Google offers sneak peak at electronic records initiatve

Electronic records got another boost recently when Google offered a sneak peak into its Google Health electronic records service, which is being piloted by the Cleveland Clinic. Google is working with MinuteClinic as well as Walgreens, Duane Reade, Longs, and Wal-Mart pharmacies on the Web-based service. The program is expected to be fully rolled out in the next few months. Google is using the test with the Cleveland Clinic to examine the data exchange. The system will also integrate the WebChart system from Medical Informatics Engineering.

High-speed processing

Take Care goes wireless

OnePAC takes unit dosing to new level

A new system from Parata ( http://www.parata.com/) allows pharmacists to offer patients all their medications in sealed packets that are sorted by day and dosing time. Each OnePAC dose is printed with the patient's name, day, and time of dose, medication names, and other prescribing information. OnePAC uses Parata's new Pacmed technology, which can prepare up to 50 multi-dose packages per minute, and comes in strips of up to a 90-day supply.

Pushing e-prescriptions

Five physician groups are behind an effort to boost e-prescribing. The groups have launched the http://www.getrxconnected.com/ site, which offers a step-by-step guide to e-prescribing. The site is aimed at the estimated 150,000 physicians who use electronic medical record and other software to fax prescriptions to pharmacies. Beginning January 2009, all computer-generated prescriptions covered by the Medicare Part D program must be transmitted electronically and not via fax.

Sentri guards IT investment

Central Maine Medical Center has turned to Sentri7, http://www.sentri7.com/, from Pharmacy OneSource to access lab results, medication records, and other data across multiple IT systems. "Sentri7 will help Central Maine Medical Center mine the data from our hospital's information system and organize these data so that we can easily identify those patients in need of our interventions," said Philip Rioux, director of pharmacy at Central Maine Medical Center.

HHS lacks IT strategy

Despite progress in a number of areas the Department of Health & Human Services lacks a comprehensive health technology strategy, according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office. The report warns that without an overarching strategy, HHS will not meet the president's stated goal of achieving the widespread adoption of interoperable electronic health records. Previously, GAO has pointed out the lack of an IT strategy at HHS.