Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Federal Officials Criticized For IT Oversight Problems
Even the most enthusiastic advocates of health IT concede the proliferation of EHRs and other software has introduced new safety hazards into already complex healthcare settings. A 2011 Institute of Medicine report found poorly designed EHRs were causing dosing errors, failures to detect life-threatening illnesses and delayed treatments because of poor human-computer interactions or data losses. In some cases, the errors had led to serious injuries and deaths. ... Nearly four years later, none of [the report's] recommendations has been carried out. Critics blame a variety of factors. (Tahir, 4/4)
Consumers know to be careful about identity theft, but the growth of digital medical records has led to a rise in the theft of medical records. (Fitzsimons, 4/6)
Aetna must pay the federal government $1 million because its websites and customer service agents allegedly relayed inaccurate information about which pharmacies were in-network for various Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans. (Dickson, 4/6)
