Clinical information systems developer Sunquest Information Systems ofTucson, Ariz., made the public debut of a clutch of products at the2008 HIMSS conference in Orlando, Fla.

RIS and PACS developer NovaRad of American Fork, Utah, highlighted itsNovaPACS, NovaRIS, and NovaCardio PACS products at the 2008 HIMSSconference in Orlando, Fla.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has awarded $5million for two new health IT contracts that will focus on thedevelopment, adoption, implementation and evaluation of best practicesusing clinical decision support.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded threecontacts, totaling $38 million, for health information exchangesto develop data-sharing operations, with an emphasis on delivering datato public health authorities.

The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance, a division of National Electrical Manufacturers Association, is praising the 88 Members of Congress who urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider its proposed national coverage decision expected to be decided on March 13 that will limit patient access to cardiac CT angiography (CCTA).

Jon White, MD, director of health IT for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the United States' lead agency for research on healthcare quality, costs, outcomes and safety, presented an e-seminar on March 6 that focused on AHRQ's role in helping organizations use health IT to improve patient care.

The U.S. Senate Budget Committee voted Thursday to approve a bipartisanamendment, sponsored by U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., andSheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., which creates a reserve fund supportingwidespread adoption of health IT and accepted best practices inclinical settings.

EHRs are considered the answer to improving care and reducing waste inhealthcare, and yet approximately 90 percent of U.S. doctors and morethan two-thirds of U.S. hospitals still use paper for patient records.