News From Around the Web
> Researchers at the Mount Sinai Medical Center have developed an innovative system to test how a virus interacts with cells in the body, according to an announcement from the hospital. For example, the system can tell what happens in lung cells when a deadly respiratory virus attacks them. The findings are published In the journal Cell Host & Microbe. Announcement
> A new infographic from the University of Illinois at Chicago breaks down how healthcare will need to fill 50,000 IT jobs in the next five to seven years, and projects health IT jobs will increase 21 percent by 2020. Check it out here. (.pdf)
EMR News
> The use of electronic health records is associated with a decrease in emergency department visits and hospitalizations of diabetic patients, according to a study published Wednesday the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers, from Kaiser Permanente's Research Division, analyzed the records of 169,711 diabetic patients in Kaiser's diabetes registry before and after implementation of HealthConnect--Kaiser's system-wide EHR system--from 2004 through 2009. Article
Health Insurance News
> Highmark and its rival University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have been scolded by Pennsylvania officials for a "lack of professionalism" surrounding negative ads both companies have launched. Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Consedine and Secretary of Health Michael Wolf sent letters to Highmark and UPMC, accusing the companies of using fear to motivate consumers' choices as well as a "lack of professionalism and judgment." Article
And Finally... Slippery floor delays are the new snow days. Article