Tidbits

-Hewlett Packard detailed the success of its last 4 years of trying to put counterfeit print cartridge makers out of business:
o Conducted 4,723 investigations
o Covered 88 countries
o Resulted in 3,733 enforcement actions (raids and seizures)
o Confiscated 47.2 million cartridges

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-For any business that handles credit cards, the updated version of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) goes into effect 1/1/2011.

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-Results of EHR study conducted by University of California-Davis finds:o Initial implementation of EHR results in a 25-33% drop in physician productivity
o Internal medicine units adjusted to the new technology and experienced increase in productivity
o Pediatricians and family practice doctors did not return to original productivity levels

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-Toshiba announced it is entering the electronic book market, with its new Toshiba Biblio Leaf:
o Solar powered
o 6” b/w touchscreen display
o 800x600dpi
o 2GB RAM
o SD memory card slot
o WiFi and 3G wireless connections
o $20/month subscription
o 12 hour battery life
o Expected price of $150.00

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-InfoTrends predicts that print production workflow software sales will increase 5.2% per year through 2014. By 2014, it projects the total spend in the category will be $8.6 billion.

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-HIPAA breach. Dean Health System of Wisconsin notified 2,000 surgery patients that their personal information was exposed when the laptop computer belonging to a doctor was stolen.

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-Results of healthcare survey conducted by PriceWatersCoopers (PwC):
o 86% of patients do not access their medical records electronically
o What consumers would use web-access to health info for:
 58% lab reports
 56% prescription orders
 53% immunization records
 52% upcoming appointments
 48% physician visit notes
 33% suggested preventive health screening
o 72% would trade employer-based insurance for higher pay

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-Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, announced he is renewing his effort to sue Apple, Google, Facebook, eBay, AOL and other companies for patent infringement. The patents at issue are owned by Interval Research, which was founded by Allen and Xerox’s David Liddle in 1992.

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-In the year 2011, HIPAA rules get more enforcement:o HITECH set much higher penalties for HIPAA violations
o HIPAA compliance audits are now mandated
o State attorneys general now have power to file federal civil lawsuits for HIPAA violations
o Office for Civil Rights hired Booz Allen Hamilton to create game plan for auditing program
o HITECH mandated HIPAA training program for state attorneys general starts
o New AOD law takes effect (accounting of disclosure) stating that healthcare facilities must disclose to patients to whom their electronic health records have been shared with, thus forcing healthcare facilities to have an audit log system for document transmissions

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-A new survey conducted by Lexmark finds that 7 out of 10 offices workers that have access to wireless connection to their printers do not use it, due to connectivity and security issues.

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-Impact of proposed new leasing rules studied. PricewaterhouseCoopers stated that it conducted a survey of the impact of proposed new rules that would do away with off-balance-sheet accounting for equipment leases. The study revealed that 24% of companies surveyed would experience an increase in debt of over 25%.

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-Adobe Corp. reported it first billion dollar quarter. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, Adobe achieved record revenue of $1.008 billion.

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-According to Black Book Rankings about EHR adoption:o 90% of healthcare providers that purchased EHR systems are off track to meet meaningful use implementation goals
o Only 10% foresee achieving requirements for stimulus funding this spring
o Over 400 EHR system developers have emerged in past year
o Top five reasons why will not meet requirements:
o 93% say lack of support from their EHR vendor
o 89% say delay caused by cost of additional support by EHR vendor
o 82% caused by rushed selection of EHR vendor
o 77% lack staff to implement
o 69% are underfunded to rectify difficult EHR system interfaces

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-Pitney Bowes announced that Patrick Keddy, Executive VP and President, will retire at end of year.

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-Office Products Analyst Inc. stated that in a recent survey of 232 printshop owners:o Kodak NexPress production color systems were rated the most reliable
o Sharp b/w MFPs (not production units) were rated most reliable
o Canon products were least reliable.

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-According to EHR study conducted by RAND Corp, regarding adoption of EHR systems in hospitals:
o Number of hospitals using either basic or advanced EHR up from 24% to 38%
o Largest increase in quality of care was for patients treated for heart failure for hospitals with EHR versus those without

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-Janelle Newsome and Richard Gladfelter were arrested for allegedly creating fake $10 and $20 bills using a color copier in South Charleston, WV.

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-Lorree Ann Capps of Anderson, South Carolina was sentenced to 30 months in prison for making fake $20 bills using a color copier.

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-The new year of 2011 marks that start of payment of federal stimulus funds to healthcare organizations that can demonstrate “meaningful use” of EHR systems (electronic health records):
o Can now begin a “90-day meaningful use reporting period”
o Beginning April 4th, organizations that have completed reporting period, can attest that they are meaningful users and apply for first year incentive payments (according to the HITECH act of the ARRA stimulus bill)

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-HIPAA Data Breach. Geisinger Health System of Danville, PA notified 2,900 patients that their personal info was possible exposed when one of their gastroenterologists was caught using an unencrypted home computer to store patient files.

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-Toshiba announced it is working on a new copier that will be a “Green” machine. Details:
o Produces instantly erasable output
o Documents can be turned blank by heating them with a special device
o Uses special toner that loses its color when heated
o Printouts can be reused at least 5 times
o Top speed of 30ppm (b/w only)
o Will cost 30% more than current 30ppm model

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-According to Gartner, 16% of worldwide software sales will deliver as a service. According to Saugatuck, 40% of new software sold will be cloud-based.

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-Hewlett Packard revealed that it spent $1.6 million on lobbying the federal government in the third quarter, which is twice its normal spending levels.

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