How Much is Too Much? High Tech Imaging Use and Radiation Safety, a Quest-sponsored continuing medical education (CME) conference, was held in Urbana on May 24 and in Chicago on May 23.

Central Illinois HIE is set to be operational by the end of 2011. Such announcements often herald the coming HIE as a new pinnacle in healthcare. But as with technological developments in any field, the consumer may be left to wonder: “What does it mean for me?” 

"The next five years in healthcare are probably going to be the most exiting in the last 50," the President and CEO of Methodist Health Services Cooperation, Michael Bryant said, adding that providers are given a special moment to improve healthcare for future generations.

Bryant was one of four speakers at the Heartland Healthcare Coalition's 10th annual conference, "Accountable Care Organizations, Medical Homes, and Connectivity: The New Foundation for Health Care Services?"

ACOs have been promoted as one way to improve healthcare value. While definitions vary, an ACO is seen as a group of providers coming together to accept accountability for providing high-value care to a defined population. ACOs are viewed as an alternative way for healthcare providers to contract with CMS and, by extension, other payers.

Practice Manager Chris Owens calls on the central satellite office of the Illinois Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (ILHITREC) to help ensure a smooth transition to electronic health records.