Heart Safe news: Our weekly update on what’s happening in the world of heart safety and noninvasive cardiology

Electronic hospital records firm Allscripts to merge with Eclipsys

EHR firm Allscripts announced that it will purchase Eclipsys, maker of information technology for hospitals and clinicians. In making the announcement, Allscripts said that the acquisition will results in a combined client base of 180,000 physicians, 1,500 hospitals, and 10,000 post-acute care organizations (including nine of the 10 largest nursing home companies). The merger is expected to be completed in the next six months.

Allscripts CEO Glen Tullman said that the combined company will be able to better assist clients in accessing federal funding available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for adoption of EHRs. A Healthcare IT News report on the Allscripts-Eclipsys merger notes that EHR adoption by physicians and hospitals is projected to grow from just over 10 percent currently to 90 and 70 percent, respectively, by 2019, according to the Congressional Budget Office’s March 2009 report.

Cardiac Science’s HeartCentrix middleware connects Burdick and Quinton ECG, Holter, and stress diagnostic devices to the Allscripts EHR system. Find out more about our work with Allscripts.

Baltimore County emergency officials urge AED purchases

Baltimore County, Maryland, has installed more than 1,000 automated external defibrillators in schools, offices, courthouses, recreation centers and other public buildings. Officials are now asking other groups in the community to buy layperson-friendly defibrillators for community protection.

Maryland AED expert Cheryl DeHart attended a public meeting to demonstrate the easy of use of the Powerheart G3 AED. Radio personality “Detour” Dave Sandler of WBAL radio in Baltimore told the story of being rescued with an AED. He suffered cardiac arrest while playing in a softball tournament last year. The softball team has since purchased its own defibrillator to take to games.

“The more AEDs we have on the street, the more access there will be and the more lives we will save,” Kyrle W. Preis III, director of the county’s emergency service, said in this baltimoresun.com story. He added that the department handles nearly 90,000 medical calls annually, the majority of which are heart-related.

NY firefighter who doubted the value of AEDs is saved by one

Felix Coniglio, a firefighter and past chief at the Kenmore Volunteer Fire Department near Buffalo, NY, hadn’t been an advocate of automatic external defibrillators when the department made its first purchase. In May, his own life was saved by one.

Coniglio recalls saying, “What good is this? It’s just going to sit around,” adding, “I’m glad it did sit around!”

Coniglio was attending a meeting at a fire station when he went into cardiac arrest. Firefighters at the meeting started CPR and attached the station’s defibrillator. WGRZ.com reports that Coniglio, who received an implanted pacemaker and defibrillator, has since recovered. He’s an AED advocate now:

Related Products

• Powerheart AED G3 Plus
• Powerheart AED G3 Fully Automatic and Semi-automatic
• Powerheart AED G3 Pro
• Powerheart AED G3 Trainer
• AED Program Management

Last 5 posts

• Cardiac Science AEDs in Spain [VIDEO] - April 4th, 2011
• Cardiac Science wins first major public access defibrillation program in Europe - March 30th, 2011
• Georgia Park saves 5 lives with AEDs - March 24th, 2011
• Sad stories, avoidable deaths? - March 23rd, 2011
• Texas school's AED saves 6-year-old's life - March 22nd, 2011

Be Sociable, Share!

•