In December 2009, CMS released a proposed rule that aims to change the practice of medicine. This rule, if finalized, will codify a $17.2 billion dollar program that provides large financial incentives to practices that adopt EHRs. The finalization of this program represents an unprecedented commitment to health IT and to transitioning physician practices from paper to EHRs.

Cardiology departments are learning that their cardiovascular information systems (CVIS) are the perfect conduit to produce actionable and quantifiable data that can drive quality process improvement and cost savings.

Cardiologists might grumble about reimbursement and other healthcare challenges (and with good reason), but they certainly know where their hearts are. The devastation in Haiti following the earthquake on Jan. 12 produced an outpouring of help from the cardiology community that should be recognized. While we cant list everyone, a few examples will show the spirit in action.

While no recent studies have been conducted to identify the number and type of physicians going into concierge, or retainer, medicine, from most published accounts there has been an increase in the number of internists exploring or converting to this type of practice. In addition, the concierge medicine practice model is likely to pique the interest of certain specialists such as cardiologists and nephrologists, who tend to establish long-term relationships with their patients.

The 21.2 percent cut in Medicare reimbursement officially went into effect Monday, March 1, but the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a guidance Friday that will delay its effects for two weeks, or until the U.S. Senate acts on a bill delaying the cut.

St. Luke's Hospital of Kansas City and North Kansas City Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., are partnering with Mid America Heart and Lung Surgeons, also located in Kansas City, in a new hospital-physician arrangement.

Physicians are working fewer weekly hours and making less money than they did in recent decades, which is inconsistent with other professional careers. Any further negative economic factors could be the tipping point for unsustainable decreases in hours worked in a market already hurt by physician shortages, according to a study in the Feb. 24 issue of Journal of the American Medical Association.

When physicians indicate a medical situation is an exception to a guideline, most of the time these medical decisions are correct. These findings have implications for improved decision-support tools, according to a study published in the Feb. 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.