Healthcare IT News For VARs — May 16, 2014
By Megan Williams, contributing writer
In the news this week, a medical transcription provider is fired due to a data breach, and there is big potential for EHR growth in dermatology.
Boston Medical Center Fires Vendor Due To Data Breach
Last month, Boston Medical Center announced that it fired a transcription service after learning that the records of about 15,000 patients were posted on the vendor’s website without password protection. Patients were notified of the breach by MDF Transcription Services and its subcontractors via letter. According to the Boston Globe, the hospital had been working with the company for about ten years and it remains unclear how long the notes had been left unprotected. The medical center also reports there was no reason to believe the information was misused as a result of the breach.
Top EHR Systems For Dermatology Announced
According to Advance Healthcare Network, dermatology is one of the fastest growing markets in terms of EHR production. Blackbook Ranking conducted a four month user poll and found that half of solo dermatology practices and small group practices have only partially implemented their EHR systems (because of non-vendor related issues) and 81 percent are considering replacing their systems within the next 12 months. The survey also names vendors with the highest scores when it comes to client experience as rated by dermatology specialists.
Big Changes Potentially Coming For EHR Certification Process
The Health IT Policy Committee announced on May 8 that it recommends major adjustments to the EHR certification program. Paul Tang M.D., committee vice chair who led the workgroup, called the recommendations “massive change.” The first recommendation, according to HealthData Management, is to take a more holistic approach to the certification process, starting with Meaningful Use objectives. The second recommendation limited the scope of the HIT Certification Program to the three areas of interoperability, clinical quality measures, and privacy and security.
FTC Required To Disclose Consumer Data Security Standards
After LabMD was accused by the Federal Trade Commission of inadequately securing data, they have been granted the right to request insight into exactly which standards they violated. The Atlanta-based medical testing lab (now out of business), filed a civil lawsuit challenging the commission’s authority to enforce security standards for data security. According to InformationWeek, the lab is also accusing the FTC of unfair retaliation because of a book written by their president and CEO.
Electronic Data Interchange Market To Be Worth $1.7 Billion by 2018
A market report released by Markets And Markets claims that the EDI market will be worth $1,681.1 Million by 2018. The paid report (as indicated by IT Business Net) is available for paid download. The report provides and analysis of the global EDI market based on components, transactions, end-users, mode of delivery and geography. The demand for EDI had been bolstered by factors ranging from government support and rising administrative costs, but the cost of software and restricted investment in IT have restrained the growth of the market. PDF brochure available for free.
Healthcare IT Talking Points
Some users are finding being early to taking on Stage 2 Meaningful Use certification to be a burden. This article from Government Health IT, discusses some of the negatives early adopters have experienced including having to back-track and correct work done by well-meaning (though uninformed) providers and having to make patches for thousands of codes due to the transition from Stage 1 to Stage 2.
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Healthcare IT Resource Center.