The federal government's lawsuit over the new healthcare reform bill evolved into a war of words last week when the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) filed its motion to dismiss the constitutional challenges against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act brought by 20 states, the National Federation of Independent Business and individuals affected by the mandate to adopt healthcare insurance.

Siemens Healthcare has updated its Soarian Clinicals web-based health information system.

Diversinet, a secure mobile healthcare applications provider, has reached a settlement with AllOne Mobile and its parent company, AllOne Heath Group, to terminate their September 2008 license and revenue sharing agreement.

The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) has given its second annual State Advocacy Award to Russell P. Branzell, vice president and CIO at Poudre Valley Health System in Fort Collins, Colo.

WoundVision has introduced its predictive thermographic imaging technology, the WoundVision system, which produces digital and infrared thermographic images, analyzes imaging data and applies predictive models.

Peter W. Carmel, MD, a pediatric neurosurgeon from New York City, with a practice in Newark, N.J., was named president-elect of the American Medical Association (AMA). He will assume the office in June 2011.

The question healthcare providers are facing today is "whether we are pushing too hard, too fast to make this important change," stated David Blumenthal, national coordinator for health IT, on his blog this week. I respectfully submit, no, stated Blumenthal. In turn, I ask, Can we make these changes expeditiously enough?

U.S. hospitals have a long way to go to reach the federal governments proposed standard of entering at least 10 percent of orders electronically, according to a survey of computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems from market research firm KLAS. The report found that only 14 percent of all U.S. hospitals have achieved the expected 10 percent CPOE level required for stage 1 of meaningful use.