Patient Access

In health IT, the lingo is continuously evolving and stakeholders don't necessarily agree on a single definition for each term. Sometimes these new terms even just describe older concepts. Little wonder, our columnist writes, that providers sometimes feel in the dark.

Eric Dishman made his way up to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to testify about just how critical -- a matter of life or death -- access to personal health information can be.

Will Apple's new iPad design, meant to be the new "PC replacement" appeal to the healthcare crowd? The jury is still out.

Kyra Bobinet, MD, says a doctor can look at all the vital signs, test results, images and assorted assorted other EMR data and still have no idea how to treat a patient. "That's not real life," she says. "That's not how to care for people."

Patient engagement just got a boost with GetWellNetwork's acquisition of San Diego-based Skylight Healthcare Systems. Both companies describe themselves as early pioneers in interactive patient care.

Kaiser Permanente engages 45 percent of its more than 9 million members through online portals, which offer EHR access and secure physician-patient email. But not all providers are able to demonstrate such healthy numbers.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has handed the baton to the Office of Management and Budget, as the rules for Stage 3 meaningful use and the modifications to Stage 2 inch closer to finalization.

The Care Beyond Walls and Wires pilot empowers patients with smartphone and biometric devices and, in turn, yields impressive results for the hospital network.

With an eye on patient relationship management and 'precision healthcare' the cloud-based CRM stalwart released a set of services to offer a comprehensive view of health data.

Education and credentials aim to equip providers with practical competency and ultimately help them understand how social media tools can improve care delivery.