Blue Button registration hits 1 million users; Computer simulation explains drug effects to AIDS patients;

> One million patients now have registered to use the Blue Button to access and download their personal health record information, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced late last week. The Blue Button initially was made available two years ago. Announcement

> The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is seeking a health information service provider to help deploy the Direct secure messaging protocol, Government Health IT reports. According to an announcement posted to Federal Business Opportunities, the contract for the HISP will last for one year, with options for two more periods. CDC wants to ease the process for providers to send data to the National Healthcare Safety Network. Article

> AIDS experts at Johns Hopkins and Harvard universities have developed a computer simulation that helps to explain drug effects to patients. According to an announcement, the simulation explains why some treatments don't work for some patients. The model also can predict a patient's likelihood of success with regard to specific drug regimens, according to Johns Hopkins infectious disease specialist Robert Sicliciano, M.D. Announcement

And Finally… THERE's the beef! Article