IT Update

* The long-term care industry is being snubbed by the federal government's health information technology subsidies plan, the American Health Care Association said in a March 3 statement. "Long-term care is the stepchild of the healthcare industry. So it's not surprising that none of the $27 billion extended by the federal government for health information technology is available to nursing homes and other LTC facilities," the group said. Not having "accurate, timely' health status data will outweigh care costs, it added.

* More and more people are using the Internet to connect with each other about chronic medical conditions, according to a Feb. 28 report, "Peer-to-peer healthcare," by the Pew Research Center. While health professionals remain the central source of such information, "peer-to-peer healthcare" is a significant supplement.

* One in four Internet users living with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions, lung conditions, cancer or some other chronic ailment (23%) say they have gone online to find others with similar health concerns. Pew also found that social networking among Internet users ages 50 and older nearly doubled-from 22% in April 2009 to 42% in May 2010.

* The Center for Technology and Aging will offer as many as six one-year grants of up to $100,000 for projects that focus on the adoption and diffusion of mobile health technology-enabled services to improve the health of older adults. Awarded projects are expected to commence in August. Primary applicants include non-profit organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation. Applicants should describe a theory-based model that addresses the benefits of mobile health.

* Health information technology improves the overall quality of care and is validating the current administration's decision to increase health IT spending, according to a new study conducted by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. In its literature review, study authors found 92% of recent articles showed that health IT has an overall positive effect on key aspects of care, including quality and efficiency.