Morning Headlines 6/27/13

VA envisions an app-based future for health IT

Kathleen Frisbee, director of web and mobile solutions at the VA, hinted that an iEHR compromise is in the works that will result in the collaborative development of integrated mobile apps for clinicians rather than a full integrated EHR. It’s an interesting concept, but one that’s sure to leave a lot of the problems that initially inspired the iEHR program unsolved. One benefit of approaching integration through a series of small projects, like apps, is that the likelihood of failure is lower, and the capital investment at risk is similarly lower. Also, developers should be able to zero in on effective integration points because smaller projects will allow them to be more responsive to early adopter feedback.

New CEO Signals Growth at Healthland

Healthland, a Minneapolis-based EHR vendor focused on the rural and critical access market, announces the appointment of Chris Bauleke as CEO effective July 8. He will replace Angie Franks, who will now serve as Healthland’s president and lead the company’s strategy and market development efforts.

Cloud could save health industry $11B, study says

In a survey of 109 CHIME members, respondents estimate that they could reduce IT costs by nine percent, or $11 billion, over the next three years by switching to a cloud-based service model.