Physicians rely on robust, secure, and easily navigable hospital information systems to provide quality care to their patients. This issue's cover story, which begins on page 10, examines the various strategies CIOs and CMIOs are taking to make sure that all of their physicians are able to access the clinical information they need as seamlessly as possible, while erasing gaps between inpatient and outpatient systems.
The HITECH Act's meaningful use requirements around quality reporting will pose challenges for hospitals just beginning the task. Find out how organizations that have gotten a head start on quality reporting are using it to improve patient safety and care quality on page 16.
This issue provides both broad and in-depth perspectives on health information exchanges (HIEs). The article on page 24 takes a look at the evolving mosaic of HIEs that are cropping up in various regions, and how each HIE is trying to come up with a sustainable model. Beginning on page 29 is a profile of the New York Clinical Information Exchange, which serves the nation's most densely populated urban area.
Meanwhile, concerns of patient data security breaches are growing as healthcare providers contend with new technology, policy regulatory demands, and the transition to electronic health records. Find out what experts and chief security officers are advising on page 32.
In addition, the article on page 37 takes a close look at what CIOs are encountering when making the switch from paper to paperless records, and their views on preserving privacy and security in the process.
On page 40, Jane Metzger, principal researcher in the Emerging Practices group at CSC, reveals the findings of a new report on meaningful use quality measures.
Rounding out the issue on page 43, Richard Wolfe, M.D., takes a look at what it takes to get emergency department physicians to use electronic charting tools.
Healthcare Informatics 2010 October;27(10):4
