HIDI Tech Connect - December 1

HIDI Online Adds New Outpatient Cardiology Cube
MHA Staff Contact: Cerise Seifert
(12/1/09)

A new outpatient cardiology library available on HIDI Online contains data information on patients who received outpatient cardiology services, such as EKGs, cardiac catheterizations, echocardiology tests and cardiac rehabilitation. Cardiology cube data is available for federal fiscal year 2006 through FFY 2008, as well as the first three quarters of FFY 2009.

HIT Resources Available On MHAnet
MHA Staff Contact: Theresa Rogers
(12/1/09)

Federal, state and MHA resources on health information technology and health information exchange is available on MHAnet. New HIT content is posted to MHAnet as it becomes available. MHA encourages its member hospitals to access these resources when developing strategies to optimize HIT opportunities.

ONC Launches Health IT Buzz Blog
MHA Staff Contact: Theresa Rogers
(12/1/09)

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology launched Health IT Buzz blog that allows ONC to share the latest HIT news and users to have online discussions. In his first post, David Blumenthal, M.D., national coordinator for health information technology, said ONC will use the blog to address a diverse range of topics relevant to efforts that support the secure and seamless exchange of electronic health information.

HHS Announces Grants For Health IT Workforce
MHA Staff Contact: Theresa Rogers
(12/1/09)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced plans to provide $80 million in grants to help strengthen the health information technology workforce. Authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the grants are for community colleges to develop HIT training programs and educational materials. Participating colleges will coordinate their efforts through five regional consortia. Additional details about the grant programs will be announced during the next several weeks.