EHRs

While the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected hospital operations, EHR purchasing activity increased in 2020 largely by big organizations and standalone community hospitals, according to a recent KLAS Research report. 

Chicago-based EHR company Allscripts filed a complaint May 17 against Andor Health, an Orlando, Fla.-based health IT startup, alleging it breached numerous contracts and stole trade secrets, according to court documents. 

Four of the top vendors hospitals use to participate in the Medicare EHR Incentive program are Allscripts, Cerner, Epic and Meditech, according to ONC data.

While Cerner's hold of the EHR market share dropped for the second consecutive year, the EHR vendor still maintained the second largest share after Epic for acute care hospitals in 2020. 

Anthem is partnering with Epic to share patients' clinical data with hospitals and providers, the insurer said May 19. 

While 2020 was not Epic's largest year for EHR market share growth, the Verona, Wis.-based EHR vendor gained more hospital contracts and beds than its competitors for the year, according to a recent KLAS Research report. 

A federal rule went into effect in April requiring healthcare providers to give patients on-demand electronic access to their health data at no cost. Some patients appreciate having their clinical notes, test results and other medical data at their fingertips,…

Four organizations that recently announced plans to implement a new EHR or deployed a new system: 

Blessing Health System expanded its Allscripts EHR to three facilities, the Quincy, Ill.-based health system announced May 13. 

ONC is spearheading a new effort to strengthen current interoperability initiatives and secure long-term strategies, Deputy National Coordinator Steve Posnack wrote in a May 13 blog post.