Editor's Note A safe and efficient postoperative telemedicine program is feasible using a commonly used electronic health record system (Epic), and it can improve patient satisfaction, optimize throughput, and increase revenue, this pilot study finds. After researchers constructed an eClinic platform in Epic, they enrolled 233 patients having laparoscopic cholecystectomy,…
Editor's Note In this study, researchers at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, found that physicians and patients alike are dissatisfied with the use of electronic health records (EHRs). Researchers surveyed patients, physicians, mid-level providers, and nonclinical staff at two OB-GYN practices and a regional hospital from 2009 to 2013 during implementation…
Editor's Note New data released in the Protenus Breach Barometer shows more than 3.14 million patient records were compromised in 142 breach incidents reported to Health and Human Services or the media from April to June 2018, the August 8 Healthcare Informatics reports. This number is up from 1.13 million…
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on August 8 recognized four healthcare organizations as 2018 Pioneers in Quality Expert Contributors for their efforts to advance the evolution and utilization of electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs). The organizations are: BJC Healthcare, St Louis MedStar St Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown, Maryland Texas Health Resources,…
Editor's Note A recent Reaction Data survey of 254 physicians found that 21% believed electronic health records (EHRs) were the biggest determinant in burnout, followed by payers/preauthorization, regulatory compliance, and internal bureaucracy, the July 31 Healthcare Informatics reports. All factors had a common theme of consuming time and preventing physicians…
Editor's Note In a survey of more than 2,000 US adults, The Harris Poll on behalf of healthcare marketing firm Scout found that nearly half are extremely or very concerned about the security of their healthcare data, the July 30 Health IT Security reports. The survey also found that 47%…
Editor's Note The Partnership for Health IT Patient Safety, a collaborative operated by ECRI Institute, released a new report on July 26 that identifies ways technology can reduce and eliminate diagnostic testing and medication errors. The report, “Health IT Safe Practices for Closing the Loop,” is based on events reported…
Editor's Note Cybersecurity firm Cryptonite reports there were eight major healthcare data breaches in the first half of 2018, down from 19 during the same time in 2017, according to the July 18 Healthcare Informatics. However, the number of patient records breached this year was up, with more than 1.9…
Editor's Note Lowering the default number of opioid pills prescribed in an electronic health record (EHR) system is a simple, effective, inexpensive, and potentially scalable intervention to change prescriber behavior and decrease the amount of opioids prescribed postoperatively, finds this study. In this analysis of 1,447 procedures before the default…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 19 finalized its guidance for using electronic health record (EHR) data in FDA-regulated clinical studies. The guidance is meant to encourage the use of EHR data in clinical studies and promote greater interoperability between EHR and electronic data capture systems.…