News From Around the Web
> Hackers introduced a virus into the computer system at Valley View Hospital in Glenwood, Colo., last September that collected patient information by taking screenshots of records and storing the data in hidden, encrypted files within the hospital's system, according to the Denver Post. While personal information for roughly 5,400 patients was found in the files, no medical information was collected, according to Stacey Gavrell, Valley View Community Relations director. Article
> The Google Flu Tracker is not as accurate or reliable as information from the Centers for Disease Control, a study published this month in Science finds. Google Flu trends was especially unreliable during the 2013 flu season, when it overpredicted cases of flu by more than double. Study
Health Provider News
> Low-income patients face higher operative mortality rates but not because of their socioeconomic standing. It's because of the hospital that treats them, according to a new study published in JAMA Surgery. Article
> It's rare to find a person who possesses effective management skills. As a result, companies--including healthcare organizations--often hire unsuitable managers, according to a Harvard Business Review blog post by Randall Beck and James Harter. Article
Medical Imaging News
> While the imaging volume for Medicare beneficiaries temporarily fell from 2011 to 2012, the level at which these services are being used is still much higher than it was a decade ago. Article
> Radiologists should look within and reevaluate the imaging value chain in order to energize a cohesive healthcare system that can be measured by quality, service and business growth metrics, says Rasu B. Shrestha, vice president, medical information technology, at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, in a recent article for Applied Radiology. Article
And Finally... This robot isn't afraid to show some emotion. Article