Morning Headlines 12/19/14

First real-world trial of impact of patient-controlled access to electronic medical records

In a small study, 105 patients are given the ability to hide certain parts of their medical record from their doctors, with a “break incase of an emergency” feature built in so that doctors could bypass the lock if needed. By the end of the six-month study, 49 percent of the patients had decided to hide some portion of their record.

Many say meaningful use Stage 2 is disastrous, but the data say otherwise

While the numbers on Meaningful Use Stage 2 seem grim, Advisory Board Senior Consultant Tony Panjamapirom says that 65 percent of the hospitals scheduled to attest to stage 2 this year have already done so, with many more expected to attest before December 31. He says that between these attestations, and those that are pursuing hardship exceptions, more than 95 percent of stage 2 eligible hospitals will be in compliance by the end of the year.

Medfusion names Allscripts and M*Modal vet as CEO

Medfusion founder Steve Malik will step down as CEO of the company, passing the reigns to Vern Davenport, formerly of MModal and Allscripts. Malik will stay on as the executive chairman.