GE, Microsoft Caradigm now official; AMA leads coalition in call for unique medical device identifiers;

> GE and Microsoft officially completed the formation of Caradigm, which will rely on the technology strengths of each company to create an open intelligence platform and clinical applications for population health management, Healthcare IT News reported. The companies initially announced the joint venture in December last year. Post

> As the number of health data breaches continue to soar, healthcare organizations not only have to worry about losing patient records but also losing patient trust and loyalty, according to a survey conducted by the independent researcher, Ponemon Institute. Of the more than 700 survey respondents who had experienced a breach, 62 percent of healthcare consumers said their trust and confidence in the organization dropped because of the incident. FierceHealthcare

> The Advancing Patient Safety Coalition--which counts the American Medical Association among its ranks--is lobbying Congress to make a unique medical device identifier system a reality, CMIO reported. "Every day that goes by without such electronic identification of medical devices is a threat to patient safety and increases costs in the healthcare system," the coalition wrote in a letter to Congress earlier this week. Article

And Finally… Like the fella once said, ain't that a kick in the … shins? Article