August 15, 2013 Rajiv Leventhal
I wouldn't blame you if you were taken aback by the statistics seen earlier this month regarding hospital readmissions. Medical systems are supposed to be lowering readmissions in an effort to improve clinician accountability and patient safety all while cutting costs, and the statistics have told us that most have failed to do that. But taking a deeper look beyond the numbers will show you that the future is not so grim.
August 13, 2013 David Raths
To improve communication and begin providing an integrated view of all their operating room data, hospitals are turning to surgical information system vendors with new display solutions. For instance, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) in Philadelphia has installed LiveData’s OR-Dashboard in all seven of its cardiovascular operating rooms.
August 9, 2013 David Raths
Even smaller hospitals are starting to use electronic surveillance to access critical data in their EHRs and know whether or not best-practice care procedures are being delivered while patients are still in the hospital.
August 9, 2013 Gabriel Perna
One of the most exciting moments in sports is in horse racing, when a horse makes a fantastic surge towards the end providing a photo finish. In a crowded EHR vendor market, is one vendor making a turnaround that could provide similar intrigue?
August 6, 2013 Mark Hagland
The announcement from HHS on August 6 that Farzad Mostashari, M.D. was preparing to leave his position as National Coordinator for Health IT this fall was very surprising. What's important now is for the next National Coordinator to be as strategic and persuasive a leader as he has been.
August 6, 2013 David Raths
I often found myself impressed with the way Dr. Farzad Mostashari could bring the focus of conversations about e-health regulations or standards development back to the larger picture of improving care and patient engagement, and he did so in a way that seemed inspirational to those doing the heavy lifting in this field.
August 5, 2013 Mark Hagland
A sometimes-heated discussion taking place in New York City around introducing a physician pay-for-performance program into that city’s immense public hospital system speaks to the broader debate around how best to transform U.S. healthcare
July 31, 2013 Mark Hagland
Though every healthcare IT leader and industry expert I interviewed for our July/August cover story package shared with me how complex their movement towards mobility has been so far, one very positive element in that overall movement is this: a strong clarity with regard to what the future holds, at least with regard to the big picture
July 30, 2013 Gabriel Perna
Take your cell phone out of your pocket, stare at it, and put it back. It doesn’t really matter what kind of phone it is, whether it was a smartphone, a dumb phone, or a phone that has an average IQ, that little thing is going to change how patients engage with their healthcare provider. I’ve seen the proof.
July 26, 2013 Rajiv Leventhal
Precision medicine is an emerging field that someday soon could allow clinicians and patients to make more informed decisions about treatments that would ultimately improve care, save lives, and reduce healthcare costs. While there are challenges in getting there and naysayers who don’t believe in the integration of genomic data with EHRs, the recent work of healthcare organizations around the country has made me a believer.
July 25, 2013 Gwen Darling
"We're excited to have you here to interview for this chance-of-a-lifetime CIO position. And by the way, nice suit!" said Mr./Ms Person In Charge of Hiring. "Thanks, I made it myself!" said You. No you did not. And while I'm making educated guesses, I'll bet you didn't cut your own hair for your interview, did you? And chances are very, very good that you didn't decide to whip up a little something special and cobble those shiny new shoes that you're sporting on your big day, either. Are you seeing where this is going Mr./Ms. DIY Résumé Writer?
July 25, 2013 Mark Hagland
In late July, healthcare leaders brought forward concerns around the rigorous requirements of Stage 2 of meaningful use to federal officials at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT and the Department of Health and Human Services. How might federal officials respond—and what kinds of concerns must they balance?
July 24, 2013 Joe Marion
Microsoft has been getting its share of bad press lately after poor quarterly results and more details on a planned reorganization. Many are saying that Microsoft can’t sustain its dominance with Windows and Office as PC sales stall. It is interesting to speculate as to what healthcare might look like post-Microsoft, given the dominance of PC applications in healthcare. Or, will Microsoft be successful in transforming itself, and all this speculation be for naught?
July 23, 2013 Gabriel Perna
In today’s world of nonstop digital information, it’s important for providers to realize that patients are going to educate themselves on possible medical symptoms whether they like it or not. Leading provider organization are rightfully recognizing this and taking the initiative rather than letting patients rely on Dr. Google.
July 23, 2013 John DeGaspari
How prepared is your provider organization against cyber threats? A recent special report, “Cyber Security and Investigations,” released by Kroll Inc., a New York-based corporate investigation and risk assessment firm, points to often-overlooked areas of data security, and offers practical tips for bolstering security in those areas.
July 23, 2013 Mark Hagland
If recent surveys are any indication, the leaders of physician groups nationwide are making the decision to move forward on absolutely needed clinical information technology implementation, despite the challenges inherent in a shifting reimbursement landscape.
July 17, 2013 Mark Hagland
The July 16 announcement by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that nine of the 32 patient care organizations participating in the Pioneer ACO Shared Savings Program were leaving the Pioneer program, with two of them leaving the Medicare Shared Savings Program altogether, was cause for reflective pause. But is the glass half-empty or half-full in this case?
July 16, 2013 Gabriel Perna
The mystery regarding America's high healthcare prices is increasingly becoming public knowledge. It's not just the CMS releasing hospital outpatient data; it's organizations like Fair Health and a database that has information on 16 billion billed medical and dental services. Forget the snake---this is the year of transparency.
July 10, 2013 Rajiv Leventhal
Last week, a report from the Brookings Institution revealed that over the past decade, the healthcare sector has added 2.6 million jobs nationwide, making it the fastest growing industry in the U.S. And that growth isn’t expected to stop anytime soon. Is this job growth good for the industry, though?
July 9, 2013 David Raths
After creating a simulation of their Epic EHR, researchers at Oregon Health & Science University are studying the number and types of errors clinicians miss when reviewing simulated cases in the ICU. Over-sedation was the least-recognized error (16%) and only 32% of the participants recognized inappropriate antibiotic dosing. Could making simulation a regular part of training improve these numbers?
