Are ‘insufficient privacy protections…hindering public acceptance of the EHR concept’? A paper by researchers at North Carolina State University, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech says yes, with some good reason (identity theft). They detail legal and technical recommendations to overcome concerns, many modeled after the more stringent protections prevalent in the EU where EHRs are far more widespread. NC State release. To be published shortly in the Boston University Journal of Science and Technology Law.
Targeting New York City’s community health centers to help achieve meaningful use and ‘patient-centered medical home’ standards. Community health centers meet the health needs of many lower-income New Yorkers. However, like their patients, they are often short of funds themselves. This grant of $525,000 will aid twelve centers in educating their staff on EHR meaningful use and medical home requirements to then qualify for incentives. It will be coordinated by the Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC) and the Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS). Healthcare IT News article.
Certification moves forward…finally. On Monday, the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT, yet another acronym) launched its certification program for complete EHRs and modules that meet Stage 1 meaningful use requirements. iHealthBeat sums it up.