Virtual reality is being integrated into clinical IT systems in operating rooms, schools of medicine and treatment programs for returning U.S. soldiers, indicating a wider use of virtual reality in healthcare activities, according to a news release by Kalorama Information.

Providers and healthcare consumers both feel that the electronic health records will produce better healthcare outcomes. There’s still some disagreement, though, about how each party feels about the security of such tools.

Despite threats from the GOP to repeal the meaningful use program and other government spending, the number of healthcare providers that have registered for meaningful use incentive payments has increased to 14,000 members, according to a Healthcare IT News report.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has contracted with two companies to assess the effectiveness of electronic medical records and health information exchange, according to Federal Business Opportunities announcements.

Although the concept of evidence-based order sets was introduced many years ago, healthcare providers are moving toward adopting evidence-based order sets in increasing numbers and integrating such order sets into their respective electronic health record systems, creating what is now…

The National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal, MD, has announced he will be stepping down from his position to return to his role as professor and researcher at Harvard University, according to an InformationWeek news report.

Three employees at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics will be fired after a hospital investigation found they inappropriately breach electronic medical records of Iowa football players, according to a Press-Citizen news report.

The Direct Project has launched a first round of pilots in Rhode Island and Minnesota, according to a Government Health IT news report.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is developing several tools to help healthcare providers and plans understand and comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Security Rule, according to an announcement on the Federal Business Opportunities website.

A survey conducted by Ponemon Institute suggests patients' data are at high risk during the development and testing stages of healthcare software, according to a Healthcare IT News report.