Introducing new ways to improve efficiency and increaseinteroperability are top goals for health information technologyvendors at RSNA 2006. Products that incorporate more features and toolsthan ever into one system will share the health IT limelight. Fromsurgical planning tools to virtual worklists and pre-fetch solutions tosoftware that allows users more functionality from one workstation thanever, health IT vendors are poised to streamline users’ workflow.

Eastman Kodak has integrated Siemens Medical Solutions’FUSION7D software that enhances visualization of cancerous tumors andlesions into the latest version of its KODAK CARESTREAM PACS platform.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has designated theCertification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT)as a Recognized Certification Body (RCB).

A panel discussion during the General Sessions at AHIMA 2006 focused onthe state of adoption of EHR systems by physicians and healthcareorganizations.

Speaking this week at the AHIMA conference in Denver, David Brailer,MD, former national coordinator for health information technology, saidthat the advance of health IT nationally will largely depend on work tobe done in the private sector rather than in the government.

Nuance Communications is sponsoring and participating in Virtual Labdeveloped by AHIMA. Virtual Lab is a completely online environmentfunded by AHIMA’s Foundation of Research and Education (FORE).

The Misys Center for Community Health Leadership is acceptingapplications from interested communities across the country for itsgrant program through the end of 2006.

The American Hospital Association (AHA) sent all U.S. communityhospitals a survey to gather information on their use of health IT andwhat barriers they perceive to adoption.