Pandemic Pushes Californians to Embrace Telehealth
Slightly more than half (51%) of Californians went virtual for their healthcare during the pandemic, using either a telephone, smartphone or computer, a new survey finds. And those new habits will likely continue when the coronavirus pandemic wanes and the public health emergency is lifted, according to the survey from the University of Southern California.
Medical Device Cyber-Vulnerability Casts a Cloud Over Growing Use
The Global Internet of Medical Things market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 18.5% from 2021 to 2027 to reach $284.5 billion by 2027, according to UnivDatos Market Insights. A rise in connected medical devices and the emergence of new technologies is resulting in the growth of the market.
ONC Coordinator Outlines New Vistas for Telehealth, Unblocked Health Records, and Patient ID
Micky Tripathi, who holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University, took the reins of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology on the first day of the Biden administration in January.
Certification Program Helps Safeguard Patient Data
One of the biggest challenges remains disparate information systems and the electronic health records (EHR) that all speak different languages, resisting easy translation from one platform to another. The industry is continuing to address the issue of proprietary vendor software, and therefore the lack of interoperability. Privacy and security regulations such as HIPAA also prohibit the unauthorized exchange of data and mandate protection from accidental or intentional release of PHI.
In Pandemic’s Wake, Healthcare IT Faces New Realities
New realities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic are reshaping healthcare IT in ways that affect leadership, employees, and patients, according to a panel of healthcare system executives convened virtually during the recent virtual CHIME21 Spring Forum, presented by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME).
Telehealth: How Asynchronous Communication Creates Provider Efficiencies
Asynchronous communication worked. Last year, a designated group of employed urgent care physicians handled 50,000 asynchronous visits for low-acuity care, and spent an average of two minutes on each encounter—far less than the 15-18 minutes it takes to conduct a typical video call.
How Mobile Communication is Improving Patient Safety, Education, and Health Outcomes
Patient and provider collaboration is required to monitor and adjust medication and treatment plans, assess risk, and elicit the patient’s support network for visits, follow-up care, and therapy. This activity requires personal and continual communication that can be improved via technical innovations.
Improving Interoperability
Often the blame for technological disruptions goes to a lack of interoperability—the ability of information technology systems and software applications to communicate, exchange data, and put this exchanged information to use. Ideally, data exchange standards would allow data to be shared across clinicians, labs, and facilities, regardless of the application or software vendor.
Adopting Gold-Standard Procedures During COVID-19
Out of necessity, the medical community has made do with remote learning during COVID-19, whether that’s through Zoom®, Webex®, or other online platforms.
Remote Patient Monitoring Brings Hospital-Quality Care to the Home
While Hospital at Home may sound like a direct reaction to the pandemic, the concept was originally developed in the mid-1990s by Dr. John Burton of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Dr. Donna Regenstreif of the John A. Hartford Foundation. Their goal, which was established roughly a decade before the introduction of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Triple Aim, was to safely bring down the cost of acute care while improving outcomes and increasing patient satisfaction.