Electronic Health Records (EHR, EMR)

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, the second largest U.S municipal system, is growing its population health management platform with Cerner’s HealtheIntent technology.

Doctors spend more than half of their time on EHRs and deskwork and only about 27 percent in direct clinical visits with patients. One researcher said the industry needs to refocus doctors' efforts from facing computer screens to engaging patients.

Eligible hospitals can apply for hardship exceptions for issues related to EHR vendors, infrastructure, natural disasters and more.

Fewer than one-third of healthcare providers polled for the newest HIMSS Analytics Essentials Brief are currently pursuing precision medicine initiatives – with the majority who don't saying that limitations in funding, technology or expertise are holding them back. But that's poised to change very soon.

The timeline change stems from issues identified during testing as well as the aggressive nature of the original schedule, DoD Program Executive Officer Stacy Cummings said.

The industry association calls on CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt to focus on the key issues of data sharing and interoperability and to reduce the need for multiple reports from IT systems.

Barnett comes with experience at two other prestigious medical systems in Illinois and Michigan. URMC officials cited his fluency with Epic’s EHR and experience in population health programs as critical skills for leading its technology initiatives.

The providers revealed plans to create a clinically integrated network and shared services, as well as streamlining access to care services for patients of both organizations. 

The Epic EHR shop earned accolades for its use of advanced analytics, smart pumps, tracking monitors and census data to improve patient care and quality. 

The companies said that Cerner’s HealtheIntent platform will use 3M's grouping methodology to help customers manage both care and costs.