Morning Headlines 1/9/13

More Changes in Health Care Needed to Fulfill Promise of Health Information Technology

RAND releases a study that recognizes that the cost savings expected from EMR implementations have not been realized. The study points the finger at the cumbersome design of healthcare IT systems and the lack of integration across the systems.

NARMC Becomes First of Many Hospitals to Launch SHARE

North Arkansas Regional Medical Center (NARMC) announces that it is the first hospital to launch SHARE (State Health Alliance for Records Exchange), Arkansas’ fledgling health information exchange.

Guidelines Released for $10 Million Qualcomm Tricorder X PRIZE Reveal Health Condition Sets for Winning Solution

Qualcomm announces contest guidelines for a $10 million prize which will be awarded to the team that can produce a Star Trek Tricorder-inspired home medical device that can wirelessly monitor vital signs and accurately diagnose any five of the following conditions: anemia, UTI, type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation, stroke, obstructive sleep apnea, tuberculosis, COPD, pneumonia, otitis, leukocytosis, and Hepatitis A.

Why Athena Bought Epocrates

Travis Good of HIStalk Connect outlines the most viable ROI strategies that Athena will target after the Epocrates acquisition is finalized.

Health Catalyst Closes $33M Series B Investment From Norwest Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital and Sorenson Capital

Health Catalyst, a leader in healthcare data warehousing, announces it has closed $33 million in Series B funding. Norwest Venture Partners, which led the investing, will add managing partner Promod Haque to the Health Catalyst board as part of the deal.