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"Wireless devices are the number one means of communication today," said Kelley Carr, president of the Custom Solutions Group of Manchester, N.H.-based CSI, which specializes in the design and implementation of in-building wireless solutions. Carr spoke at a workshop at the Mobile Health Expo at Caesar's Palace Tuesday.Nonetheless, Carr cited a recent survey that had asked hospitals: "Do you have a problem with cell phone coverage in your building"Eighty-seven percent of respondents said yes.

GE Healthcare has successfully linked its electronic medical records (EMR) solution with several non-GE inpatient systems, providing a single view of the patient record that will go beyond the requirements of meaningful use. The interoperability solution is set to debut at beta sites Capital Region Healthcare (N.H.) and Decatur Memorial Hospital (Ill.) in early 2011 with general availability expected later that year.

As electronic health records become more prevalent, it becomes more difficult to choose an EHR that will remain relevant and usable well into the future. Jerry Buchanan of eMids Technologies, Inc., an IT consulting firm, shares the following five key components of the EHR of tomorrow.1. "Liquidity of data is an absolute necessity," said Buchanan, who cited interoperability and integration as important elements. The ability to share data amongst many different platforms will be a crucial component of tomorrow's EHR.