News from Around the Web
> In an attempt to reduce costs, WebMD Health Corp. will cut roughly 14 percent of its workforce, the Associated Press reports. The company will cut about 250 positions, most of which will take place by year's end. Post
> New York-based Mount Sinai Medical Center recently earned the 2012 Enterprise HIMSS Davies Award of Excellence for its use of electronic health records to improve care quality and patient safety. "The long term benefits of our new EMR system, which I consider the backbone of our care today, are far reaching," Mount Sinai CEO Kenneth Davis said in a statement. "It enables new reimbursement models, improvements in safety and quality, and accelerated research and innovation." Announcement
Medical Imaging News
> About a third of the U.S. hospital market has adopted a vendor neutral archive (VNA) solution, according to an imaging IT study published by the healthcare technology research and advisory firm CapSite. Based on input from 415 hospitals from around the country, CapSite found that an additional 19 percent of hospitals plan to introduce a new VNA solution within the next two years. Article
Health Finance News
> Hospitals are pushing back against the Internal Revenue Service regarding how financial assistance policies are enforced--and how they maintain their tax-exempt status--as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, reported AHA News Now. Hospitals would like what the American Hospital Association terms "flexibility" in how they screen patients for financial assistance eligibility. Article
Practice Management News
> When it comes to the ethics of telling patients "white lies" or lies by omission, physicians don't always agree, according to a recent Medscape Today survey. For example, when asked if physicians should always admit to mistakes, even if the mistake caused no harm, most doctors (63 percent) said "yes." Article
And Finally... Ernie would be very happy. Article