Anthony Brino

The nation's largest hospital chain is realigning its "complex portfolio" to focus on building regional health networks in high opportunity markets.

NYU Langone is running its own HIE across hospitals and clinics and, in so doing, taking on work that larger RHIOs lack the agility to perform.

In a major metropolitan experiment, a regional health information exchange is aggressively pursuing the goal of connecting 100 percent of providers and 90 percent of hospitals by 2016.

The threat from hackers affects all business, but healthcare providers face the additional threat of fines for failure to comply with HIPAA regulations. These fines are no mere speeding ticket.

With an updated care management suite and a so-called "open platform," NextGen takes aim at software flexibility and usability.

Purchasing spree continues as Optum gains chronic condition management, smoking cessation and other services.

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is exporting its knowledge and management services around the world, to countries like China and Lithuania expanding healthcare for emerging middle class populations.

Anchored by its flagship, community-owned Calvert Memorial Hospital, the health system is trying to be a pioneer in Maryland, claiming among the lowest mortality and complication rates in the state -- thanks in part to its advancing digital information backbone, said CIO Ed Grogan.

The Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System serves the greater Coles County population with a 128-bed regional hospital and numerous clinics and outpatient facilities -- a wide service base that has compelled the 30-person IT staff to make sure they visit clinicians outside the hospital to best meet their needs.

Apple is out with its latest, much-anticipated products, and taking a step into healthcare with a new iPhone-enabled watch. Will this be a big step forward for digital health, or just a grab of the high-end quantified-self market?