As usual, my Recovery Room posts try to highlight  HITECH news and events we think you should know about. Here are some highlights.
Health 2.0, LLC and Health Care Conference Administrators, LLC (HCCA) presented Health Innovation Week in San Francisco, on October 3-10 this year. The week of events included REC & HIE, EHR and HIPAA West Summits, HealthCampSFBay, and Health 2.0 conference. For an insightful recap and commentary like only he can give, check out John Moore’s two part post, “Letting the Data Flow“.
On the Certification front, there are still only three ONC-ATCBs but the word on the street says there will be more. Of the three, only CCHIT and Drummond have certified products. For a complete list of certified products the ONC publishes the Certified HIT Product List (CHPL). The ONC is working on a new version of the CHPL which will include product certification numbers that will be used by EPs when attesting to CMS for meaningful use.
Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of IT professionals, has released its 2011 salary guide. The guide discusses key findings and trends in IT compensation. According to the guide they are forecasting strong demands for IT professionals in healthcare. The needs will come from the work needed to convert to electronic medical records. Download the 2011 Salary Guide.
ONC Blumenthal couldn’t agree with Robert Half’s forecasts more. In fact, that’s just what the Health IT Workforce Development Program is all about. Identifying four key initiatives, the ONC awarded $84 million in funding that will help meet this growing demand for health IT professionals. Read Dr. Blumenthal’s lastest post in his series of updates.
And the hits just keep coming in… The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting another major medical data breach. Affiliated companies, Keystone Mercy Health Plan and AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan, are missing a flash drive containing PHI on 280,000 people. Read the full article.
ONC Blumenthal talks EHR adoption to Julie Chang of The Texas Tribune. Assuring people of making and keeping their PHI private will help in adoption. It will be a collective responsibility to keeping patient information safe and private. He says Texas is making progress and there are still great challenges in the rural areas. Ben Taub Hospital, the largest county hospital in my home town Houston just went electronic and they are very positive on the initial results. Read the interview.
Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter this month to download Bob Chaput’s 32-page white paper: HIPAA Security Risk Analysis and Risk Management Methodology. Be sure your practice is on the right track when it come to HIPAA.
Have a great weekend.