provision puts unnecessary burden on practices
June 10th 2010A new provision under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act places an administrative burden on physician practices that could discourage them from adopting electronic health record systems, according to the Medical Group Management Association.
Medicare opt-out decision requires detailed knowledge
June 4th 2010With the passage of the federal healthcare reform law and the increasing number of audits that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will be conducting, it may be time to consider opting out of Medicare, but be sure to first know your options.