Digital Health Record Initiative Aims To Unclog Bottleneck, But Doubts Remain
Federal health official announced that technology companies, hospital systems and doctors' groups have agreed to take steps that will make electronic health records easier to use by improving patient access to their own files, allowing information sharing and putting standards for digital communication between systems in place. But some worry the deal allows companies too much wiggle room.
The Associated Press:
Health Groups Aim To Make Medical Records Easier To Access
Technology companies, hospital systems and doctors' groups have agreed to take steps to make electronic health records easier for consumers to access and use, the Obama administration announced Monday. "Now is the time for this data to be free and liquid and available," said Karen DeSalvo, head of the Health and Human Services department office overseeing the transition to computerized medical records. The goal is to improve care where it matters the most, added DeSalvo, who spoke ahead of a formal announcement by Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell at a health technology conference in Las Vegas. (2/29)
In other national news —
The New York Times:
New Study Links Zika Virus To Temporary Paralysis
A new study of 42 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome in French Polynesia offers the strongest evidence to date that the Zika virus can trigger temporary paralysis, researchers reported on Monday. But experts cautioned that more evidence from other locations was needed to be conclusive. Since last year, doctors have noticed an unusual increase in Guillain-Barré cases in several countries with Zika outbreaks, including Brazil, El Salvador and Venezuela. But as the World Health Organization reported on Friday, a large number of those patients have not yet been confirmed through laboratory testing to have Zika. (Saint Louis, 2/29)
The New York Times:
Waste In Cancer Drugs Costs $3 Billion A Year, A Study Says
The federal Medicare program and private health insurers waste nearly $3 billion every year buying cancer medicines that are thrown out because many drug makers distribute the drugs only in vials that hold too much for most patients, a group of cancer researchers has found. The expensive drugs are usually injected by nurses working in doctors’ offices and hospitals who carefully measure the amount needed for a particular patient and then, because of safety concerns, discard the rest. (Harris, 3/1)
The Wall Street Journal:
Valeant Under Investigation By SEC
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. on Monday said it was under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Canadian drug company’s stock sank to the lowest level in three years. The SEC has requested information about Valeant’s now-terminated relationship with drug distributor Philidor Rx Services LLC, and Valeant has submitted emails, financial documents and other data to comply with the request, according to a person familiar with the matter. (McNish and Rapoport, 2/29)