Top Story

• Agencies unveil EHR format for children
  The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and CMS have introduced a new EHR format for children. Authorized under the 2009 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, the format features specific functionality and data elements for pediatric patients. BeckersHospitalReview.com (2/7)     

	The Insider's Guide to HIMSS13—FREE eBook HIMSS can be overwhelming. So download NextGen Healthcare's FREE e-book -The Insider's Guide to HIMSS13. Get tips from a HIMSS veteran, identify essential sessions, find great places to eat, fun things to do, and more! Get your FREE e-Book now!

Technology Trends

• ONC's patient safety plan gains support from CHIME
  The ONC's Patient Safety Action & Surveillance Plan has received support from CHIME, which said in a comment letter that it supports the idea of using existing programs within the government and private sector "as foundational leverage to strengthen health IT and patient safety." The group also offered recommendations, including relying on a stakeholder-driven group to implement the plan. HealthSystemCIO.com (2/5)     

EHRs and MU

• Study: EHRs are top of mind for health care CIOs this year
  Health care CIOs view EHR rollouts, meaningful use and compliance as their top three priorities for this year, according to a study commissioned by Level 3. The study also notes that while CIOs think the industry changeover to EHRs is crucial to enhance efficiency and patient care, they don't trust their abilities to safeguard sensitive data. Healthcare IT News (2/5)     

• Among vendors, Epic leads in complete MU attestations, report says
  Epic Systems leads other EHR vendors in complete EHR meaningful use attestations through October, according to a report released by Software Advice. The report indicated that 23,446 attestations were achieved through the use of an Epic product. Other vendors whose products were used in attestations were Allscripts, eClinicalWorks, NextGen and GE Healthcare, the report said. Healthcare Informatics online (2/7)     

	Maximize Clinical Performance & Minimize Risk To achieve affordable care through an integrated continuum of services, providers and healthcare organizations expect and need on-demand access to patient information and patience care applications, anytime, anywhere. Download the white paper here.

mHealth

• Patient engagement gets $25M boost from EMR developer
  EClinicalWorks, a developer of EMRs, is putting $25 million into efforts to promote patient engagement, including the development of a mobile patient application known as Healow. The app is meant to help patients connect with health records and providers while managing prescription use and refills, accessing test results and more. The firm also announced findings from a physician survey: 93% of respondents said mobile apps can help improve health outcomes, and 89% reported they were likely to encourage patients to use such tools. MobiHealthNews.com (2/7)     

• Aetna's Passage app turns exercise into virtual city tours
  Aetna's Passage application encourages users to imagine virtual locales as a way to boost their exercising experience. The app utilizes Apple devices' accelerometers as a pedometer and feeds users Instagram images and Google Maps info so they can imagine they are moving around major cities, such as Paris, discovering hidden treasures. MobiHealthNews.com (2/6)     

• Shopko mobile prescription service proves popular
  More than 1,000 prescriptions a day are being refilled via mobile devices at the retailer Shopko, which launched the service last year. "Mobile prescription refills allow customers to easily and quickly refill their prescription through a variety of ways: respond to a text message, scan a bottle or type in the Rx number. The customer also no longer has to wait by the pharmacy counter since they get a text message letting them know as soon as the prescription is ready," said Dana Marotto, director of marketing at mscripts. MobileCommerceDaily.com (2/6)     

Advancing Care With IT

• Developer unveils telemedicine tool for iPad
  The ControlStation App for iPad was recently unveiled by InTouch Health. The application, which works as an interface physicians can use to hold telehealth consultations with patients, can be linked to any InTouch devices, such as the RP-VITA. MedGadget.com (2/7)     

HIE

• Ohio's CliniSync expands with the addition of hospital system
  University Hospitals Health System announced its decision to participate in CliniSync, the health information exchange network of Ohio. The news provides an important boost to CliniSync as it aims to connect systems across the state. Crain's Cleveland Business (2/6)     

• Health analytics firm launches HIE products
  A suite of products dubbed HIE Advantage Analytics has been launched by Truven Health Analytics. The tools are intended to help public health officials use clinical and operational data from state health information exchanges. Health Data Management (2/6)     

Events Calendar

Upcoming events are managed by the Health IT SmartBrief team.
Please email healthITevents@smartbrief.com to have your event added.

3/1	WEDI HIX Virtual Event: An Overview of Health Insurance Exchange and What It Means to Your Business WEDI, March 1, Online, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

2/28	End-To-End Testing Virtual Event: A Collaborative Approach to Testing, Readiness and Compliance WEDI, Feb. 28, Online, 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

2/19	National HIPAA Summit HCCA, Feb. 19 to 21, Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. or online

Click here to view the complete calendar of events

WEDI News

• Friday, Feb. 15, WEDI Omnibus Virtual Event: Agenda available
  It's not too late to register for next week's FREE WEDI Virtual Event: "The Omnibus is Here! Survival Guide for the New Privacy & Security Regulations," on Friday, Feb. 15, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. The online event offers detailed sessions delivered by industry experts that address the revisions to the privacy and security rules, including enforcement and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA). Sessions include Level Setting -- The Omnibus; Business Associates; and Individual Rights. View the agenda and list of speakers on the event information page.     

• WEDI regional affiliate call: Cloud Computing and Information Security
  Please join us on Feb. 12 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time as we examine the adoption rate of cloud services, cloud types and cloud standards, as well as current and future security technologies. Ben Brizendine, technical services design director for Convergence Networks, will discuss the significant move to cloud-based computing and what health care organizations need to consider in addressing information security requirements. Get more information and register.     

SmartQuote

If you want to make enemies, try to change something." --Woodrow Wilson, 28th U.S. president