FederalDaily - January 2, 2008
DoD Improves Sharing of Health Information
DoD on Dec. 27 announced the organization-wide release of software enhancements that improve its sharing
of electronic health information with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The enhancements use
Bidirectional Health Information Exchange (BHIE) and Clinical Data Repository/Health Data Repository
(CHDR) interfaces. The changes mean each agency now is able to view the other agency’s “clinical
encounters,” medical procedures, and lists of medical problems on shared patients using BHIE.
Pharmacy, allergy, microbiology and chemistry/hematology data, as well as radiology reports, were made
available earlier this year. The CHDR software, which synchronizes data between DoD and VA for patients
who receive services from both agencies, bolsters patient safety by using data from DoD, VA and retail
pharmacies to check for drug interactions and drug allergies. For more, got to: www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11588.
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NTEU Calls Omnibus Bill Signing ‘Major Victory’
National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) President Colleen Kelley called the president’s signing
of the fiscal 2008 omnibus appropriations bill last week “a major victory for federal workers.” Kelley
noted that the president’s signature came despite previous administration objections to several
key provisions which remained in the final bill—including a 3.5 percent pay raise for federal
civilian employees, improved rights for federal employees in contracting-out competitions, and a better
retirement benefit for Customs and Border Protection officers. The bill also included a ban on the
planned reorganization and downsizing of food and drug safety operations at the Food and Drug Administration.
Kelley said the measures “ensure that federal agencies can be competitive with the private sector
in the battle to recruit and retain in public service talented, dedicated women and men.” The
omnibus bill’s language also provided zero funding for implementation of the new Department of
Homeland Security personnel system, parts of which are the subject of a federal court injunction won
by NTEU. For more, go to: www.nteu.org/PressKits/PressRelease/PressRelease.aspx?ID=1200.
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New Census Chief Confirmed
Texas professor Steve Murdock has been confirmed as the new director of the Census Bureau. Murdock,
who teaches at Rice University’s Department of Sociology and serves as director of the Texas
State Data Center, was approved by the Senate earlier this month. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez
applauded the confirmation and said Murdock “will provide great leadership for the 2010 Census.” Murdock
first taught in his home state at North Dakota State University before joining the faculty of Texas
A&M University in 1977. In 2003, he moved to the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he served
as a professor of demographics. Murdock replaces Charles Louis Kincannon, who has been director since
March 2002. For more, go to: www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/miscellaneous/011106.html.
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