To ensure consistent, high-quality care at retail health care clinicsnationwide, the Convenient Care Association (CCA), the non-profitorganization for the Convenient Care Industry (CCI), has issued 10mandatory standards of care for its member organizations that operatemore than 300 retail clinics in 21 states.

Some injured soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center are nowfacing financial problems, in addition to unsanitary conditions,because the Department of Veterans Affairs struggles to approvedisability claims in a timely manner. Some veterans are forced to waittwo years before they receive funds to pay for their living expensesand other financial needs.

The integration of the healthcare enterprise activity is expandingrapidly. I had the honor of being one of the monitors at a connectathonin January, where hundreds of vendor representatives testedinteroperability of their devices. So far, so good. Now, let’s do a reality check.

Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise has gone from a small-time operation to a major player in the healthcare interoperability game.

Like any successful relationship, technology collaboration requiresgive and take and a long-term vision. Ken Lawonn, Alegent Health SeniorVice President and CIO and a chief architect of the strategic alliancebetween Alegent Health and Siemens, shares some insight.

New legislation has been introduced to help doctors in small practicespay the steep prices that can come with implementing health informationtechnology. The bill, known as the National Health Information Incentive Act,was introduced by Rep. Charlie Gonzalez (D-TX) and Rep. Phil Gingrey (R- GA) and would offer various forms of financial assistance such asgrants, loans, and tax incentives to reduce costs faced by physicians.

HHS announced that Robert M. Kolodner, MD, is the new head the Officeof the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) — apost he has maintained since last September when he was named interimnational coordinator.

CIVCO Medical Solutions announces the release of a new needle guidancesystem for use with Aloka’s UST-9133 transducer on the Alpha 10(Version 6 and above) ultrasound systems.