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- July 8, 2011
Joint Commission safety goals should be part of EHR certification
Read moreThe Joint Commission’s 2011 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) for hospitals should be included in electronic health record certification and criteria for meaningful use, say authors of a commentary that appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “Ideally, addressing the NPSGs should be incorporated into the EHR...
00 - July 7, 2011
Emergency Department Visits in Rural and Non-Rural Communities
Read moreA new statistical brief by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality compares emergency department (ED) visits in rural and non-rural communities. Rural ED visits were more likely to be billed to Medicare, Medicaid, or no payer than in non-rural communities. Also, fewer ED visits in rural communities resulted...
- July 6, 2011
Medscape Modules Now Available on CMS EHR Incentive Programs
Read moreCMS is pleased to announce that through Medscape Education, providers now have the opportunity to earn CME credits by learning more about the Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Programs. On Medscape’s EHR Learning Center website, leading physician experts in medical informatics provide information, resources, and tools to help providers...
- July 6, 2011
States Cutting Medicaid Rates, Healthcare Programs At Risk in Budget Negotiations
Read moreSeveral states, including Colorado, began their fiscal years on July 1 by reducing Medicaid payment rates to providers and hospitals. A Kaiser Health News report outlines various states’ changes in Medicaid, including payment and benefit reductions, that may further compromise access to care for Medicaid recipients. In Washington, Medicaid...
- July 1, 2011
Life Expectancy Declines For Some of Colorado’s Rural Communities
Read moreA new study by the University of Washington featured in the Denver Post found that from 1997-2007 life expectancy decreased for women in several rural counties on the Eastern Plains. Overall, life expectancy in many rural, non-mountain resort counties is relatively lower. Read more.
- July 1, 2011
Join the MUVment! Meaningful Use Vanguard Program
Read moreONC has developed the Meaningful Use Vanguard EHR Champion Program and is asking for anyone interested to contact their REC partner. MUVers (members of the MUV program) are champions of EHR adoption and meaningful use that serve as local leaders, advisors and role models in the move toward an...
- June 29, 2011
Governor Hickenlooper Announces Appointments to the Colorado Health Benefits Exchange Board
Read moreGovernor Hickenlooper announced the appointments to the first Colorado Health Benefits Exchange Board today. “This will be a Colorado-based health exchange that is created by Coloradans, for Coloradans,” said Hickenlooper. “The Exchange represents a broad collaborative effort between businesses, consumers, providers, the insurer community and the state legislature. We...
- June 29, 2011
HRSA Health IT & Quality Webinar July 22nd
Read moreHRSA is offering a Health IT and Quality Webinar entitled “Tips For Generating Quality Data Reports Using Your EHR”, Friday, July 22, 12pm MDT. For more information and to register, click here.
- June 28, 2011
Recent Changes in Health Insurance Coverage in Rural and Urban Areas
Read moreA report by the Rural Health Research & Policy Analysis Center compares changes in health insurance coverage for non-elderly Americans in rural areas to changes in urban areas during the recent economic recession from 2007 through 2009. In general, rural and urban areas were equally affected by shifts away from private...
- June 27, 2011
Addressing Colorado’s Primary Care Physician Shortages
Read moreAn article in the Colorado Springs Gazette discusses the current shortage of primary care physicians in rural areas that is projected to worsen in the coming years. The article highlights the clinical team in Rocky Ford & Ordway, including a full time nurse practitioner and part time, traveling family...
