HIMSS has launched a State HIT Dashboard, which is designed to help healthcare providers access credible and comprehensive information about relevant health IT programs and initiatives across the country, according to an HIMSS news release.

Hospitals can save money by expanding phone-based patient-coaching from just patients with chronic conditions to include new populations such as patients liable to go to the ED for care, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

House Republicans' newly released legislative agenda, "A Pledge to America," includes a call to cancel any unspent money from the economic stimulus program, according to a report by the New York Times.

Healthcare technology research firm KLAS has published its annual report, which outlines recent trends with electronic medical records and its usage at 1,600 large hospitals with more than 200 beds, according to a KLAS news release.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid has posted guidance offering clarity on how hospitals should include emergency department patients in their measures associated with stage one of meaningful use of electronic health records, according to an update by CMS.

National Health IT Coordinator David Blumenthal, MD, is signaling to healthcare providers and vendors that requirements for the 2013 stage two of meaningful use will be more complex and robust, according to a Government Health IT news report.

National Coordinator for Health Information Technology David Blumenthal, MD, has acknowledged there is a "raging debate" over whether the development of electronic medical records will be driven by detailed standards or competition, according to a Mass Device news report.

A new study published by researchers from North Carolina State University suggests the public is slow to accept the concept of an electronic health record due to "insufficient privacy protections," according to a NCSU news release.

The Office of the National Coordinator has selected a third organization to be an Authorized Testing and Certification Body for healthcare information technology, according to an ONC news release.

HIMSS has awarded six healthcare organizations the HIMSS Davies Awards of Excellence for delivering quality care to patients through the use of healthcare information technology, specifically electronic health records, according to a HIMSS news release.