The addition of decision support into computerized physician order entry reduces red blood cell transfusion resource utilization in the intensive care unit
Using an institutional database the researchers identified 2,200 patients with anemia, but no active bleeding on admission: 1,100 during a year before and 1,100 during a year after the CPOE with decision support for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion intervention. The mean number of RBC transfusions per patient decreased from 1.5 +/- 1.9 units to 1.3 +/- 1.8 units after the intervention (P = 0.045). RBC transfusion cost decreased from $616,442 to $556,226 after the intervention. Hospital length of stay and adjusted hospital mortality did not differ before and after protocol implementation.

Oregon RHIO planning efforts come to a halt
After more than a year and $530,000 spent in planning, efforts to bring a regional health information organization to Portland, Ore. were put on hiatus at least for the summer. "Dave Witter did a very careful model and he attributed the benefits to three sets of concerns: the patient benefits by less cost and less misadventure; the physicians saved because of less paperwork; (and) the health plans saved," Dick Gibson added.

Free, unbiased, independent and transparent comparisons of ambulatory electronic medical record (EMR) systems
EMRCompare has been designed to provide physicians and others with broader, more transparent information than is available elsewhere about EMR systems, including cost, functionality, and usability. Following are the first 14 companies to enroll their products. By the end of the year, MRI anticipates adding another 30 to 50 products.

Kolodner Says U.S. Will Reach Pres. Bush’s 2014 EHR Goal
Kolodner called the first year of certification of EHRs a “remarkable success,” as about 40 percent of the known universe of ambulatory EHR vendors in the U.S. earned certification.

Stage 6 Hospitals: The Journey and the Accomplishments
The Stage 6 hospitals that are profiled for this study represent general medical/surgical and academic hospitals of integrated delivery systems, and one single hospital system. Several enterprise EMR vendors are also represented in Stage 6 hospitals, but our focus for this study will be on the governance, investment, staffing, and accomplishments that were manifested by this elite group of hospitals.