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AltheaDx Receives CLIA Certification
AltheaDx, a world leader in the development of companion diagnostics and biopharma services, announced that they have successfully passed the State of California survey for CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) certification. AltheaDx is offering high-quality patient and biopharma molecular testing services from their state-of-the-art, GMP, GLP, and now CLIA compliant facility located in the Sorrento Valley, San Diego.
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DOD, VA, Congress Should Take Stronger Steps Toward Eliminating Tobacco Use In Military Populations, VA Medical Centers
Because tobacco use impairs military readiness, harms the health of soldiers and veterans, and imposes a substantial financial burden on the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, these agencies should implement a comprehensive strategy to achieve the Defense Department"s stated goal of a tobacco-free military, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. DOD should gradually phase in a ban on tobacco use in the military, starting at military academies and officer training programs and among new recruits, the report says. DOD should also stop selling tobacco products in Army and Air Force commissaries -- Navy and Marine Corps commissaries already do not sell them -- and should stop selling them at a discount in military exchanges and other stores. In addition, Congress should allow VA to establish tobacco-free medical centers.
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Patients And Health Care Providers Seek Improved Quality As Report Shows Extensive Errors
The Washington Post reports on efforts by hospitals to tally their avoidable mistakes and describes "hundreds of incidents of death or serious medical harm disclosed in the past year by hospitals in the Washington region, preventable errors that until recently have not required public reporting. Under laws that took effect last year in Virginia and a few years earlier in the District and Maryland, hospitals must report to health regulators many serious injuries that patients suffer in the course of treatment. The laws are different in each jurisdiction. For example, Virginia"s public records identify the hospitals by name, while Maryland"s and the District"s do not. But they all allow the public to glimpse the breadth of mistakes that health experts dub "never events" (because they should never happen): sponges left inside patients after surgery, operations on the wrong limb, medication errors, falls that lead to needless deaths (as well as other events). At least 20 states require hospitals to report every incidence of hospital-acquired infection. Patients, insurers and regulators are beginning to use this information to prod health-care providers to ensure that such events really never happen."
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St. Elizabeth Healthcare Drives Kentucky's Largest Electronic Medical Records Initiative With IBM

IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced that St. Elizabeth Healthcare is connecting hospitals, clinics and physicians offices in Northern Kentucky in the state"s largest roll-out of electronic medical records to improve patient care and lower costs. Today, only 1.5 percent of U.S. hospital systems have a comprehensive electronic records system putting St. Elizabeth Healthcare at the leading edge of nationwide efforts to modernize health care and meet the nation"s goal of providing every patient an electronic medical record by 2014. The system is expected to replace a warehouse full of paper-based records on more than 50,000 patients in the St. Elizabeth Healthcare system. "This represents an important step and a unified foundation to deliver better care to our patients," said Alex Rodriguez, chief information officer, St. Elizabeth Healthcare. "Today, only about one-sixth( )of the population in the US is covered by an electronic health record. This major initiative will mean that more than 12 percent of the population of Northern Kentucky and the greater Cincinnati area will have an electronic medical record. Regardless if a patient is seen at their physician"s office, an acute care hospital or the emergency room, caregivers will have deep insight into patient history and care can be better coordinated." The new system is expected to help improve the quality of care each patient receives by providing better access to patient information, a complete view of patient history, medication and treatment plans, and even faster access to lab results to make better, more informed decisions. It will make it easier for patients to obtain prescriptions electronically to reduce medical errors, cut drug costs and save doctors and patients" time and money. Patients will also be able to access their medical records, get lab results, schedule appointments and get referrals online. With the click of a mouse, doctors and nurses will be able to see real-time patient information, lab results, EKGs, x-rays, scans and even prescriptions, making it faster and easier to make a more effective diagnosis and treatment plan. Plans for this new integrated system were underway before the federal government turned its focus to electronic medical records as part of economic stimulus efforts. However, the new EMR system at St. Elizabeth Healthcare meets the requirements for hospitals and doctor"s offices and is well-positioned to meet all criteria for stimulus funds. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that mass adoption of systems such as this one could result in savings of $12 billion over 10 years. The roll out of the new system is focused first on doctor"s offices which will begin in September, and then clinics and ambulatory care sites within St. Elizabeth Healthcare. The entire system including all six hospitals, nearly 1,000 physicians, 31 primary care doctor"s offices and four imaging centers and clinics is expected to be fully connected in one unified system by fall 2010. This system uses Epic"s software and is powered by IBM Power 570 and 550 servers running AIX, IBM"s UNIX operating system. The medical records and clinical information system includes EpicCare Ambulatory, Resolute Hospital Billing, EpicCare Inpatient, Prelude Registration and Cadence Scheduling. IBM Power Systems servers with virtualization technology provide the advanced computing power to support the system, and offer the flexibility to expand as the hospital system"s needs grow. IBM Power Systems servers provide St. Elizabeth Healthcare with increased scalability and improved performance over other server technologies that were considered. IBM is creating a smarter, more connected healthcare system that delivers better care with fewer mistakes, predicts and prevents diseases, and empowers people to make better choices. This includes integrating data so doctors, patients and insurers can share information seamlessly and efficiently. IBM also helps clients apply advanced analytics to improve medical research, diagnosis and treatment in order to improve patient care and help reduce healthcare costs. IBM


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