Among the major findings of a 21-year analysis by the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), researchers found that medical devices made up a relatively small share of U.S. health expenditures, representing only 5.9 percent of the total in 2009.

The term social media has attracted considerable interest. Opinions about the concept vary widely, a result of many factors including: the purpose by which it is aimed; the age, background and audience of the person either sending or receiving the information contained; and the specific format being used.

Top-performing hospitals are typically ones headed by a medical doctor rather than a manager, according to a study currently in press in Social Science and Medicine.

SAN ANTONIOVirus experts have yet to document a deliberate electronic attack on medical devices. However, the collateral damage of viruses has infected the medical community, according to Axel Wirth, healthcare solutions architect at Symantec, during his presentation at the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) conference & expo June 25.

Current quality-of-care measures can misclassify a patients level of blood pressure (BP) control, and might instead provide only a snapshot of BP control. Changing the number of BP measurements used for decision-making for hypertension can improve individualized care and prevent these misclassifications, according to a study published June 20 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The authors said that organizations like the Joint Commission should focus on setting BP standards and guidelines.

In an ideal healthcare setting, all clinical decisions would be supported by well-designed, randomized trials, which provide an unequivocal pathway for every patient. However, how should physicians act when these data are not available?

Cardiology practices now have opportunities to input their EHR data into clinical registries as U.S. healthcare moves toward a more accountable, quality-based model. The American College of Cardiologys (ACC) PINNACLE Registry could serve as a possible foundation for providers to gain a better understanding of their operations and ultimately help their bottom line.

Several advisory technology service firms garnered high marks among respondents surveyed in a new KLAS report, but where they differed could be the deciding factor for hospitals seeking to contract with an IT firm.