Microwize Technology News

A new report from healthcare market research and advisory firm Manhattan Research indicates that physician use of tablet computers has almost doubled since 2011.  The annual “Taking the Pulse” study found that tablet adoption for professional purposes reached 62 percent in the first quarter of 2012, compared with 35% during the same period last year.  81% of those surveyed who use tablets said they use the Apple iPad.

Nearly half of the surveyed physicians who use tablets stated that they have used their devices at the point of care.  The report also noted that physicians with tablets and smartphones in addition to their desktop/laptop computer(s) spend more time online with each device and spend more online time during the workday than physicians with only one or two Internet-capable devices.  Over two-thirds of the respondents watch videos from Web sites like YouTube and WebMD to stay updated and educated on clinical information.  Mobile devices are also being used often to research symptoms, prescribe medication, access reference databases, and read medical news.

Tablet computers can be a secure part of an Electronic Medical Records (EMR) solution like Medisoft Clinical, McKesson Practice Choice, or Lytec MD.  Contact a healthcare technology consultant at Microwize Technology for more information.

Software-as-a-service Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems are generating more interest from healthcare providers, according to a report from KLAS.  Better security for cloud-based data storage and decreasing prices were cited as major incentives for considering SaaS-based EMRs.

The relatively modest investments in hardware, ease of use, hands-off maintenance, and greater confidence in cloud storage are helping to make SaaS solutions more attractice to providers, according to the study.  Nearly 300 healthcare providers currently using SaaS-based EMRs were involved in the independent research firm’s study, which discusses the performance of EMR products from multiple vendors based on participants’ responses in four key areas: response time, customer support, product quality, and “bang for the buck.”

McKesson Practice Choice and Allscripts MyWay are EMR solutions which can be implemented as SaaS models through Microwize Technology.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday published the names and business addresses and phone numbers of Medicare providers who have demonstrated meaningful use of an Electronic Health Records (EHR) system and received incentive payments as of March 2012.

CMS has posted a list of healthcare professionals and a list of hospitals that have received incentive payments, in both PDF and spreadsheet (comma-separated values) formats; the lists are available here.  These lists, organized by state, will be updated on the site quarterly.  Over $2.3 billion has been paid to nearly 45,000 Medicare providers by CMS as of March.

The HITECH Act requires that providers who receive incentive payments be listed through CMS.  Group practices are not included because the incentive program is not extended to them.  Only physicians, healthcare professionals, and hospitals that are eligible, have demonstrated meaningful use, and have received a Medicare incentive payment will be included on the lists.

Microwize Technology is proud to have helped a number of listed providers receive their incentive payments through the effective use of EHR systems like Lytec MD, Medisoft Clinical, and Allscripts MyWay.