Encryption of patient data on hospital computers is now essential to protecting a hospital from legal and financial disaster, according to Robert Thibadeau, chief scientist for Wave Systems. A November study by non-profit organization Ponemon Institute reported that data breaches…

Researchers from Kaiser Permanente in Denver have concluded that targeted age-specific computerized alerts can reduce the number of D-dimer testing needed in elderly patients, according to the study's abstract.

A study published by the non-profit organization Ponemon Institute indicates that data breaches experienced by hospitals are more devastating to their reputations and financial standings than data breaches in other industries, according to a Forbes news report.

Surgeries in physicians' office, which make up 15 percent of all outpatient surgeries and are growing rapidly, can lower costs and provide surgeons with extra income, but states are only beginning to monitor this setting, according to a report by…

The Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services is in the final stages of testing health information systems that will act as management systems for incentive payments to healthcare providers participating in the meaningful use program, according to a Government Health…

HIMSS recently released its annual security survey detailing the opinions of information technology and security professionals working in healthcare settings regarding the tools and policies in place to secure electronic patient data at their organizations, according to a HIMSS news…

Hospitals with less than 150 beds are focusing on large hospital clinical information system vendors rather than traditional community vendors, according to a KLAS news release.

The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has awarded the ECRI Institute a contract to establish a new national healthcare system that would identify, track and monitor new healthcare technologies — including drugs, devices, procedures, services and care delivery…

Cleveland Clinic has selected its top 10 medical innovations for 2011, including discoveries such as pill-sized cameras and minimally invasive weight-loss surgical procedures, according to a press release.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, healthcare providers are able to qualify for incentive payments upon adopting and demonstrating meaningful use of healthcare information technology, particularly electronic health records. Starting in 2011, these incentive payments will be…