MASSDEVICE ON CALL — FDA 510(k) clearances too slack: GAO. The Government Accountability Office claims that the FDA is putting patients at risk by clearing medical devices such as hip replacements and heart defibrillators under the same system the agency uses to approve power wheelchairs, stitches and catheters, reports The Associated Press.
Athenahealth Inc.
Wright Medical CEO and CTO out
Wright Medical Group Inc. (NSDQ:WMGI) announced a surprise shakeup of its executive team today, firing its chief technology officer and accepting the resignation of CEO Gary Henley.
The Arlington, Tenn.-based maker of orthopedic devices for the foot and ankle market said in a regulatory filing that Henley resigned prior to a board meeting yesterday.
Internet Explorer: Could Athenahealth’s ascent stall on Microsoft’s browser?
Athenahealth parses practice management platform to offer stand-alone EHR product
Athenahealth Inc. (NSDQ:ATHN) now offers electronic health records service athenaClinicals as a stand-alone system.
The company formerly only bundled the EHR service with its athenaCollector billing service to offer a plenary practice manangement platform.
The Watertown, Mass.-based company said the new option will give its hospital and enterprise clients more leeway with community-level programs and allow the company to be more competitive in an increasingly diverse EHR market.
Medicare reimbursement hold, rising expenses hit Athenahealth’s Q2 profits
Athenahealth Inc. (NSDQ:ATHN) saw its second-quarter profits plunge on a June Medicare reimbursement hold and rising expenses, despite a 28 percent uptick for its Q2 top line.
The Watertown, Mass.-based electronic medical records provider reported net income of $1.3 million, or 4 cents per diluted share, on sales of $58.6 million during the three months ended June 30. That’s a 42.2 percent decline in net income; the company posted profits of $2.2 million, or 6 cents per diluted share, on sales of $45.6 million during Q2 2009.
Meaningful use rules win positive reactions from EMR, healthcare providers
New regulations governing how healthcare providers can prove meaningful use of electronic medical records technology, a hallmark of President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform law, are winning praise from both EMR and healthcare providers.
To tap into the $27 billion being made available over the next decade to promote EMR adoption, healthcare providers must demonstrate meaningful use of an EMR system. Exactly what that entailed, however, wasn’t clear until the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services issued MU regulations yesterday.
Athenahealth wins certification for its newest web-based EHR service
Athenahealth Inc. (NSDQ:ATHN) won a preliminary “Interim Final Rule Stage 1” nod from the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology for its web-based electronic medical records system.
The EHR service, AthenaClinicalsSM version 10.6, met 24 of 24 requirements for eligible healthcare providers as published by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services in the IFR publication. The IFR certification is related to the HITECH Act, part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009.
Athenahealth taps new COO, CTO, biz dev head
Athenahealth Inc. (NSDQ:ATHN) made a series of internal promotions as its COO and one of its business development executives leave the company.
The Watertown, Mass.-based electronic medical records provider tapped chief technology officer Ed Park to replace outgoing COO David Robinson, who’s resigning “in keeping with the anticipated length of service under his employment agreement,” according to a press release. AthenaNet Intelligence senior vice president Jeremy Delinsky will succeed Park as CTO.
Athenahealth wins patent for practice management system
Athenahealth Inc. (NSDQ:ATHN) acquired a patent for its web-based electronic medical record system.
The patent, for "Automated Configuration of Medical Practice Management Systems," represents a new system that will work with the web-based features in the Watertown, Mass.-based firm’s pre-existing practice management software.
Athenahealth’s Q1 profits plunge despite sales increase
Athenahealth Inc. (NSDQ:ATHN) paid dearly for its efforts to increase its market penetration during the first quarter, which saw profits plunge despite health top-line growth.
The Watertown, Mass.-based electronic medical records provider posted sales of $54.5 million during the three months ended March 31, up 32.8 percent compared with $41.0 million during the same period last year.
But net income plunged 82 percent to $277,000, or 1 cent per share, compared with $1.5 million, or 4 cents per share, during Q1 2009.
Athenahealth’s Q4, 2009 profits fall as it restates financials
A change in the way it accounts for revenues forced Athenahealth Inc. (NSDQ:ATHN) to restate its financial results dating back to 2005, as it posted full-year and fourth-quarter declines in net income.
The Watertown, Mass.-based physician practice software provider posted net income of $4.3 million, or 12 cents per diluted share, during the three months ended Dec. 31, 2009, down 83.9 percent compared with $26.8 million (77 cents per share) during Q4 2008. Revenues for the quarter rose 33.4 percent to $54.4 million, compared with $40.8 million during the last three months of 2008.