Final Stage 2 Meaningful Use rule promised soon; CDC and IBM project will use data to improve public health;

> An official from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services confirmed that the final Stage 2 Meaningful Use rule will be released in early September. Robert Anthony, a specialist with CMS' Office of E-Health Standards and Services, discussed the final rule in an online meeting this week. Article

> IBM scientists are collaborating with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Public Health Data Standards Consortium to further standardize the exchange and use of public health information in real or near-real time, using both structured and unstructured data from disparate systems. Announcement

> The Statewide Health Information Network of New York this week announced a partnership with New York City's Interboro Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO). The alliance is the next step in unifying New York State's existing regional health records exchanges into a strong statewide network, the organizations said. Announcement

And Finally… Who will win the war on terror? Kittens, that's who. Article