Health IT Business News – December 16, 2014

Health IT Business NewsDataMotion™ announced  it has achieved accreditation with the Direct Trusted Agent Accreditation Program (DTAAP) as both a Certificate Authority (CA) and Registration Authority (RA) from DirectTrust.org and the Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC). As a result, the organization can now verify, validate and issue digital certificates, greatly expediting the process required for secure communications. Already a DTAAP accredited Health Information Service Provider (HISP), the designations further DataMotion’s reputation, making it a uniquely complete HISP with an ability to rapidly issue commercial and federal certificates. Read More

Allscripts (MDRX) and Express Scripts (ESRX) have announced the deployment of Allscripts eAuth, a new electronic prior authorization (ePA) solution that transacts an electronic prior authorization for Express Scripts patients, replacing the costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive process of manual prior authorization.Allscripts eAuth is integrated within the physician electronic prescription workflow. While writing a prescription, users will be prompted to conduct prior authorization electronically with Express Scripts, saving time and leading to faster prior authorization decisions. Read More

Merge Healthcare Incorporated (NASDAQ: MRGE), has announced a strategic partnership with NextGen Healthcare, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: QSII). The companies forged this new partnership to address significant challenges facing healthcare organizations, such as provider relations and inefficiencies in the medical image ordering process.Merge and NextGen will link their interoperability platforms enabling NextGen® Share customers to seamlessly send electronic imaging orders and receive imaging reports from Merge iConnect Network customers. The combined solution will facilitate the successful transmission of orders and encourage patients to follow through on imaging appointments. Merge’s advanced interoperability solution for the exchange of medical imaging data will also enable NextGen clients to further streamline workflow, reduce costs and meet Meaningful Use (MU) requirements. Read More

Amazing Charts announced it has surpassed 10,000 total clinician licenses sold. Each clinical license represents approximately four staff users, so Amazing Charts estimates there are now more than 40,000 users of the Amazing Charts Electronic Health Record system at over 6,500 independent medical practices. Read More

athenahealth, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATHN),has announced results from the ninth annual Epocrates Future Physicians of America survey, in which more than 1,400 medical students shared their opinions about medical school training and industry challenges. Results from the survey conducted by athenahealth and Epocrates highlight key findings and several notable trends including:  Students Seek the Security of Large Provider Employment — The percentage of medical students who will seek employment with a hospital or large group practice has risen to 73 percent, while the percentage of those who aspire to private practice has dwindled to 10 percent—a 50 percent drop since 2008. Read More

McKesson Corporation [NYSE: MCK] today announced that it has launched McKesson Ventures, a strategic venture capital fund, to invest in early and growth stage companies addressing both current and emerging business challenges facing the healthcare industry. Industry veteran Tom Rodgers has joined McKesson Ventures as managing director and leads the fund’s investment portfolio. “McKesson Ventures will help us support the development and commercialization of innovations taking place across healthcare,” said John Hammergren, chairman and CEO, McKesson. “By investing and partnering with entrepreneurs and other investors that can bring new approaches to the challenges our customers are facing, we will accelerate the innovation cycle and further strengthen the value we provide to industry stakeholders across all segments.” Read More