On February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, H.R. 1. The Act aims to stimulate the economy through investments in infrastructure, unemployment benefits, transportation, education, and healthcare. Total funding included for health IT is as follows:
• $2 billion for the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC)
• $20.819 billion in incentives through the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement systems to assist providers in adopting EHRs
• $4.7 billion for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
• $2.5 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program
• $1.5 billion for construction, renovation, and equipment for health centers through the Health Resources and Services Administration
• $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research within the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• $85 million for health IT, including telehealth services, within the Indian Health Service
• $500 million for the Social Security Administration
• $50 million for information technology within the Veterans Benefits Administration
(Source: HIMSS)
For detailed information and analysis of this HIT stimulus visit the following URL:
http://www.himss.org/EconomicStimulus/
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Health Metrics Network: Everyone Counts
Today I am feeling a little adventurous. I have not been on an adventure trip since my last white water rafting endeavor in Ocoee River, TN in which our raft capsized and 5 out of the 8 people were thrown in the cold water. One person was hurt badly and was bleeding the rest of the trip. Looks like my brain is asking for an adventure, but I being unable give it one, it found one for itself - thinking beyond the national health network.
It might sound premature to think about a global health network, but after a second thought it is not. Looking in the past one can definitely remember several cases of disease spread across the country and even continental boundries. In this global economy, we face a bigger problem of cross pollination of diseases on a global scale.
World Health Organization has undertaken a project to create a global network to disseminate health related information from local level to global level. The project focuses on low income developing countries which can not afford to develop health information systems. Health Metrics Network (HMN) is a global partnership that facilitates better health information at the country, regional and global levels. The primary focus is to benefit the local community from the use of health information systems, and eventually also better the world health by making local health information available on a global level.
"HMN is based on the premise that it is not because countries are poor that they cannot afford good health information; it is because they are poor that they cannot afford to be without it." This quote truely signifies the project's confidence in the importance of health information systems for a healthy future.
HMN benefits from a $50 million grant from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
See this introductory video on the project.
It might sound premature to think about a global health network, but after a second thought it is not. Looking in the past one can definitely remember several cases of disease spread across the country and even continental boundries. In this global economy, we face a bigger problem of cross pollination of diseases on a global scale.
World Health Organization has undertaken a project to create a global network to disseminate health related information from local level to global level. The project focuses on low income developing countries which can not afford to develop health information systems. Health Metrics Network (HMN) is a global partnership that facilitates better health information at the country, regional and global levels. The primary focus is to benefit the local community from the use of health information systems, and eventually also better the world health by making local health information available on a global level.
"HMN is based on the premise that it is not because countries are poor that they cannot afford good health information; it is because they are poor that they cannot afford to be without it." This quote truely signifies the project's confidence in the importance of health information systems for a healthy future.
HMN benefits from a $50 million grant from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
See this introductory video on the project.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Lessons Learned in IT implementation
Successes of technology implementations in health care are advertised extravagantly, but the failures are tugged under the carpet. I believe that we should not fail to celebrate our successes, but we should also not forget our failures, because from failures we learn.
I was therefore thinking of running a multi-part story on different cases of health care IT failures and the reasons behind the failures. And then all of a sudden I remembered that my friend Yunan (Angela) was working on a project to compile several published (and even unpublished I assume) failure cases into a single repository which can be used as lessons learned database. Yunan was more than happy to share the information. Dr. Silverstein and his team at Drexel University have developed a website where you can find summaries of several failed cases of health care IT implementation and also links to a vast resource of information on the topic. A useful place to visit before you start your next IT project! Check it here.
I was therefore thinking of running a multi-part story on different cases of health care IT failures and the reasons behind the failures. And then all of a sudden I remembered that my friend Yunan (Angela) was working on a project to compile several published (and even unpublished I assume) failure cases into a single repository which can be used as lessons learned database. Yunan was more than happy to share the information. Dr. Silverstein and his team at Drexel University have developed a website where you can find summaries of several failed cases of health care IT implementation and also links to a vast resource of information on the topic. A useful place to visit before you start your next IT project! Check it here.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Health Highway: national data network to connect hospitals in India
India has launched a project to build a National Health Highway. Apollo and IBM are collaborating on this project to build a national data network. It is expected that the project would benefit approximately 900,000 doctors. IBM Research news on this project.
The one thing that immediately caught my attention is that the network will not only be used for exchange of health information, but will also provide a framework using which different clinical and financial applications can be provided on a subscription-based model. This is a powerful idea which will free the hospitals from managing the health information systems. An on-demand pay per use model will be a low risk opportunity for the hospitals.
India has around 1,500 mid-size (50-200 beds) hospitals and approximately 500 plus are expected to be added every year for the next 5 years. Health Care IT will be a fast growing market in the coming years. Read this article in Express Computer for more details.
The one thing that immediately caught my attention is that the network will not only be used for exchange of health information, but will also provide a framework using which different clinical and financial applications can be provided on a subscription-based model. This is a powerful idea which will free the hospitals from managing the health information systems. An on-demand pay per use model will be a low risk opportunity for the hospitals.
India has around 1,500 mid-size (50-200 beds) hospitals and approximately 500 plus are expected to be added every year for the next 5 years. Health Care IT will be a fast growing market in the coming years. Read this article in Express Computer for more details.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Personal Health Record - 101
Not long after electronic health/medical record (EHR/EMR) started descending towards the "trough of disillusionment" (example of Gartner Hype Cycle is shown above), I had started hearing about personal health record (PHR). It was a new concept as it gave control of the medical record to the patient. It was definitely not meant to replace EHR, but encouraged the patients to be more informed and take charge of their medical care. Today it is no more just a concept, but IT giants like Google and Microsoft have actually introduced such applications. (Microsoft: HealthVault is already live http://www.healthvault.com/. Google will soon introduce its product Google Health.) It will be interesting to see how Google and Microsoft compete in this space.
AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) has provided a website to educate people about personal health record. Visit http://www.myphr.com/
Check this introductory video on PHR.
Friday, October 12, 2007
What is My e-Health?
Who am I? What is My e-Health? And why I created it?
I am a knowledge hungry person. I like challenging jobs and I commit all my energy to the task I undertake and try to do it in the best possible manner. I always wanted to do something different than what everyone else around me was doing, but was never sure what career to pursue. Until I came across the "science" of health care information technology. (Many people might argue against calling it a science, but after completing Masters in Health Informatics, I agree more than before that it is definitely a science.) Now I think I have found the path. Let us see how well I walk it.
It is interesting what provoked me to create a blog and start writing. Reading and Writing are the things I generally do not do. I find it easier to express myself with spoken words (which are also rare according to my girl friend :)) rather than written words. My girl friend loves writing - poems, thoughts, anything. Recently in an emotionally charged situation I was made aware of the fact that I do not write anything even though I know that she likes it so much. And so I found a way out - the way I always do. If I write a blog, I can say that I have started writing and at the same time I can continue my cherished hobby of absorbing information about the evolving area of health care IT and writing it down for future reference.
My e-Health symbolizes the way I look at eHealth and how it can revolutionize the delivery of health care services. It will also inform every reader as to how their health can benefit from health care IT. Useful web resources, current news and reviews on topics related to health IT will be posted here regularly. Active reader participation is encouraged. Please feel free to send constructive criticism, suggestions and interesting information.
With this opening post I welcome you all to My e-Health!
Mandar Gori
I am a knowledge hungry person. I like challenging jobs and I commit all my energy to the task I undertake and try to do it in the best possible manner. I always wanted to do something different than what everyone else around me was doing, but was never sure what career to pursue. Until I came across the "science" of health care information technology. (Many people might argue against calling it a science, but after completing Masters in Health Informatics, I agree more than before that it is definitely a science.) Now I think I have found the path. Let us see how well I walk it.
It is interesting what provoked me to create a blog and start writing. Reading and Writing are the things I generally do not do. I find it easier to express myself with spoken words (which are also rare according to my girl friend :)) rather than written words. My girl friend loves writing - poems, thoughts, anything. Recently in an emotionally charged situation I was made aware of the fact that I do not write anything even though I know that she likes it so much. And so I found a way out - the way I always do. If I write a blog, I can say that I have started writing and at the same time I can continue my cherished hobby of absorbing information about the evolving area of health care IT and writing it down for future reference.
My e-Health symbolizes the way I look at eHealth and how it can revolutionize the delivery of health care services. It will also inform every reader as to how their health can benefit from health care IT. Useful web resources, current news and reviews on topics related to health IT will be posted here regularly. Active reader participation is encouraged. Please feel free to send constructive criticism, suggestions and interesting information.
With this opening post I welcome you all to My e-Health!
Mandar Gori
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