Suggested Topics for Journalists Covering Health Information Technology... and Its Role in the Improved Delivery of Patient Care
Electronic health records is a topic that has gained momentum with the goal established by the federal government for all Americans to have access to electronic health records by 2014. As you cover this topic, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) can provide background information and credible, current sources for your stories. You can talk with members of the HIMSS staff who are actively involved in these industry-wide initiatives listed below, and related “industry topics” on the home page of the HIMSS Web site. In addition, HIMSS can help you locate a third-party spokesperson, depending on your story and the angle taken.
Contact HIMSS Communications at 312-915-9237 or at jlofstrom@himss.org for additional information or to locate a spokesperson for your story.
The Legislative Approach/It’s more than a meeting
How does HIMSS work with key legislators to present their objectives for the adoption of healthcare IT? What are key advocacy issues for the organization – and healthcare in general?
The Faces of HIMSS Advocacy
HIMSS works with many individuals, who represent their corporations on the Society’s Advocacy and Public Policy Steering Committees. What do members of these committees, who are also HIMSS members, gain from this opportunity? Why are they interested in health information technology – from a corporate and personal perspective?
From The Physician’s Perspective
What will it take to bring state-of-the-art information technology to physicians’ offices? Talk with physicians and HIMSS medical director about the realities, and the benefits, of EHR adoption.
RFID Technology
What is radio frequency identification technology or RFID? Why is it important as a technology in the delivery of quality healthcare? What are the current/projected uses of it?
Under My Skin – EHR Embedded Technology
No, it’s not 1984, but an imbedded computer chip, with personal health history, can be placed just under the skin. How does it work? What are the privacy/security issues with this technology? What are the projected uses? And what does the industry think about it?
Keeping CPOE Costs In Balance
What will it take...and why. Talk to HIMSS experts regarding CPOE, what the research says and how CPOE can be effective in the healthcare organization.
In Healthcare IT, It’s No Longer Lonely At The Top
The intersecting roles of the healthcare CIO and CEO – talk to both and find out how their jobs have changed to support the adoption of the electronic health record. HIMSS can provide an overview of this executive management approach and sources on both sides of the management desk.
How Clinical Decision Support Benefits Physicians and Patients Alike
Take a look at clinical decision support in the real world…talk to the authors of the HIMSS Clinical Decision Support Implementers’ Workbook…and clinicians who have implemented this crucial step in patient care.
What Will It Look Like – Personal Health Information In The EHR
Take a look at the personal health information component of the electronic health record; present how that data would be organized and shared among healthcare organizations and practitioners. HIMSS can provide EHR experts as well as clinicians now using this component of the EHR in actual practice settings.
Email Evolution In Healthcare
Why and why not – A pro/con perspective (point/counterpoint) on the use of email for communication exchange between the patient and the physician. HIMSS can provide current statistics on use of the Internet for information…and/or use of email for information exchange. Perhaps two different stories, this topic deserves ongoing interest/examination.
Understanding Integration In The Healthcare Enterprise – IHE Solutions
How does true “integration” of information work through IHE? What is the selling point to the clinician? To the patient? IHE illustrates the key points of and need interoperability in healthcare. HIMSS can provide the needed background on this story with links to other organizations involved in this initiative that enables cross-enterprise health information exchange.
System Synergies - What's Ahead for Interoperable and Integrated EHRs?
Learn more about the HIMSS initiatives in the areas of integration and interoperability in the areas of public policy, the role of Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE), and the necessary steps to achieve integration and interoperability of EHR systems. HIMSS can provide background on this topic and sources to offer a perspective on successful EHR implementation and progress in the industry.
Crossing The International (Standards) Dateline
Global standards for local healthcare – how does the world come together to create a standard for use across the globe?
Convenient Connection And The Need For Data Privacy And Security
Privacy and security concerns of wireless technology – what needs to be addressed? What are some of the systems that are now in place?
The Decade Ahead For NHIN
What are the barriers, and the government actions such as consolidated health informatics, related to the National Heath Information Infrastructure? What is the potential impact on the health care industry of these, and other, actions?
The Leadership Role of Nurses in Healthcare IT
What is the role of the nurse informaticist in a hospital? In ambulatory care? Learn more about nursing informatics leaders and the role of the nurse in the use of technology to improve the delivery of patient care. HIMSS can provide experts in this field as well as professional insight into current trends and research.
How Much Is It Worth – Incentives for EHR Implementation
Incentives for implementation – how much or how little should the government pay? This is not a new topic but it’s one that can be covered with updated information or from different angles…who qualifies for government funding, how and why have other organizations found the needed funding to implement an EHR…HIMSS can provide information based on case history examples, funding strategy and more.
HIPAA Compliance Survey – HIMSS/Phoenix Health Systems
Focus on survey, which is released in February and July each year.
The Standards Of Healthcare IT – A Basic Element Of Communication
The ongoing task of developing standards…how the healthcare IT industry use standards to promote interoperability and communicate effectively.