Medical Technology Journal - News

Julie Shimer, Welch Allyn Prez & CEO to Retire

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 04:47:02 +0100

Julie Shimer will retire from Welch Allyn at the end of 2012, allowing time for a successor to be named and a smooth transition over the course of the next several months.

States, Vendors Agree on Health Data Specs

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:07:38 +0100

A group of states and vendors focused on eliminating the barriers to sharing electronic health records (EHRs) have issued a set of technical specifications to standardize connections between healthcare providers, health information exchanges (HIEs) and other data-sharing partners.

CureMD Launches Smart Cloud

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:36:33 +0100

CureMD Healthcare, a provider of web-based EMR, PM, Portal and Revenue Cycle Management recently launched “Smart Cloud,” which��offers an all-in-one solution that includes �software, hosting, training, support, maintenance, updates, security and business continuity without the cost and responsibility of in-practice maintenance, backup and support.

MedData Acquires Data Management, Inc.

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:29:43 +0100

MedData, Inc., a leading provider of medical billing services, said it has acquired Data Management, Inc. (DMI), a provider of physician billing services to pathologists and emergency departments based in Peoria, Ill.

All Systems Partners With Voalt�

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 21:19:45 +0100

Voalt�, a clinical communications technology firm, recently announced a new reseller partnership with Kansas City-based All Systems. The partnership allows All Systems to provide the Voalt� One smart phone solution to hospitals in Kansas and Missouri.

Sage Healthcare Working to Build Reseller Channel

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:28:58 +0100

The Sage Healthcare Division is working to build its reseller channel after rolling out a revamped program about two months ago. The unit had a channel program, according to Betty Otter-Nickerson, the division's president, "But it wasn't very active."

Doctors, Patients Losing Patience with Offline Inefficiency

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 21:12:35 +0100

Patients are losing patience. Every day, thousands of people try to call their doctors to request medical appointments, ask clinician questions, renew prescriptions and receive important information. The Intuit Health Patient Engagement Study, conducted in April, found 95% of doctors want their patients to fill out medical and registration forms online before their appointment. When patients were asked about filling out forms and the registration process, 81% said they’d like to move that task online too. Intuit surveyed 556 practices across the United States in April.

28% of Firms Using Cloud Computing: Poll

Tue, 31 May 2011 21:17:39 +0100

Twenty-eight percent of U.S. organizations are using cloud computing today, with 73% reporting that their first step into the cloud was implementation of a single cloud application. That’s according to a recent poll from CDW, a provider of technology products and services to business, government, education and healthcare. For the study, CDW surveyed 1,200 IT professionals familiar with their organization’s use of, or plans for, cloud computing.��

Diversinet Names Mobile Healthcare Strategist Alan Portela to Board

Tue, 31 May 2011 15:50:30 +0100

Diversinet Corp., a mobile healthcare communications firm, has appointed Alan Portela, a mHealth strategist and innovator, to its Board of Directors. Portela will also serve as chairman of the firm’s newly formed Executive Advisory Board.

MacPractice Launches Clipboard iPad Apps

Mon, 23 May 2011 23:48:15 +0100

MacPractice, an Apple developer of practice management and clinical software for doctors’ offices on Macs, iPhones, and iPads, has launched MacPractice MD, DDS, DC, and 20/20 Clipboard iPad Apps that streamline patient registration. It leverages the efficiency and ease of use of Apple’s latest innovation to save time and reduce the risk of data entry errors.

Are You Ready to Exchange Health Information?

Mon, 23 May 2011 23:02:04 +0100

Whether it is related to electronic health records (EHRs), accountable care, medical homes, meaningful use, or other initiatives to improve patient safety and quality, a healthcare organization's ability to succeed—or fend off competition—depends on its ability to effectively exchange health information within the organization, with outside groups such as physician offices and payers, and with Health Information Exchanges.

meridianEMR and CDW Healthcare Partner on Urology EHR Support

Tue, 17 May 2011 03:57:08 +0100

CDW Healthcare has partnered with meridianEMR, which provides an interoperable electronic health record (EHR) solution for Urologists, compatible with physician practice management systems and advanced healthcare analytics.�CDW Healthcare will be the preferred provider of information technology infrastructure and services for meridianEMR solutions.

eMDs Selected as EHR Vendor for CalHIPSO

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 21:01:47 +0100

e-MDs, a provider of electronic health records, has been selected as an EHR vendor partner for the California Health Information Partnership and Services Organization�(CalHIPSO).

Cognify Picks Greenway’s Primesuite for Integrated Care

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 20:50:43 +0100

Greenway Medical Technologies said it has integrated PrimeSUITE, its electronic health record (EHR), practice management and interoperability solution with Cognify’s web-based Participant Tracking System that monitors care plan continuums.

New Technology to Detect Cancer Mutations Earlier

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:00:13 +0100

Life Technologies Corporation says it has launched TaqMan Mutation Detection Assays, a highly sensitive molecular analysis tool that can detect a single mutant molecule hiding in a background of one million normal copies.

Sage Partners With Medical Society of Virginia

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 18:57:31 +0100

Sage Healthcare Division said that it is collaborating with the Medical Society of Virginia to participate in a new program called Health Information Technology Select.

Texas’ United Medical Centers Selects Sage’s Meaningful Use Offering

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 01:11:59 +0100

Sage Healthcare Division said recently that United Medical Centers (UMC), an eight-practice community health center in Eagle Pass, Texas, will implement the Sage Intergy Meaningful Use Edition to meet the practice’s financial and clinical needs.

Thomson Reuters, Zynx Health Partner on Drug, Disease Info

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 20:57:38 +0100

Thomson Reuters and Zynx Health said the Thomson Reuters Micromedex will be integrated into ZynxOrder evidence-based order sets.

Breath Technologies Gets FDA Clearance for Portable Ventilator

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:58:57 +0100

Breathe Technologies said that it has received FDA approval for the Breathe Technologies BT-V2S, a one-pound portable ventilator that can be used in the home. The ventilator can be used to treat respiratory conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Patients Concerned About EHR Security

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:35:44 +0100

Almost half of Americans participating in a recent survey are concerned that Electronic Health Records (EHRs) may lead to a breach in the security of their personal health information.

Sage to Integrate HealthUnity’s HIE with EHR

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 20:29:45 +0100

Sage Healthcare Division has announced plans to integrate HIE-enabled technology through a partnership with HealthUnity’s health information exchange (HIE) solution.

ZirMed Launches Free Patient Check-in App

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:40:17 +0100

ZirMed, a provider of revenue cycle management solutions, has created a free iPad application aimed at making the patient check-in process easier.

Radio Frequency Found Perfect in Detecting Surgical Sponges: Study

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 22:02:12 +0100

RF Surgical Systems, which works to prevent and detect retained surgical sponges, announced data recently showing that radio frequency technology used to identify retained surgical items in all patient types is 100% effective in patients of varying body size, including morbidly obese patients.

FDA Pushes Priority Review for Breakthrough Medical Devices

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 21:53:47 +0100

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently proposed the Innovation Pathway, a priority review program for new, breakthrough medical devices. The first submission to the project is a brain-controlled, upper-extremity prosthetic that will serve as a pilot for the program.

Doctor-Founded Tech Firm Launches Communications-Improving App

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:18:23 +0100

Apello Technologies, a doctor-created technology company focused on developing tools to help physicians collaborate, recently launched its Apello Physicians Network.�Available as an App through the iTunes Store or through the company's website as a desktop tool, the Apello Physicians Network aims to improve patient care by helping doctors share information in an instant, reducing pages, phone calls, dictation and other messages.

MedAssurant Launches Powerful New Data Analysis Technology

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:34:10 +0100

MedAssurant, a provider of data-driven healthcare solutions, said it has implemented its Quality Spectrum Cluster Logic (QSCL) technology, a proprietary analytical data structure designed to enable acceleration of complex healthcare data analyses.

New ‘Know the Label’ Campaign Aims to Improve Patient Safety

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:24:53 +0100

PDR Network, The Doctors Company and other professional liability carriers and their partners recently announced a new national "Know the Label" campaign to improve drug and patient safety in the United States.

Florida Medical Association Picks Sage to Help Physicians with Meaningful Use

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 02:12:23 +0100

Sage Healthcare Division, a major provider of electronic health records and practice management software, said it will participate in the Florida Medical Association’s new series of workshops in nine Florida cities to help physicians achieve meaningful use compliance.

EHR Implementation Costs Physicians $120k Each: Study

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:42:42 +0100

A new survey from CDW Healthcare revealed that including equipment, software, services, training time and potential lost revenue, physician practices may face total Electronic Health Record (EHR) adoption costs of $120,000 per physician. The speed with which a practice fully implements the EHR and shifts to the new, accelerated workflow is critical to reducing the overall cost of adoption, according to the study.

Millennium to Release New Research on U.S. Clot Management Device Market

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 22:20:13 +0100

Millennium Research Group will soon release their latest data on the U.S. clot management device market. The report, entitled US Markets for Clot Management Devices 2011, report provides insight into the device-based treatments of deep vein thrombosis and the complex competitive dynamics of medical device manufacturers in this field.

RF Surgical Releases New Surgical Sponge Detection System

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 06:33:08 +0100

RF Surgical Systems, which specializes in the prevention and detection of retained surgical sponges, announced the release of the RF Assure Detection System Model 200.

FDA Seeking to Prevent Radiation Overdoses During CT Scans

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 22:39:10 +0100

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been investigating reports that patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) brain perfusion scans were accidently exposed to excess radiation. The FDA found that when properly used, the CT scanners did not malfunction.

MxSecure Releases MxTranscribe 4.0

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 22:31:27 +0100

MxSecure has launched MxTranscribe 4.0, a transcription service for small practices. The latest version of the firm’s medical transcription software offers physicians greater flexibility in managing office workflow and helps ensure complete care by allowing them to concentrate on patient care rather than managing medical transcription.

Zynx Kicks-Off Pilot Focused on Healthcare Reform

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 06:48:49 +0100

Zynx Health, a provider of evidence-based and experience-based clinical decision support solutions, said it is kicking-off of a pilot program that addresses a new focus on healthcare reform and prepares for accountable care organizations (ACOs).

Sage Integrity Meaningful Use Edition ONC-ATCB Certified

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 21:25:56 +0100

Sage Healthcare Division said that Sage Intergy Meaningful Use Edition v 6.2, its electronic health record and practice management solution, has been tested and certified under Drummond Group's Electronic Health Records ONC-ATCB program.�

RECs Won’t Achieve Mission: Poll

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:00:37 +0100

An overwhelming 71% of respondents to a recent survey say they believe Regional Extension Centers (RECs) will not deliver on their mission.

Iowa Taps Hielix, MEDNET for HIE Planning

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:55:56 +0100

The state of Iowa has selected Hielix and MEDNET to develop a strategic business and financial sustainability plan to support a statewide Health Information Exchange (HIE).�

Website to Get Healthcare Pros Answers to Clinical Questions in 30 Seconds

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:55:00 +0100

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins recently launched 5MinuteConsult.com, a clinical decision support site that aims to provide healthcare professionals answers to their clinical questions in 30 seconds or less. The website helps healthcare professionals quickly obtain critical information for the diagnosis, treatment and management of thousands of diseases and conditions.

Kaiser Permanente Wins ECRI Health Devices Achievement Award

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:44:11 +0100

ECRI Institute, an independent nonprofit organization that researches the best approaches to improving patient care, named non-profit Kaiser Permanente the winner of the 5th annual Health Devices Achievement Award for excellence in health technology management.

Sage Undertaking Certification of Intergy Meaningful Use Edition

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:34:48 +0100

Sage Healthcare Division said that it is in the process of certifying Sage Intergy Meaningful Use Edition as a qualified meaningful use solution. Such an endeavor will enable physicians to qualify for incentives under the HITECH stimulus package under the American Recovery and Reinvestment (ARRA) Act of 2009.

GPOs Not Saving Hospitals Money: Study

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:13:56 +0100

Hospitals spend more money on medical devices and equipment that is purchased through Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) than they would if they bought the items on the open-market, according to a recent study commissioned by the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA).�

MedClean Tech Expands Medical Waste Disposal in Four Southwest States

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 18:13:26 +0100

MedClean Technologies, which provides on-site technology for the treatment and disposal of medical waste and the destruction of confidential documents, says it has signed a distribution agreement with Sodzo Medical, Inc., a four state distributorship doing business as Texas Pain Reps based out of Houston, Texas.

New 'Deep Dive' Tool Aims to Help Doctors Better Manage Data

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:53:50 +0100

Mounting labor and administrative costs, lack of capital for technology development, ongoing regulatory concerns, and changing compliance requirements have caused many physicians to outsource their medical billing and practice management operations in order to stabilize revenues and better predict cash flows.

Smartphone App to Help with Cardiac Imaging Testing

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:19:29 +0100

Astellas Pharma US has launched the Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for Cardiac Radionuclide Imaging application for smartphones. The application is designed to give physicians access to published criteria used to assess the need for a patient to have cardiac radionuclide imaging (RNI).

CDW Healthcare & VHA Forge New Deal

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:18:40 +0100

CDW Healthcare and national healthcare network VHA Inc. have announced an expanded three-year deal to deliver Information Technology products and services to the VHA-supported Mid-America Service Solutions consolidated service center. CDW Healthcare is part of the public sector subsidiary of CDW LLC.

Can an Ad-Supported EMR Fuel Healthcare's Technology Revolution?

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:38:14 +0100

As US doctors consider the switch from paper charts to Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Good Health Media and Practice Fusion have teamed up to provide an absolutely free EMR system supported by targeted advertising.

Sage Announces Customer Appreciation Program

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:15:40 +0100

TAMPA, Fla., -- Sept. 16, 2010 – Sage North America today announced that the Sage Healthcare Division, a provider of electronic health records (EHR) and practice management software, has launched its Customer Appreciation Program (CAP) that’s designed to say thank you to its existing customers and provide them with assistance toward adopting EHRs and achieving meaningful use requirements.

Vendor Named a Preferred Vendor by MA eHealth Institute

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:39:20 +0100

Sage North America today announced that the Sage Healthcare Division, a leading provider of electronic health records (EHR) and practice management software, has been named a preferred vendor by the Massachusetts eHealth Institute to make available the Sage Intergy Meaningful Use Edition to all of the institute’s thousands of participating healthcare providers.

Mayo Regional Hospital Selects Sage Intergy EHR

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:32:20 +0100

Sage North America Healthcare Division, which provides electronic health records (EHR) and practice management software and services to approximately 80,000 physicians in North America, today announced that Mayo Regional Hospital, based in Dover-Foxcroft, ME, has selected Sage Intergy EHR for the hospital’s medical practices.�

Thomson Reuters Acquires Healthcare Data Management, Inc.

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:01:03 +0100

September 1, 2010 – Thomson Reuters, the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, today announced that it has acquired Healthcare Data Management, Inc. Effective immediately, the company will become part of the Healthcare & Science business of Thomson Reuters. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.