Digital Government

VA and DOD pick common medical vocabulary for electronic records

THe Veterans Affairs and Defense departments are adopting a common vocabulary and structured data system for medical terms for their upcoming joint digital record system.

Digital Government

HHS health IT office baseline gets a boost while stimulus funds trickle to a halt

The money that has been encouraging doctors to adopt electronic health records would end in 2013.

Modernization

2013 budget proposal puts IT on short leash

Obama's 2013 budget proposal aims to cut federal IT but increase its use when it makes government more efficient.

Modernization

Blue Button ready for all feds

Federal health plans to provide feds with access to medical records and health data with the click of a button.

Modernization

Will VA real-time tracking plan include employees?

Procurement documents reveal a tracking system that may include collecting the movements of Veterans Affairs employees.

Digital Government

HHS updating regulations to fit new tech

The Health and Human Services Department has a plan for updating regulations that covers things such as telemedicine.

Digital Government

VA picks vendor for open-source ecosystem

The Veterans Affairs Department has selected a small business as the custodial agent for an open-source ecosystem development program to modernize the VA's VistA electronic health record system.

People

HHS to deploy new anti-fraud software for Medicare

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that new predictive fraud-catching tools for Medicare will go into effect on July 1.

People

Health data innovation 'at a crawl'

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius kicked off the department's second annual Health Data Initiative Forum with a plea for more innovation.

People

Warning: Mobile medical apps may be hazardous to your health

A National Cancer Institute program manager warned about mobile applications that promise health care benefits to consumers without being backed by scientific data.

Digital Government

HHS neglected some IT security standards, IG says

The Health and Human Services Department's oversight of $20 billion in health IT funding didn't go far enough to ensure privacy and security for patients' medical data, a report finds.

People

Green benefits of telework aren't just for Earth Day

Telecommuting is said to have many benefits for the environment.

Digital Government

HHS told to standardize consent, privacy in e-health record exchanges

Health care IT executives are urging the Health and Human Services Department to deal with how patient consent will be managed for release of health data.

People

DOD shuns Web-only brain injury tools

The Pentagon is upgrading its chief brain injury assessment tool, but some officials are criticizing its reliability.

Digital Government

HHS wants your input on plan for improving health care

The Health and Human Services Department is seeking public comments on a draft copy of the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan, which focuses on health IT adoption, information sharing and improved health outcomes.

People

Fed health IT leader submits resignation

Dr. David Blumenthal has been leading the federal effort to distribute about $20 billion in economic stimulus law funding for electronic health record implementations across the country.

People

NIH, CDC sign global pact on data sharing

Several funders of public health research are coming closer to overcoming barriers to information sharing with a new global agreement, supporters say.

People

Federal IT employees face good prospects in commercial job market

Federal IT employees interested in moving to the private sector should have no problem finding a job, as long as they tailor their résumés to specific positions and keep pace with new technology developments.

Modernization

President's Council seeks to accelerate government network advances

The PCAST report highlights areas of national priorities in IT R&D, such as health, education, transportation and energy, and the research frontiers the nation should tackle next.