News

There are five common gaps in healthcare data security and privacy, and for many healthcare providers they could be the cause of a major security breach, according to one expert. Raj Chaudhary, partner and national leader of the Security and Privacy Practice in the Risk Consulting Business Unit at Crowe Horwath LLP, one of the largest public accounting and consulting firms in the U.S., says that even though HIPAA rules for security and privacy safeguards were extended by the HITECH Act, gaps in the security and privacy of healthcare data still exist.

Health information is one of the hottest topics online today, with 80 percent of Americans using the Internet to research areas including diseases, procedures, doctors, hospitals, drugs, test results and insurance, according to a new survey by the Pew Internet Project and California HealthCare Foundation. The Health Topic survey, authored by Susannah Fox, was conducted Aug. 9-Sept. 13, 2010. It revealed that health information is the third most popular online pursuit among all those tracked by the Pew Internet Project, following email and using a search engine.

UPMC's new Technology Development Center in Pittsburgh has awarded grants worth $550,000 to five health IT research projects at academic partner Carnegie Mellon University. The projects range from developing software for end-stage heart failure patients to improving simulation systems for cerebral aneurysms.

Kaiser Permanente, a not-for-profit health plan and care provider, has opened a new medical center at the front door of Capitol Hill, complete with Kaiser's recognized electronic health record - HealthConnect.

Three of the nation's top hospital companies and two major hospital systems - together representing more than 400 hospitals across the country - have invested in the Heritage Healthcare Innovation Fund L.P., a venture fund focused on investments in businesses that improve the delivery of healthcare services. The partners will make individual investments of up to $10 million in new businesses.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded grants to 44 healthcare organizations to improve access to healthcare in rural areas. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement on Tuesday. The 44 healthcare grantees are part of a $34.7 million grant that was made available to 106 projects in 38 states and one territory to fund educational projects and expand access to healthcare services in rural areas through USDA's Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program.