Here are a few I came across last week.
Note: Each link is followed by a title and few paragraphs. For the full article click on the link above title of the article. Note also that full access to some links may require site registration or subscription payment.
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https://ehrintelligence.com/news/how-a-health-org-approaches-ehr-data-governance-clinical-research
How a Health Org Approaches EHR Data Governance, Clinical Research
UNC Health’s data governance committees approved 94 percent of EHR data requests for clinical research received in 2020.
December 10, 2021 - Interdisciplinary data governance committees at UNC Health have helped steward the secure use of EHR data for clinical research, according to a study published in JAMIA.
As researchers look to leverage EHR data to fuel their studies, proper stewardship of the data is paramount for data security.
The Carolina Data Warehouse for Health (CDW-H) is the central repository for EHR data for UNC Health.
The data governance process at for CDW-H data aims to be compliant, efficient, and supportive of research, the study authors noted. This means that data requests are reviewed in a timely manner, align with the corresponding IRB protocol, and comply with institutional policy and federal law.
CDW-H officials approved 302 of 319 data requests received in 2020 (94 percent). Most requests (83 percent) were reviewed via administrative review, and 72 of these requests received approval in less than two weeks.
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IoT under attack: Security is still not good enough on these edge devices
Most enterprises don't have visibility into the IoT devices that are being attacked by hackers who want to breach corporate IT networks.
Written by Liam Tung, Contributor
on December 10, 2021 | Topic: Security
With IoT botnets continuing to cause problems and attacks on critical infrastructure an ongoing menace, Microsoft has conducted research to find out whether edge network devices are a threat to enterprise systems.
The Microsoft-commissioned survey, conducted by the Ponemon Institute, looked at Internet of Things (IoT) and Operational Technology (OT) devices and what security threats they posed to IT systems that were once separated from edge network devices. OT includes devices and software used to monitor and control industrial equipment, bringing a physical element to cybersecurity.
The survey of 615 IT, IT security and OT security practitioners across the United States found that 51% of OT networks are connected to corporate IT networks. Microsoft details key findings in a blogpost and has released a report.
Some 88% of respondents said their business IoT devices are connected to the internet for things like cloud-printing services while 56% reported devices on their OT network were connected for remote access.
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https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/ashp/96112
Digital HTN, Diabetes Monitoring Program a Boon for Patients
— Program reports growth and better outcomes
by Lei Lei Wu, Intern, MedPage Today December 9, 2021
A digital health program for hypertension and diabetes was associated with improved patient outcomes, a clinical pharmacist reported.
While 26% of hypertension patients receiving usual care achieved blood pressure control after 6 months, 75% of those in the digital health program met that goal in the same time frame in 2018, Heather Aaron, PharmD, of Ochsner Health in New Orleans, reported during a presentation at the Midyear American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) meeting.
A 2018 analysis done by Ochsner Health showed that medication adherence also improved in patients in the digital health program, while it dwindled in patients receiving usual care, Aaron noted.
Patients with diabetes experienced improved hemoglobin A1c as well, with the average going from 7.3% at baseline to 6.7% after 6 months in the digital health program, Aaron reported. The goal for most adults with diabetes set by the American Diabetes Association is an A1c of 7% or lower. The CDC threshold definition for diabetes is an A1c of 6.5% or higher.
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https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/how-direct-primary-care-model-provider-benefits-easy-use-ehr
How a direct primary care model provider benefits from an easy-to-use EHR
One of the three doctors at Reliant Direct Primary Care describes in detail how its EHR is designed around care, not billing, and explains the difference that makes.
By Bill Siwicki
December 10, 2021 11:33 AM
Enid, Oklahoma-based Reliant Direct Primary Care, which has two offices in northern Oklahoma and three providers, is a direct primary care provider that sees far fewer patients than a traditional practice.THE PROBLEM
Dr. Jonathan Bushman, one of the three providers, previously worked for a health system, using an EHR designed to support fee-for-service billing and engineered around serving patients through a transactional delivery model.
"Being held captive by this system, I felt I had lost the ability to focus on the patient and earn patient trust, and the challenges caused by the EHR made my day-to-day activities of caring for patients feel more like a chore," he recalled. "My main focus at the time was on creating documentation to support billing for specific services, not on what was best for the patient. The process was burdensome and exhausting."
PROPOSAL
Bushman and one of his colleagues had spoken at length about different practice models and software. The colleague had mentioned his success with Elation Health, a vendor of an EHR for independent primary care practices, and its integration with other major technology platforms, including Hint and Spruce, for direct primary care.
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AWS and Pfizer team up to develop cloud solutions to speed up medical development
Pfizer is developing prototype solutions that incorporate a slew of AWS capabilities including machine learning, analytics, data warehousing, storage, and security.
Written by Aimee Chanthadavong, Senior Journalist
on December 8, 2021 | Topic: Cloud
Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Pfizer have joined forces to create cloud-based solutions to speed up how new medicines are developed, manufactured, and distributed for testing in clinical trials.
The pair will explore how AWS capabilities in analytics, machine learning, compute, storage, security, and cloud data warehousing can be applied to Pfizer's laboratory, clinical manufacturing, and clinical supply chain efforts.
"AWS's breadth and depth of cloud capabilities help support Pfizer's teams through secure, novel research methods as they work to optimize drug development and clinical manufacturing processes," AWS business development and industries vice president Kathrin Renz said.
"The past two years have reinforced for the world just how much speed and agility matter at every step of the research, development, and clinical manufacturing cycle when lives are on the line. We're proud to work with Pfizer and lend our deep domain expertise to assist in developing solutions that could significantly improve the lives of patients globally."
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HL7 Celebrates 10 Years of FHIR Health IT Data Standard
As the health IT data standard matures, HL7 officials said that the organization plans to put out FHIR Release 5 in 2022.
December 09, 2021 - Health Level Seven (HL7) International celebrates 10 years of international development and implementation of the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) health IT data standard.
The open-source data standard aims to support healthcare interoperability for real-time access to health information across the care continuum.
FHIR is widely used across the healthcare industry in mobile applications, cloud communications, EHR-based data sharing, and server communications.
Since its inception, FHIR has fostered a collaborative culture, noted Charles Jaffe, MD, PhD, HL7 International CEO.
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Limiting Bias in Artificial Intelligence Tools, Personalized Medicine
Researchers are developing data collection methods to decrease bias in artificial intelligence tools and precision medicine.
December 09, 2021 - As more research looks to use medical data for artificial intelligence tools and personalized medicine, a new study shows how unintentional bias can impact design efforts.
Additionally, the study highlights methods to increase the likelihood of patients from underrepresented populations being included in massive banks of genetic samples and data from electronic medical records. According to researchers, diverse data benefits both the accuracy of tools and provides better patient outcomes for underrepresented communities.
The findings come from researchers at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University that studied the University of Michigan’s efforts to build a large bank of data and samples for researchers to use.
According to researchers, the study results have already improved how Precision Health at U-M recruits participants and the racial and ethnic categories that patients can self-select to add to their records.
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https://healthitsecurity.com/news/workforce-burnout-presents-cybersecurity-risks-report-finds
Workforce Burnout Presents Cybersecurity Risks, Report Finds
People suffering from workforce burnout are more apathetic and lenient about cybersecurity risks and policies, researchers found.
By Jill McKeon
December 09, 2021 - Pandemic-driven workforce burnout has been detrimental to the mental and physical health of workers across all industries, but a new report from 1Password found that burnout can also lead to increased cybersecurity risks.
1Password surveyed 2,500 adults whose work is primarily conducted in front of a computer. Results revealed that employees experiencing burnout were three times as likely to think that security rules and policies “aren’t worth the hassle,” compared to respondents who were not experiencing burnout.
Alarmingly, cybersecurity professionals stood out by reporting disproportionately high levels of burnout. Cybersecurity professionals were twice as likely as other respondents to say that they are “completely checked out” or “doing the bare minimum” because of burnout.
“Despite the high level of automation in today’s business world, workplaces still rely heavily on human beings—and technology security professionals in particular— to implement the protocols that safeguard their assets, data, information and, ultimately, reputations,” the report noted.
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CMS outlines data exchange plans to aid quality, cut burden
The agency is teaming up with ONC to further develop the core dataset of patient data and resolve pain points in current administrative processes.
Dec 08 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is continuing to work on future efforts to lay the groundwork for future interoperable data exchange in healthcare.
The federal agency, which oversees federal health programs and has been playing a leading role in encouraging data exchange and consumer access to health data, outlined initiatives it’s pursuing in a blog post on the CMS website, posted on Wednesday.
These initiatives are important because they could lay the groundwork for improving and facilitating data exchange for healthcare organizations, and ease current burdens related to gathering and disseminating public health and care quality information.
The blog, under the byline of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, administrator for CMS, notes that the agency is “working closely with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health information Technology” on efforts to standardize patient data so it can be easily moved between healthcare organizations.
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Gottlieb: Feds need to use data to anticipate future pandemics
The experience in responding to the COVID pandemic shows the need for using information to predict disease surges, former FDA head says.
Dec 08 2021
The nation’s efforts to manage the COVID-19 pandemic are ongoing, but the U.S. needs a new national approach to gather data, and use it to anticipate future infection challenges and muster a response.
That’s the view of Scott Gottlieb, MD, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, who sees a growing need for an agency to have the capacity to foresee potential health challenges and manage national planning.
Currently, federal agencies are focused on retrospective analysis, using data gathered from public reporting to use past views of health challenges to respond to today’s challenges – more needs to be done to empower the federal response to anticipate problems, Gottlieb said during a question-and-answer session Wednesday during a Hospital Operations Virtual Summit sponsored by LeanTaaS.
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https://www.healthdatamanagement.com/articles/va-announces-its-new-ehr-rollout-strategy
VA announces its new EHR rollout strategy
Efforts to bolster the systemwide rollout in the near future includes stronger leadership and governance.
Dec 08 2021
The Veterans Administration (VA), which had paused the deployment of its new Cerner EHR system in July, is restarting its rollout – with a shift of focus and approach.
The revisions include an updated rollout schedule, under which the deployment will resume in March at VA medical centers in Columbus, Ohio, and Walla Walla, Wash., and continue over the next few years. The VA noted that the schedule could be adjusted further based on a variety of factors, with the head of the list COVID-19 pandemic.
The VA also is focusing on a new, stronger management structure, which is meant to incorporate best practices in communication, risk management, business process, system development lifecycle management and customer experience.
Some of the most significant changes include a substantially strengthened Office of the Functional Champion, and the establishment of two new positions: a Program Executive Director for EHR Integration and a Deputy Chief Information Officer for EHR. The VA has selected Terry Adirim, MD, currently serving as the acting assistant secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, for the PED position. The DCIO has not yet been announced.
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Truveta aims to use massive data repository to aid research
The new company is aggregating de-identified data from 20 member healthcare organizations with the goal of using it to support evidence-based care.
Dec 08 2021
Twenty healthcare organizations are making a big bet on the power of big data. They’ve invested millions in Truveta, a new company that’s building a massive database of de-identified patient data to support research that uses artificial intelligence.
Seattle-based Truveta hopes to use that data aggregated from electronic health records of patients across the U.S. to answer a variety of questions, such as which treatments are most effective for rare diseases, how therapies can be tailored based on a patient’s genomic, clinical and social profile, or which patients might benefit most from a new drug.
Unlike many other data aggregation research initiatives that involve one large provider organization, Truveta incorporates input from a broad array of major providers across the nation that each have an ownership stake. That wide swath of data offers promise for future evidence-based research augmented by computer intelligence capabilities.
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https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/what-will-be-impact-covid-19-next-wave-health-it-innovation
What will be the impact of COVID-19 on the next wave of health IT innovation?
Sebastian Seiguer, CEO of the Johns Hopkins-backed emocha Health, offers a look forward to the lasting effects of the pandemic, and discusses the technology advancements he's looking forward to in 2022.
By Bill Siwicki
December 09, 2021 12:23 PM
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of all kinds of healthcare information technology, from telehealth to artificial intelligence. As a result, the opportunities that exist for health IT companies are massive.
Crunchbase estimates that healthcare technology companies have raised a record-breaking $36.6 billion globally from 2020 through October 2021. That sizable mountain of cash offers myriad opportunities for innovation in 2022 and beyond.
To get an idea of what this future may hold, Healthcare IT News interviewed Sebastian Seiguer, CEO of the Johns Hopkins-backed health IT company emocha Health. Sebastian discusses how the pandemic has reinforced the need for AI and machine learning technology to help improve patient and clinical outcomes, how health IT can help address the challenges facing the U.S. healthcare system and help mitigate revenue loss, and the top innovation opportunities that exist for health IT companies.
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https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/clinician-burnout-rise-and-ehrs-arent-always-blame
Clinician burnout is on the rise – and EHRs aren't always to blame
A new report from the KLAS Research Arch Collaborative pointed to chaotic workplaces, after-hours workloads and bureaucratic tasks as other major contributing factors to burnout.
By Kat Jercich
December 09, 2021 10:51 AM
A new report from the KLAS Research Arch Collaborative found that rates of nurse and physician burnout have continued to rise amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
And although electronic health records – a frequently cited contributor to burnout in other studies – certainly made the list of culprits, clinicians also pointed to chaotic workplaces, after-hours workloads and too many bureaucratic tasks as major factors.
"Not only is burnout increasing, but the rate of increase has sharply accelerated in 2021," observed report authors.
"The rise of the Delta variant is likely a significant factor in this acceleration – from Q2 to Q3 2021 (as the Delta variant was ramping up), Collaborative data shows a sharp rise in the number of clinicians linking their burnout to COVID-19," they continued.
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https://www.healthcareittoday.com/2021/12/09/states-consider-blocking-ransomware-payments/
States Consider Blocking Ransomware Payments
December 9, 2021
Over the past several years, ransomware attacks have become a steadily more virulent threat to healthcare organizations. Things have gotten even worse since the pandemic hit, as it has strained healthcare IT organizations to the limit and made them far more vulnerable to security breaches.
The latest wave of healthcare ransomware attacks has included “triple threat” events in which attackers not only demand payment from healthcare organizations but also ask for money from patients and business partners.
Of course, there’s no such thing as a good cybersecurity breach, but ransomware attacks seem to be particularly expensive and visible. During 2020, which saw 92 attacks affecting healthcare organizations, the average ransom paid out by health systems was $910,335, and when other expenses are added to the mix the true cost can be dramatically higher, according to a recent paper by security vendors Medigate and Crowdstrike.
In the paper, the two vendors note that in the wake of one attack last year on a U.S.-based university system, the hospital had to cancel or delay procedures and appointments for 40 days. The system also ended up furloughing or reassigning more than 150 staff members during the IT lockdown. Ultimately, the attack cost the institution an estimated $64 million.
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https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/report-covid-19-accelerates-health-tech-investment-2021
Report: COVID-19 accelerates health tech investment in 2021
Deloitte’s Road to Next report found health tech investments totaled $23.8 billion across 556 completed transactions so far this year.
By Emily Olsen
December 08, 2021 11:56 am
Health technology investment is a standout in fundraising so far this year, raking in $23.8 billion across 556 completed deals through the third quarter, according to Deloitte’s Road to Next report.
“Accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, dealmaking at the expansion stage rose to new heights in 2020 and 2021 to date,” wrote report authors Heather Gates and Peter Micca.
“Building off key technical advances and mass adoption of smartphones as well as incremental improvements in back-end healthcare+ IT infrastructure, health tech platforms have proliferated into a wide variety of niches, raising large financing rounds to keep scaling rapidly to meet rising consumer demand.”
This year’s healthcare dealmaking boom is even larger so far than the rapid growth of the past two years. The report noted that aggregate expansion-stage deal value in healthcare more than doubled between 2019 and 2020, increasing from $8.3 billion to $17.4 billion.
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Deloitte Report Sees Record Growth in Healthcare Technology Investment
Analysis | By Eric Wicklund | December 09, 2021
Spurred by the pandemic and digital health innovation, healthcare organizations are spending more money than ever before on healthcare technology, both to update what they have and prepare for a new future in care delivery.
A new report by Deloitte finds that investment in healthcare technology is soaring to new levels, spurred by both the pandemic and expectations that the industry will embrace new tools and platforms to improve care after COVID-19.
“Building off key technical advances and mass adoption of smartphones as well as incremental improvements in back-end healthcare+ IT infrastructure, health tech platforms have proliferated into a wide variety of niches, raising large financing rounds to keep scaling rapidly to meet rising consumer demand,” the company’s Road to Next report, authored by analysts Heather Gates and Peter Micca, points out. “The continuing consumerization of healthcare in tandem with macro trends such as aging demographics have ensured there is no shortage of market opportunities for health tech enterprises.”
According to Deloitte, almost $23 billion has been invested in the healthcare technology landscape through 556 completed transactions, surpassing record growth in the past two years.
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https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/technology/most-read-technology-articles-2021
Most read Technology Articles of 2021
News | By Healthleaders | December 09, 2021
STUDY:
SMARTPHONE APP DETECTS ASYMPTOMATIC COVID-19 BY RECORDING FORCED COUGHS
MIT team-developed app, derived from Alzheimer's research, expected to seek FDA
approval
EPIC
GAINS MORE EMR MARKET SHARE; CERNER LOSES GROUND FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW
EMR acquisition spiked in the fourth quarter, after being put on hold during
the COVID-19 lockdown in the first half of 2020.
HOW
VOICE TECH WILL CHANGE HEALTHCARE DELIVERY
Conversational AI technology is spurring a wave of innovation between tech
companies and healthcare organizations.
NORTHWELL
HEALTH REDUCES READMISSIONS BY 23% VIA ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DRIVEN
PREDICTIONS
Social determinants of health data drives predictions that can trigger
interventions even before a hospitalization ends.
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https://mhealthintelligence.com/news/renown-health-to-deploy-biointellisenses-rpm-device
Renown Health to Deploy BioIntelliSense’s RPM Device
The BioSticker wearable device continuously monitors several vital signs, like skin temperature and resting heart rate, and provides symptom alerts, which can help support COVID-19 monitoring.
By Anuja Vaidya
December 08, 2021 - Renown Health has entered into a collaboration with remote patient monitoring provider BioIntelliSense to enhance in-hospital and at-home care.
The Reno, Nevada-based nonprofit health system, which includes three acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group, and an urgent care network, will integrate BioIntelliSense's BioSticker wearable device into its clinical remote monitoring services. The device continuously monitors data on patients' skin temperature, resting heart rate, respiratory rate, and sleep, among other key metrics. The device also provides alerts for infection-like symptoms, which can help support COVID-19 monitoring.
The data and corresponding analysis offered by BioSticker will be monitored by clinical staff within the Renown Transfer and Operations Center. This will enable the staff, including physicians, nurses and technicians, to access near real-time information on patients' vital signs and symptoms, supporting clinical decision making.
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https://khn.org/news/article/post-pandemic-billing-codes-physician-telehealth-virtual-checkup/
Post-Pandemic, What’s a Phone Call From Your Physician Worth?
Julie Appleby December 8, 2021
Maybe this has happened to you recently: Your doctor telephoned to check in with you, chatting for 11 to 20 minutes, perhaps answering a question you contacted her office with, or asking how you’re responding to a medication change.
For that, your doctor got paid about $27 if you are on Medicare — maybe a bit more if you have private insurance.
Behind those calls is a four-digit “virtual check-in” billing code created during the pandemic, for phone conversations lasting just within that range, which has drawn outsize interest from physician groups.
It’s part of a much bigger, increasingly heated debate: Should insurers pay for “audio-only” visits? And, if they do, should they pay the same reimbursement rate as when a patient is sitting in a doctor’s office, as has been allowed during the pandemic?
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90% of Patients Say Loyalty Relies on Patient Financial Experience
More than half of patients said patient financial experience sways their loyalty and whether they recommend a provider to family or friends.
By Sara Heath
December 07, 2021 - The patient financial experience and billing process is a make-or-break moment, with 93 percent of healthcare consumers saying the billing experience could dissuade them from returning to a healthcare provider, according to a survey conducted by El Studios on behalf of Cedar.
The survey of about 1,500 adult patients, which PatientEngagementHIT obtained via email, showed general patient satisfaction with the overall healthcare experience, with more than three-quarters of patients saying they’re pleased with their interactions with clinical providers and front office staff.
However, ambiguity with the patient financial experience and bill pay process are tainting patient satisfaction, the survey showed. Consumers said they often receive confusing explanations about their benefits or medical bills, the survey showed.
Particularly, patients are not sure how much they owe. Forty-one percent of patients said they are dissatisfied with their medical billing experience, and a significant proportion added they don’t have much price transparency or certainty. About nine in 10 respondents said it’d be helpful to have information about expected healthcare costs that take into account co-pays and other insurance coverage.
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Emergency departments can affect hospital readmission rates, massive EHR study shows
Researchers analyzed the records of nearly 2 million Medicare beneficiaries who underwent one of five common surgical procedures.
By Kat Jercich
December 08, 2021 01:26 PM
A study analyzing the electronic health records of nearly 2 million Medicare beneficiaries found that some hospitals are better than others at preventing post-surgical readmissions from the emergency department.
The study, published in the Journal of Surgical Research, sought to examine whether hospitals with high readmission rates also have high rates of post-discharge emergency department visits.
"Emergency departments are a significant factor in preventing readmission," said lead author Dr. Sharmistha Dev, research scientist at the Regenstrief Institute. "Coordination of care should involve the ED."
WHY IT MATTERS
As the authors note, reducing readmissions is a frequent priority for policy-makers and healthcare leaders.
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Hills Health to deliver patient engagement system to Kaweka Health
The Get Well platform is solely distributed by Hills Health in Australia and New Zealand.
By Adam Ang
December 08, 2021 09:47 PM
Hills Health Solutions has bagged a contract to put up a patient entertainment and engagement system at Kaweka Health's upcoming surgery facility in New Zealand's Hawke's Bay district.
Following a tender process, the Victoria-headquartered health technology provider was picked to implement the Get Well patient engagement platform, which it exclusively distributes in Australia and New Zealand.
The Get Well software as a service solution provides patients with timely information and educational content and captures feedback for the improvement of patient satisfaction. The technology has been rolled out in over 950 sites globally, according to Hills Health.
WHY IT MATTERS
In a media release, Lyle Chetty, director of digital services at Kaweka Health, said that it is a "high priority" for them to provide high-quality entertainment and engage patients in their healthcare journey. "Providing an environment where patients are comfortable and feel informed about their treatment plan is part of our patient-centric approach," he added.
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Health Care Clings to Faxes as U.S. Pushes Electronic Records
Deep Dive
Nov. 4, 2021, 8:46 PM
- Fax machines remain popular among health-care providers
- Health IT tools don’t address clinician needs, analysts say
Health IT pros and federal regulators dream of a health-care system in which the flow of information happens seamlessly through a simple mouse-click, with just the right data flowing in an instant to just the right provider in just the right form.
But getting to health IT nirvana will mean dealing with the fax machine—and with the limitations of current technology that make fax machines necessary.
At least 70% of health-care providers still exchange medical information by fax, according to federal officials, and some providers, such as nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities, rely heavily on the outdated technology.
Electronic health records and other modern health IT tools hold much promise, but they under-deliver when it comes to moving information across boundaries of the health-care system: between hospital systems, between providers, between competing technology platforms.
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Telehealth Use Continues to Rise, But COVID-19 Not Among Top Diagnoses
Following August’s trend, September saw another increase in telehealth use on the national level, as well as in the West and Midwest regions.
December 07, 2021 - National telehealth use increased by 2.3 percent in September, but COVID-19 is no longer in the top five diagnoses, according to FAIR Health’s Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker.
The COVID-19 pandemic jumpstarted rapid telehealth adoption in 2020, and the care delivery method is still popular among Americans this year.
In August, telehealth accounted for 4.3 percent of all medical claim lines in the country. That percentage grew to 4.4 percent in September. Telehealth utilization saw a similar national increase from July to August, rising by 2.4 percent.
Across the U.S., the West and Midwest saw increases in telehealth utilization of 3.45 percent and 6.9 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, utilization in the South stayed the same, accounting for 3.5 percent of all claims. On the other hand, the Northeast volume of claim lines dropped from 5 to 4.8 percent.
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AI, long hyped for radiology, is still early in application
With some of the hype dying down, healthcare organizations are looking for more commonsense ways to use the technology and gain support for it.
Dec 07 2021
Hopes have been high to integrate artificial intelligence into healthcare, with early sights set on radiology.
Relating that to the Gartner Hype Cycle, the expectations are following the traditional and expected rise and fall, said Paul Chang, MD, a professor at the University of Chicago and a well-known futurist in radiology and informatics. Right now, those expectations are down off the giddy tops supported by the heady predictions of many.
Reality is setting in, but that’s good, Chang contended during an Ask the Expert session at the recent annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago.
“There are hopes to improve quality and reduce variability” by applying AI in various healthcare domains, especially radiology, he said. “AI is no different from (picture archiving and communications systems), in that there’s nothing new under the sun, that when it comes to disruptive technology and overhyping. But we’ll eventually get there; we’ll get to the point where we’ll appropriately consume any technology. We do tend to overhype new technologies, but in the end, we underestimate the effects of them in the long run.”
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Providers look to digital technology to boost patient access
CCM’s Top of Mind Report shows organizations want to build on changes in encounters accelerated by the response to the pandemic.
Dec 07 2021
Forced to rapidly change delivery models to meet consumer expectations during the COVID-19 pandemic, provider organizations are looking to apply the lessons learned to adopt digital health tools that improve care interactions with patients.
Many key technologies that have sulked along for years were jolted to life by the pandemic, as providers had to prioritize resources, and consumers and caregivers were not keen on in-person care. Those technologies are at the heart of re-imagined healthcare in coming years, according to the Top of Mind Report released this week.
The report, from the Center for Connected Medicine and KLAS Research, highlights the growing use of technology in improving patient access to care. The research found that “health systems needed to do more to address roadblocks that hamper consumers’ ability to engage in their health and seek and receive medical care,” said Alex Nixon, senior research analyst at the Center for Connected Medicine, which is jointly operated by UPMC, a Pittsburgh-based healthcare system, and Nokia.
Some 36 percent of respondents to the survey for the Top of Mind Report cited patient access as the problem in healthcare that has the greatest potential to be improved with digital technology and innovation. In addition, 62 percent of respondents cited telehealth as the area of healthcare technology that’s seen the greatest progress or improvement over the last two years.
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https://www.healthcareitnews.com/blog/emea/digital-health-predictions-2022-looking-brighter-future
Digital health predictions for 2022: Looking to a brighter future
Health is in the throes of some of the most significant changes as systems reel from a variety of rapidly changing environments. Dr Charles Alessi, Chief Clinical Officer at HIMSS, explores lessons learned, as we look cautiously to a better 2022.
December 07, 2021 05:24 AM
Health systems have have had to cope with myriad challenges ranging from new waves of the COVID pandemic, delivery of mass vaccination programmes at scale and speed, coping with diminishing workforce and a significantly increased burden of non-communicable disease as an unexpected consequence of the pandemic.
The past year has been notable in that elements of digital transformation have appeared across the globe and in some places have moved beyond telehealth to encompass better and data driven decision making. The following four broad areas will inevitably become the major areas of interest in the coming years.
- Sustainability
The urgency with which governments globally are looking to transform their services to become more sustainable has been expedited as the climate emergency becomes more real and the effects of climate change more apparent. The provision of healthcare is a significant constituent of a country’s carbon footprint, and it is no surprise that sustainability in the provision of healthcare is now a big-ticket item.
Despite advances in making therapeutics more sustainable and less harmful, exemplified by the changes to propellants in inhalers for instance, there is much to do. Digital modalities and blended approaches to managing care will assist in cutting down unnecessary patient journeys and there are changes which will no doubt be required to supply chains for materials and to better manage ever expanding, COVID-fuelled clinical waste. There are governments making these changes a priority, and no doubt, more will follow.
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https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/contributed-power-ai-surgery
Contributed: The power of AI in surgery
Artificial intelligence's potential role in preoperative and intraoperative planning – and surgical robotics – is significant.
By Dr. Liz Kwo
November 23, 2021 10:41 am
Artificial intelligence (AI), defined as algorithms that enable machines to perform cognitive functions (such as problem solving and decision-making), has changed for some time now the face of healthcare through machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP).
Its use in surgery, however, took a longer time than in other medical specialties, mainly because of missing information regarding the possibilities of computational implementation in practical surgery. Thanks to fast developments registered, AI is currently perceived as a supplement and not a replacement for the skill of a human surgeon.
And although the potential of the surgeon-patient-computer relationship is a long way from being fully explored, the use of AI in surgery is already driving significant changes for doctors and patients alike.
For example, surgical planning and navigation have improved consistently through computed tomography (CT), ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), while minimally invasive surgery (MIS), combined with robotic assistance, resulted in decreased surgical trauma and improved patient recovery.
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https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/turbulent-year-and-retooled-future-vas-ehr-rollout
A turbulent year, and a retooled future, for the VA's EHR rollout
The agency recently announced a revised schedule for continued deployment of its Cerner electronic health record. The new plan has been a long time coming.
By Kat Jercich
December 07, 2021 09:51 AM
In August 2020, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs went live with the first component of its Cerner-developed electronic health record at the VA Central Ohio Healthcare System in Columbus.
Two months later, it rolled out the new EHR at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington.
The moves represented major progress for the multibillion-dollar Electronic Health Record Modernization project, which had faced numerous delays due to COVID-19 and other factors.
But that advancement was short-lived: The initiative has now had numerous setbacks, with leadership repeatedly brought to testify before congressional committees and numerous watchdog reports zeroing in on budgetary problems and training concerns.
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https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/innovation/data-mining-unlocks-hidden-resources-physicians-rounds
Data Mining Unlocks Hidden Resources for Physicians on Rounds
Analysis | By Eric Wicklund | December 07, 2021
Informaticists with iPads are accompanying doctors on rounds at Georgetown University Medical Center, and they're using complex search technology to improve patient care.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
· Data mining enhanced with AI technology gives physicians access to the latest literature, as well as other resources aimed at improving diagnoses and treatment.
· The tools are also used by researchers looking to improve treatment options for complex cases or measure the effectiveness of a medication.
· Though still in its infancy, the platform could greatly improve a physician's ability to treat patients at the bedside and improve patient engagement.
Doctors making rounds at Georgetown University Medical Center have a new digital health tool at their disposal that can speed up diagnoses and treatment plans, improve clinical outcomes, and even perk up patient engagement.
Rounding teams at the Washington, D.C. hospital can now include an informaticist armed with an iPad and AI-based text-mining technology that scans medical literature for the latest information on patient care, including disease symptoms, medications, and suggested treatments. The resource gives physicians an instant, on-demand link to clinical decision support while they meet with patients.
"Doctors are busy on rounds and often don't have the time to look things up at all," says Jonathan Hartmann, director of clinical information services and data discovery at the health system, which has been partnering with Linguamatics since 2012 on text mining capabilities.
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https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/innovation/scripps-microsoft-bring-digital-health-bear-pregnancy
Scripps, Microsoft Bring Digital Health to Bear on Pregnancy
Analysis | By Eric Wicklund | December 07, 2021
The Scripps Research Digital Trials Center is partnerning with a wide range of digital health companies and stakeholders in a PowerMom consortium, aimed at using innovative technology to help monitor new and soon-to-be moms.
The Scripps Research Digital Trials Center is partnering with Microsoft in a new consortium aimed at improving research and care for new and impending mothers.
The PowerMom consortium, managed by the San Diego-based digital health think tank and including Microsoft, WebMD, the March of Dimes, Mae, the Happy Mama Happy Baby Alliance, and the African American Wellness Center for Children and Families, “leverages innovative digital and mobile technologies to recruit, monitor, and communicate with pregnant study participants,” officials said.
The project will use technology like smartphones, wearables, mHealth apps, and telehealth to address the rising maternal mortality rate in the US. Digital health companies participating in the consortium include Fitbit, CareEvolution, Sharecare and Woebot Health.
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Blockchain Projects Could Develop New Features For Telehealth Platforms
December 7, 2021
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been screaming for years about my frustration with how lightweight telehealth solutions are today. As I wrote in a recent telehealth post, I’m eager to see telehealth platforms emerge that take offer more robust services and integrate with enterprise care delivery platforms.
Given this, I was pleased to find some research describing telehealth solutions that leverage the blockchain. None seem entirely ready for universal use, but the technology which has already been developed seems intriguing.
The study, which was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, reviewed research delving into the feasibility of using blockchain technology in telemedicine. After conducting the review, the authors zoned in on 18 projects that met their selection criteria, which required that the chosen projects needed to play a role in offering telemedical services and use blockchain tech as a significant domain,
The researchers then analyzed features available among the projects, including medical data access, medical service processing, videoconferencing, epidemiology reporting, diagnostic support with AI, treatment support with AI, patient data aggregation, visit arrangements for medical procedures, ordering medicines from pharmacies, payment processing and fundraising.
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https://ehrintelligence.com/news/va-announces-new-plan-roles-for-ehr-implementation-program
VA Announces New Plan, Roles for EHR Implementation Program
VA has created two new executive roles that are set to enhance program management and coordination for its systemwide EHR implementation.
December 06, 2021 - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has updated its EHR implementation plan to address challenges revealed in this year’s Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program strategic review.
The new plan includes a revised rollout schedule, two new executive roles, and what the agency said is a significantly strengthened Office of the Functional Champion (OFC).
“We will do everything we can to get electronic health records right for Veterans and our healthcare staff, with patient safety being the key driver and nonnegotiable,” VA Deputy Secretary Donald M. Remy said in a press release.
“I have incorporated the lessons learned I received during my recent meetings with our team at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, into this new way forward,” Remy added.
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https://healthitsecurity.com/news/hhs-launches-new-website-to-align-healthcare-cybersecurity
HHS Launches New Website to Align Healthcare Cybersecurity
HHS launched a website for the 405(d) Program, which is comprised of a task force focused on aligning healthcare cybersecurity approaches across the sector.
By Jill McKeon
December 06, 2021 - HHS launched a new website for its 405(d) Program with the goal of aligning healthcare cybersecurity across the industry. Under the Cybersecurity Act of 2015, HHS established the 405(d) Aligning Health Care Industry Security Approaches Program and the 405(d) Task Group, which is comprised of more than 150 industry and government experts.
The program aims to uphold the motto that “cyber safety is patient safety,” and its website contained resources, videos, products, and tools to help raise awareness and promote cybersecurity best practices, the HHS announcement stated.
“Healthcare professionals understand the importance of hand washing when it comes to mitigating the spread of diseases. Similarly, we know that cybersecurity practices reduce the risk of cyber-attacks and data breaches,” the website maintained.
“Just like washing your hands before caring for patients can reduce viruses, good cybersecurity practices can reduce cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities.”
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HHS reports 63-fold increase in telehealth use during pandemic
December 3, 2021 By Danielle Kirsh
A new study from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found a 63-fold increase in Medicare telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report analyzed Medicare fee-for-service data from 2019 and 2020 and highlighted that people in urban areas were more likely to seek and use telehealth services than rural residents. In addition, the report found that Medicare beneficiaries who were Black were less likely than white beneficiaries to use telehealth.
“This report provides valuable insights into telehealth usage during the pandemic,” Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said in a news release. “CMS will use these insights – along with input from people with Medicare and providers across the country – to inform further Medicare telehealth policies.”
Specialists like behavioral health providers saw the highest telehealth use relative to other providers. Behavioral healthcare, in fact, had a 32-fold increase in telehealth visits.
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https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/playing-fhir-dont-get-burned-white-hat-hacker-cautions
Playing with FHIR? Don't get burned, white-hat hacker cautions
At the HIMSS Healthcare Cybersecurity Forum, consultant Alissa Knight discussed the findings of her recent white paper, which explores vulnerabilities in FHIR API implementations.
By Kat Jercich
December 06, 2021 03:29 PM
This October, cybersecurity expert Alissa Knight released a white paper in partnership with API threat protection vendor Aproov exploring how healthcare's so-called last mile remains vulnerable to attacks.
The report, called "Playing With FHIR," was "the largest unveiling of vulnerabilities in the history of the healthcare industry since the first electronic healthcare system came online in the 1960s," said Knight in her keynote at the HIMSS Healthcare Cybersecurity Forum on Monday. (HIMSS is Healthcare IT News' parent company.)
And its release, she noted, made an appropriately large splash.
"While extremely controversial, [the white paper] was a much-needed red pill for the healthcare industry on the clear and present danger in what can happen when a FHIR implementation isn't properly secured," she said.
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Kaspersky survey raises concerns about patient trust in telehealth
A report released by the cybersecurity company found that fears around data privacy and security contributed to patients' refusal to participate in virtual care.
By Kat Jercich
December 06, 2021 11:56 AM
A survey released this past week by the cybersecurity company Kaspersky found that globally, the majority of providers have already implemented telehealth capabilities, with many saying their patients are more interested in virtual sessions due to their convenience.
At the same time, many respondents flagged patient trust in the modality, with more than half of frontline remote telehealth providers experiencing cases where individuals have declined a video call with medical staff out of privacy or data safety concerns.
"Healthcare professionals see a continued future with telehealth solutions, but many of them also believe that this will only be sustainable if there is a global improvement of data security for the solution," wrote the report authors.
WHY IT MATTERS
With a spotlight continuing to shine on the impacts of cybersecurity issues for healthcare providers, it's perhaps no surprise that patients would feel anxiety too.
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2022 will require augmented intelligence, IoT and wearables data, and info outside EHRs
Three experts from AI, analytics and population health IT vendor Health Catalyst share their predictions, which can help CIOs and other health leaders prepare for the year ahead.
By Bill Siwicki
December 06, 2021 12:21 PM
Healthcare C-suites will go beyond transactional predictive models and adopt augmented intelligence to support organizational, data-driven decision-making.
There will be a need for a data strategy that incorporates new Internet of Things, patient-portal and wearables data, and the governance and orchestration required to incorporate this data into patient care.
Figuring out how to identify and acquire the plethora of essential data currently outside legacy EHRs – mobile applications, smart health, wearables and other devices – will be an essential challenge.
These are three health IT predictions for 2022 from three executives at Health Catalyst, a health IT vendor specializing in AI, analytics and population health.
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https://histalk2.com/2021/12/03/weekender-12-3-21/
Weekly News Recap
- Nordic acquires S&P Consultants.
- A private equity firm will acquire CNSI.
- The VA revises its Cerner implementation timeline to restart the project in early 2022 and complete the rollout in 2024.
- A new investment values Iodine Software at $1 billion.
- HHS OCR settles with five providers who failed to give patients timely access to their medical records.
- Greenway Health promotes President Pratap Sarker to CEO.
- FDA forces Owlet to stop selling unapproved baby socks that monitor vital signs and sleep patterns.
- Best Buy discloses that its October acquisition of remote patient monitoring technology vendor Current Health cost $400 million in cash.
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Enjoy!
David.
