Final HHS Health IT Safety Plan Issued

A plan to guide health information technology (IT) activities across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to eliminate medical errors, protect patients, and improve the quality and efficiency of health care has been issued by HHS.

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Pilot Program Using Telemedicine to Decrease Emergency Room Wait Times

Emergency department (ED) overcrowding has been a major issue nationally for 20 years and continues to increase in severity.  To address this issue, a pilot study has been launched at UC San Diego Health System’s ED to use telemedicine as a way to help address crowding and decrease patient wait times.  The study is the first of its kind in California to use cameras to bring on-call doctors who are outside of the hospital to the patient in need.

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Program Integrates Data Patients Collect at Home with Medical Records

The Center for Connected Health, a division of Partners HealthCare, has launched a pioneering program to support a re-designed care delivery system. Patient data collected at home, including vital signs such as blood pressure, weight and blood glucose, are now being transmitted electronically and viewable through the Partners HealthCare medical records system, making this important data accessible within the established clinical workflow.

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OpenNotes Program Expands Access to Personal Health Information

I know I’m spoiled about access to personal health information. I get most of my medical care through Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston, which offers PatientSite, a patient portal where I’ve been able to see my laboratory and imaging results, correspond with my doctor by email, manage my medications, request appointments, and so on for many years. (Developers and physicians Danny Sands and John Halamka describe the PatientSite project in a book chapter available online from the Commonwealth Fund.)

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