Top Story

• CMS releases $868M in EHR incentives for November
  The CMS estimates that EHR incentive payments to eligible doctors and hospitals last month reached $868 million. "The incentive payments were almost $1 billion more in November. We are on track for the end of December to hit the $10 billion mark for EHR incentives," said Robert Anthony, a specialist in CMS' Office of eHealth Standards and Services. Healthcare IT News (12/6)     

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EHRs and MU

• Study finds increased use of basic EHRs among office-based doctors
  A survey by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics found that 39.6% of office-based doctors used basic EHR systems in 2012, up from 33.9% in 2011. Wisconsin had the highest share of doctors who use basic EHRs, followed by Minnesota, North Dakota and Massachusetts. Modern Healthcare (subscription required) (12/6)     

Advancing Care With IT

• Consumer engagement is helping shape mHealth landscape, exec says
  The explosion of mobile health applications and increased consumer interest in the technology are making the biggest impact on mHealth, Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini said in this interview with Healthcare IT News. But issues such as those tied to data exchange and interoperability, and plans by the FDA to regulate mHealth will pose the biggest challenges next year, he said. Healthcare IT News (12/4)     

Technology Trends

• Online and onsite wellness programs each have advantages
  Online wellness programs are popular and study data show they are effective, but experts and companies say in-person programs also have advantages, such as building camaraderie. American Leather in Dallas had a successful weight-loss competition with its onsite staff, but Ryan Turnbull at Los Angeles brokerage firm Poms & Associates says such programs may miss people who prefer the anonymity of an online program. Human Resource Executive (12/5)     

• About 9 in 10 U.S. hospitals encounter a data breach, report says
  A Ponemon Institute report finds about nine out of 10 U.S. hospitals surveyed have experienced a data breach since 2010, with almost 50% reporting more than five incidents and an average of about 2,800 records being compromised per incident. Stolen laptops or mobile devices were cited as the main cause of breaches, followed by employee negligence and third-party errors. DOTMed.com (12/6)     

• Digital health firm to raise fund to enhance medication adherence
  Abiogenix, a digital health startup, hopes to raise $1.6 million within two years to create the next generation of its uBox medication-adherence device. Aside from flashing green to remind individuals about their scheduled medications, the pillbox also sends texts to people close to patients to inform them about a missed dose. MedCityNews.com (12/4)     

HIE

• Texas school opens HIE laboratory
  The University of Texas at Austin has unveiled the country's first health information exchange laboratory to train students in the use of data-sharing platforms and enable them to view real-time exchanges of patient data. Enrollees also benefit from a Health IT Learning Center that enables them to work with a telehealth platform and six EHR systems. Modern Healthcare (subscription required) (12/6)     

• HIT firm collaborate with Evernote to boost real-time data exchange
  IHealth has partnered with Evernote, an application that enables users to write notes and store data on several devices, to leverage the app for the medical care sector. The collaboration is expected to help patients and physicians share real-time health information via iHealth's Practice Fusion network. Health Tech Zone (12/6)     

Events Calendar

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

12/12

The Privacy and Security Forum HIMSS and Healthcare IT News, Dec. 12 to 13, Boston, Mass.

12/13

WEDI Webinar: Electronic Payments and Remittance Countdown to Standardization! WEDI, Dec. 13, Online, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. ET

12/14

Webinar: WEDI 101 WEDI, Dec. 14, Online, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. ET

Click here to view the complete calendar of events

Career Track

• Kaiser expands workforce in Denver
  Kaiser Permanente, the largest health plan provider in Colorado, announced that it will build a new IT facility in Greenwood Village and recruit 500 individuals over the coming three years to work there. The company employs around 6,000 in the state, including about 200 IT staff working in its health IT initiative. American City Business Journals/Denver (12/6)     

• Health care solutions provider taps new president
  Oleh Denysyk was tapped to replace John Maglione as president of Healthcare Research and Analytics. Denysyk has previously filled high-level posts at pharmaceutical firms and worked as a consultant at a market research company. Modern Healthcare (subscription required) (12/6)     

WEDI News

• WEDI Annual Conference in Las Vegas – Registration is Open!
  Sign up now for the WEDI 22nd Annual National Conference and save up to $300 on your conference registration. The Special "SUPER Early Bird" rates will be available through Dec. 31. Attend with your colleagues and receive a larger discount:
  • 2-4 attendees: 10% off
  • 4+ attendees: 25% off
  Get information about the conference.     

SmartQuote

You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it." --Charles Buxton, British brewer, philanthropist, writer and legislator