Dear Healthcare IT Insider,
Healthcare providers who generate electronic patient data -- and healthcare IT professionals who manage it -- need to be diligent about ensuring that the information is secure. Unfortunately, security is not given enough funding and staffing resources in most healthcare environments.
Once again, this is revealed in the annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Security Survey, the results of which were released last week in conjunction with the first HIMSS co-sponsored privacy and security forum. Even though the adoption of electronic health records continues to grow in the U.S., only 1% of the 29,000 healthcare-provider-affiliated HIMSS members felt motivated to complete the survey. You can read its details in this newsletter's Insider Exclusive.
Other than in terms of security, healthcare IT as it relates to imaging informatics is enjoying growing prominence, as evidenced by its visibility at RSNA 2012. Dr. Keith Dreyer, PhD, and Dr. Paul Chang delivered the prestigious Pendergrass New Horizons lectures on the future of radiology informatics, which senior editor Erik L. Ridley reported in part 1 and part 2.
Meaningful use rules are expected to propel the adoption of clinical decision-support software interfaced with computerized physician order-entry systems. Editor in chief Brian Casey described his visit to an RSNA 2012 technical exhibit that may herald the adoption of the American College of Radiology's evidenced-based Appropriateness Criteria as a national standard.
Decision support isn't just limited to ordering physicians, however. Erik L. Ridley reported on a scientific session about tools that are being used to help radiologists. Click here to learn more.
There were many RSNA 2012 sessions on meaningful use, but one on how a large academic radiology department is achieving it attracted a packed house. Read words of advice if you missed this dynamic session.
Speech recognition dictation software is here to stay, but the frequency of errors in reports remains a huge issue. Staff writer Rebekah Moan captured one such dialogue at an RSNA 2012 session. You'll want to read this article.
Happy new year to all our readers of the Healthcare IT Digital Community.
