03/16/2010
The California hospital system is investing $400 million to reignite an earlier project to implement electronic health records at all of its 26 facilities. Sutter Health officials identified five facilities that are slated for EHR installation next year. Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Business Times.
03/09/2010
State officials have selected the new organization Cal eConnect to develop a statewide health data exchange. The project aims to help California health care providers qualify for incentive payments from the 2009 federal economic stimulus package. San Francisco Business Times.
03/09/2010
The California Health Information Partnership and Services Organization -- formerly called Cal-REC -- will administer federal economic stimulus grants aimed at boosting use of health information technology. CALHIPSO will administer funds for health care providers throughout California, with the exception of Los Angeles and Orange counties where separate efforts are underway. Sacramento Business Journal.
03/05/2010
Riva Greenberg -- a speaker, health coach and author of 50 Diabetes Myths That Can Ruin Your Life -- highlights the 2010 DiabetesMine Design Challenge for new designs for devices or Web applications to help people with diabetes. The contest is sponsored by the California HealthCare Foundation, California Healthline's publisher. Huffington Post.
03/04/2010
Now that Kaiser Permanente's HealthConnect EHR system is up and running in all of its hospitals and medical offices, officials at the Oakland-based HMO assert that it is the largest private sector EHR system in the world. The project cost $4 billion over 10 years. Oakland Tribune.
03/04/2010
State officials have rejected an appeal from Hewlett Packard's HP Enterprise Services to continue handling a claims processing system for Medi-Cal. The Department of Health Care Services will grant the $1.6 billion contract to Affiliated Computer Services. Sacramento Bee.
03/02/2010
The U.S. Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration has announced a $7.25 million grant that will help fund upgrades to One-e-App, an online enrollment system for health care and other social services programs. The funds come from the 2009 federal economic stimulus package. The Signal.
03/01/2010
The California Health and Human Services Agency recently announced plans to use $38.8 million in federal economic stimulus funding to establish a statewide health information exchange. The funding is part of the $100 million California will receive for health care from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Healthcare IT News.
03/01/2010
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine recently rolled out a Web-based stem cell curriculum for high school students. The project stems from a 2009 state law requiring CIRM to collaborate with the Department of Education on career development programs for biotechnology and stem cell science. San Francisco Business Times.
02/25/2010
This week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a proposal to create a Web-based suicide prevention training program for educators and other school officials. The Web site will include fact sheets, frequently asked questions and links to further resources. The county will use $765,000 in state funds to implement the program. Los Angeles Daily News.
02/25/2010
Yesterday, Catholic Healthcare West announced plans to increase its electronic health record budget after successfully implementing EHRs at eight California hospitals. CHW said it plans to expand the program to its entire 41 hospital system. San Francisco Business Times et al.
02/24/2010
HHS has announced that 10 states will receive more than $100 million in grants for projects designed to improve health care quality for children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Some states plan to use the funds for pediatric electronic health records and other health IT initiatives. Healthcare IT News.
02/18/2010
Ten information technology contractors have submitted bids to help create a regional health information exchange in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. However, officials are facing difficulty finding funding sources for the data exchange project. Payers & Providers.
02/17/2010
Hospitals in California's Central Valley are adopting electronic health records as part of an effort to qualify for federal incentive payments for EHR usage provided under the 2009 economic stimulus package. Hospitals are working through cost and other obstacles along the way. Fresno Bee.
02/16/2010
The Obama administration announced about $975 million in grants last week, including approximately $101 million for California. The grants will fund health information technology efforts and health care work force training grants. San Francisco Business Times.