Friday, August 27, 2004

Legal Issues May Block Digital Health Records - GAO
Reuters Health story at Medscape - "Uncertainty surrounding a host of legal issues may stall adoption of electronic medical records and U.S. officials have done little to address the problem, a congressional watchdog agency said Monday. The Bush administration has trumpeted its efforts to push hospitals into the computer age, thereby cutting paperwork costs and reducing medical errors. On the campaign trail, President George W. Bush has touted a goal of storing most Americans' medical records in electronic form within 10 years. Most of the $228 million spent by the Department of Health and Human Services in the current fiscal year in this area has gone to testing of electronic systems and coordinating information among federal agencies and private entities, according to the Government Accountability Office." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Official pledges to fix problems at Bellefontaine Habilitation Center (Missouri)
St. Louis Post Dispatch story - "Bellefontaine Habilitation Center and a similar home in Marshall, Mo., garner a disproportionate number of complaints about mistreatment of residents compared with other state facilities, a residents' advocacy group has found. That's one of two problems that became clear to Dorn Schuffman, director of Missouri's Department of Mental Health, after meeting this week with advocates for Missouri's profoundly retarded and brain-damaged residents..."  
  

Substance abuse efforts earn laurels (North Carolina)
Daily Reflector story - " Four area health agencies earned recognition recently for efforts to combat substance abuse in the community and region. The programs were cited by the Governor's Institute on Alcohol and Substance Abuse for cooperative and individual prevention and education efforts and for treatment of alcoholics and drug abusers. The Raleigh-based institute recognized the Walter B. Jones Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center and the Port Human Service program as facilities of excellence. The Eastern Area Health Education Center (AHEC) received a North Carolina Practice Improvement Collaborative Educational Partner Award, and The Eastern Regional Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse won the first annual Community Partner of the Year Award. ..."