The increased computerization in U.S. hospitals hasn't made them cheaper or more efficient, Harvard researchers say, although it may have modestly improved the quality of care for heart attacks. [More]

MMR Information Systems, Inc., and Unis-Tonghe Technology (Zhengzhou) Co., Ltd, announced that they will enter into a definitive agreement by the end of this year to form a joint venture to build a customized version of MMR's proprietary personal health record ("PHR") services (www.mymedicalrecords.com) and professional document imaging and management solutions in China. [More]

Microsoft Corp. today announced "Microsoft Health Tech Today," a fast-paced online video series designed to showcase how software innovation is improving health around the world. The show, at the intersection of health and information technology, highlights the latest industry trends and features examples of proven solutions that are improving health and changing lives for clinicians, patients and consumers worldwide. [More]

Addressing the burgeoning demand for health information exchange (HIE) to coordinate and better leverage patient information, two health IT industry leaders - Covisint, a subsidiary of Compuware Corporation, and Carefx - have partnered to market an integrated workflow solution that ties together the full spectrum of care, from physician offices to labs and pharmacies, to multiple information systems within hospitals. [More]

Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor today in support of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. The House will vote on the legislation later tonight. [More]

Merge Healthcare (NASDAQ: MRGE), a health IT solutions provider, today announced its settlement with the SEC of the multi-year investigation into the conduct of two former company executives, and the circumstances which led to a restatement in 2006 of the company’s 2002 through 2005 financial statements. This investigation ran concurrent with two shareholder lawsuits, which were resolved in 2008. [More]

Health IT connectivity expert John Feikema has been slated to moderate a keynote panel at the 2009 Annual World Healthcare Innovation and Technology Congress being held November 8-10, 2009, in Washington, DC. [More]

IBM today announced the launch of its Health Analytics Solution Center, part of a network of global centers addressing the growing demand for advanced analytics needed to help hospitals and medical staff improve decision-making and provide higher quality care. [More]

Health Affairs: Uninsured Adults With Chronic Conditions Or Disabilities: Gaps In Public Insurance Programs - This study examines patterns of uninsurance for low-income working-age adults with chronic health conditions or disabilities, as documented in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). [More]

Merge Healthcare, a health IT solutions leader, and MEDRAD, a leading provider of medical devices and services for diagnostic imaging, today announced an expansion of their European Union Distribution Agreement for CADstream, a dedicated CAD system for MRI. [More]

As medical practices nationwide focus on "meaningful use" of electronic health records (EHRs), the American Medical Group Association (AMGA) reports encouraging findings from a survey of AMGA member medical groups. Although few groups have yet to fully achieve all the benefits they anticipated when they began implementation, virtually all groups now have even higher expectations for the potential of health IT, as a result of their experience. [More]

Planned Systems International, Inc. (PSI), a respected provider of information technology (IT) solutions and services to the federal government, announces it has been awarded a task order by the Defense Health Information Management System (DHIMS) Program Office to provide operations and maintenance support to AHLTA-Theater (AHLTA-T), the military’s electronic health record for the Military Theater environment. [More]

Merge Healthcare Incorporated, a health IT solutions provider, today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2009. [More]

MMR Information Systems' MMRPro, which enables doctors who do not have an Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system to digitize and store paper records through a secure Web-based portal, is envisioned as the bridge between fully paper-based medical offices and the adoption of computerized medical records to qualify for stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). [More]

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) today launched the Accenture Innovation Center for Health in response to the growing global demand for insights into and strategies to confront the top health issues and challenges affecting citizens worldwide. The center serves as the focal point for Accenture’s thought capital and proven assets for tackling the most pressing challenges facing the global health industry. [More]