Morning Headlines 1/16/14

Surgical Information Systems Acquires Healthcare Software Leader AmkaiSolutions

Surgical Information Systems, a perioperative specialty EHR vendor, acquires AmkaiSolutions, an ambulatory EHR vendor that provides software for ambulatory surgery centers. The partnership extends SIS’s reach into the ambulatory space within its niche EHR market segment.

Allscripts rises after giving 2014-16 outlook

Allscripts reports that it expects five to eight percent annual growth per year through 2016, while analysts were expecting the company to report a flat five percent growth rate. The aggressive forecast drove Allscripts’ share prices up seven percent by the end of the trading day Wednesday.

HHS makes progress on Health IT Safety Plan with release of the SAFER Guides

The ONC releases a set of guides and tools to help healthcare providers and organizations assess and optimize EHRs for improved safety. The guides represent a part of the Health IT Patient Safety Action and Surveillance Plan, which was published in July of 2013 to address EHR safety concerns.