Top Story

• CMS to assess hospital preparedness in electronic quality reporting
  CMS on Friday asked hospitals to gauge the feasibility of EHR use for submitting patient-level information on quality measures. The move aims to boost efficiency and limit "the burden associated with hospital collection and submission of patient-level data on clinical quality measures," the agency stated. Modern Healthcare (subscription required) (12/28)     

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EHRs and MU

• EHR helps Wis. clinic have high ratings in patient care
  An analysis by Consumer Reports magazine showed that Marshfield Clinic in Wausau has nabbed the second spot in a ranking of 19 health groups in Wisconsin that offer heart disease treatments and cancer screenings, as well as care for individuals who are at least 60 years of age. The use of EHRs helped the facility attain the high ratings as the technology transmits patient data to health staff on a timely basis, said Dr. Laura Nelson, chief medical officer. Marshfield News-Herald (Wis.) (12/28)     

Advancing Care With IT

• Mayo Clinic introduces pregnancy guide app
  The Mayo Clinic tells expectant parents about pregnancy, birth and the first months of life through an application called Mayo Clinic on Pregnancy. The app, available for tablets, desktops and laptops that use Windows 8, has advice for staying healthy and fit during pregnancy as well as ways to soothe crying infants. United Press International (12/30)     

Technology Trends

• Advocacy group calls for strong cloud privacy measures
  HHS should develop cloud-computing guidelines that focus on business associate deals, security measures and secure infrastructure, according to a letter sent to the HHS Office for Civil Rights from Dr. Deborah Peel, chair and founder of the group Patient Privacy Rights. "Issuing guidance to strengthen and clarify cloud-based protections for data security and privacy will help assure patients (that) sensitive health data they share with their physicians and other health care professionals will be protected," said Peel. Government Health IT online (12/28)     

• Data breach affects 1,090 patients in Ky.
  The Cabinet for Health and Family Services of Kentucky is informing 1,090 Medicaid beneficiaries that their health information was compromised in November as a result of a computer scam involving a vendor, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Services. Compromised information included the Social Security numbers of around 50% of the patients affected. Modern Healthcare (subscription required) (12/28)     

• IAEA launches online tool to reduce radiotherapy incidents
  The International Atomic Energy Agency has introduced an online tool for radiotherapy patient safety called Safety in Radiation Oncology. SAFRON allows radiotherapy facilities to share data on incidents and near-incidents through an international learning system. The tool also aims to help radiotherapy centers create patient safety systems that can reduce the risk of incidents or repeat errors. AuntMinnie.com (free registration) (12/28)     

HIE

• A look at the pluses and minuses of clouds for health IT
  Cloud-based services are helping the health IT sector save money, boost research, share data, create health information exchanges and improve medical-team efforts, this article asserts. Concerns include how to choose a partner, as well as security and service-level agreement issues that enterprises need to focus on as clouds gain ground. Health Tech Zone (12/26)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by Health IT SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• ONC works to boost health information exchange (Government Health IT online)

• Authorities confirm patient data breach in identity theft scheme (Modern Healthcare (subscription required))

• Health care apps may make major clinical strides in 2013 (GigaOm)

• More hospitals, providers receive EHR incentives (Modern Healthcare (subscription required))

• Frequent Facebook usage is tied to obesity in study (The Inquisitr)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Career Track

• Personalized medicine services provider taps new CEO
  John Norris is the new CEO of Health Discovery, a firm that specializes in personalized medicine and information analysis. Norris filled several positions at the company prior to his recent appointment, including executive vice president, chief regulatory officer and chief technology officer. Modern Healthcare (subscription required) (12/27)     

WEDI News

• WEDI Annual Conference in Las Vegas
  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
  • 5-8 attendees: 25% off
  • 9+ attendees: 30% off
  Get information about the conference.     

Editor's Note

• SmartBrief will not publish Tuesday
  In observance of New Year's Day, SmartBrief will not publish Tuesday. Publication will resume Wednesday. Enjoy the holiday!     

SmartQuote

Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it's twice as onerous a duty." --John Selden, English jurist and scholar