Government & Policy

National health IT boss talked about e-prescribing and meaningful use at a meeting sponsored by Surescripts.

The use of the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) to promote health information exchange represents a major shift of direction by policymakers working on expediting use of the Nationwide Health Information Network.The NIEM (pronounced "NEEM") is a working model for standardizing information exchange that has been operating among federal, state and local government agencies in areas such as emergency management and law enforcement.

Agency wants to build a network of performance improvement managers who will share public health best practices.

VA wants to accommodate physicians who use electronic tools from external Web sites to help them track patients, CIO says.

InfoGard Labs joins Drummond Group and CCHIT as temporary certifiers and testers of EHRs.

CIO Baker said VA will get tougher with contractors to protect veterans' sensitive data.

Move dovetails with plans for consumers, small businesses to shop for health coverage through insurance exchange portals.

HIMSS 2010 Davies Awards of Excellence also include Sentara Healthcare, Nemours, the Diabetes Center, Miramont clinic and Open Door clinic.

Spokane VA Medical Center, Fairchild Air Force Base and information exchange network Inland Northwest Health Services will share records.

The broadband California Telehealth Network gets $14M in grants funds to expand access to health care services.