Features

Features

Federal health care regulations and compliance

• Pandemic helps to change telehealth policy -- slowly

  Telehealth policy is changing, thanks to COVID-19, but providers worry some changes won't last.  Continue Reading

• Ground telehealth applications in security -- now

  A recent software error at telehealth services provider Babylon Health is a stark reminder for healthcare CIOs to keep telehealth security and privacy top of mind.  Continue Reading

• COVID-19 could be a watershed moment for telehealth policy

  Stakeholders are calling on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to make telehealth policy changes permanent.  Continue Reading

• Commercial video conferencing tools are risky for healthcare

  Healthcare providers are allowed to use some commercial video conferencing tools during the pandemic, but analysts say they should choose their tools carefully.  Continue Reading

• Interoperability rules won't succeed without the CIO

  COVID-19 is the crisis at hand, but healthcare CIOs also have to work on complying with new interoperability rules finalized last month.  Continue Reading

• Invest in digital health tools strategically -- especially now

  Healthcare CIOs should invest in and deploy new digital health tools cautiously and strategically, despite the FDA's decision to relax regulations during the coronavirus pandemic.  Continue Reading

• In a pandemic, demand for telehealth services soars

  Telehealth services are in high demand due to the coronavirus pandemic, but can providers keep pace?  Continue Reading

• Stakeholders sound off on ONC, CMS interoperability rules

  New healthcare regulations from ONC and CMS strive to make it easier to share health data. Industry players have something to say about that.  Continue Reading

• Patient privacy not the only reason Epic pulls away from Google

  The latest development in the Google-Epic relationship may have less to do with customer interest and more to do with growing competition and reputation.  Continue Reading

• ONC's federal health IT strategic plan shows growth -- to a degree

  ONC's five-year strategic health IT draft plan lays out comprehensive goals, but, in some instances, how to achieve those goals is still murky.  Continue Reading

• Healthcare 2020 trends emphasize virtual, holistic patient care

  Forrester Research and Frost & Sullivan say telehealth and social determinants of health data analytics platforms will gain ground in 2020.  Continue Reading

• Value-based care models hung up on lack of resources

  The adoption of value-based care models in healthcare is hindered by a lack of resources, according to more than 1,000 respondents of a Definitive Healthcare value-based care trends survey.  Continue Reading

• CIOs express hope, concern for proposed interoperability rule

  Proposed interoperability rules from ONC and CMS are on track to be finalized in November. Here, healthcare CIOs share their thoughts on how proposals will turn into practice.  Continue Reading

• EASE app increases patient-provider communication

  EASE, a mobile healthcare app, can be used to send updates on patients from the OR to their families. Mobile apps like this create more transparency, but also present a challenge for CIOs.  Continue Reading

• Cybersecurity recommendations for healthcare that won't break the bank

  The key to implementing healthcare cybersecurity best practices is to start small, according to Erik Decker, chief security and privacy officer for University of Chicago Medicine.  Continue Reading

• Data sharing in healthcare is a double-edged sword for patients

  Former healthcare CIO John Halamka gets candid about the proposed rules on interoperability and information blocking and explains why innovation may come at a cost.  Continue Reading

• Health experts on proposed information blocking, interoperability rules

  ONC and CMS will begin considering feedback on the interoperability and information blocking rules the federal agencies proposed in February.  Continue Reading

• Insurers join forces to control value-based healthcare delivery

  Commercial insurers are key drivers in the transition to value-based care in health systems through joint ventures, analytics and greater control over delivery of patient care.  Continue Reading

• Proposed interoperability in healthcare rules called 'essential first step'

  Proposed rules are a good first step toward interoperability in healthcare, but don't go far enough, according to healthcare leaders.  Continue Reading

• Heterogeneous data sharing in healthcare vital to personalized care

  In this Q&A, Life Image CTO Janak Joshi talks about heterogeneous data sets and their importance to healthcare AI companies, and makes a pitch for imaging data to ONC.  Continue Reading

• Seeing through the hype: Where AI in healthcare shines

  While AI in healthcare shines in clinical areas like radiology, it is currently more widely adopted in nonclinical areas, such as medication development by pharmaceutical companies.  Continue Reading

• Health IT security should consider these leading vendors

  Explore these leading products in the cybersecurity market to best protect healthcare systems and patient data from falling victim to cyberattacks.  Continue Reading

• The 8 key ways to assess healthcare data security tools

  Find the most effective cybersecurity tools to protect healthcare systems and data by looking at these eight key features and what major vendors offer for these features.  Continue Reading

• Cybersecurity for healthcare more critical than ever before

  Cyberattacks can be devastating for healthcare organizations. Traditional security tools alone no longer cut it, so health companies must turn to newer tools for protection.  Continue Reading

• Healthcare cybersecurity combats growing slew of threats

  Cybercriminals target healthcare groups to steal and hold sensitive information hostage. Learn how to spot the most insidious and common methods of attack.  Continue Reading

• Future of connected healthcare includes chatbots, Medicare changes

  Remote patient monitoring and chatbots will be mainstream in healthcare -- eventually. Partners HealthCare's Joseph Kvedar, M.D., offers his view on why it takes so long.  Continue Reading

• Machine learning in healthcare: Software detects drug theft

  Using machine learning, Invistics software provides a real-time look at drug theft incidents, according to one health system's drug diversion specialist.  Continue Reading

• Anthem data breach settlement points to larger data access

  An expert says the biggest lesson to take away from Anthem healthcare's $16 million HIPAA settlement is the need to control who has access to internal systems and patient data.  Continue Reading

• Learn about the leading EHR software products and their features

  Read in-depth about leading EHR tools on the market and how their capabilities, pricing and implementation offerings and mobile features can match up with organization needs.  Continue Reading

• Payer-provider partnerships spurred by data, value-based care

  Once they were two groups with conflicting interests, but now the convergence of healthcare payers and providers is more common as the industry struggles to control costs.  Continue Reading

• FDA strengthens medical device cybersecurity program

  The FDA recently took additional steps to encourage better medical device cybersecurity, including releasing a cybersecurity playbook for healthcare organizations.  Continue Reading

• Considering a cloud-based EHR system? Here's what to know

  Implementing an EHR platform in the cloud can offer healthcare organizations lower costs and more accessibility, but they must be aware of connectivity and infrastructure drawbacks.  Continue Reading

• The importance of EHR tools in today's healthcare industry

  A strong EHR system can effectively acquire and centralize vital patient information like lab orders, medications, medical history and referrals, if buyers know what they need.  Continue Reading

• Opioid crisis solutions include analytics, EHR integration

  Health IT stands ready to help battle opioid deaths through greater use of data analytics and improved integration of EHRs and prescription drug databases.  Continue Reading

• Why the healthcare BAA makes the cloud journey much tougher

  Applying public cloud to healthcare can create a brave new world for hospitals. The CTO of Providence Health & Services strongly advises reading the healthcare BAA very carefully.  Continue Reading

• To get secure cloud storage in healthcare, gauge risks first

  Conducting a risk assessment before moving to the cloud and establishing security controls when you get there are key steps toward achieving cloud security, experts say.  Continue Reading

• How digital rounding tools are changing hospital practices

  When nurses use a digital rounding tool, patients are happier and compliance rates are higher. Here's what KLAS Research found in a survey of 65 hospitals.  Continue Reading

• Improving population health goal of data analytics research

  Data analytics may be just what the doctor ordered for a Nevada hospital. Findings from a study of genetic, medical, environmental and demographic data could improve population health.  Continue Reading

• Don't overlook HIPAA issues when developing AI healthcare tools

  So you have an idea for using AI in healthcare software? Be sure you adhere to HIPAA rules, suggests a healthcare regulatory expert, to avoid noncompliance problems.  Continue Reading

• HIPAA compliance not guaranteed with ePHI security

  Medical facilities sometimes believe security is equivalent to compliance with HIPAA -- but not so fast. Organizations must consider other aspects when guarding patient data.  Continue Reading

• Healthcare goals ONC official says CIOs should focus on

  ONC deputy coordinator highlights healthcare goals -- including improving cybersecurity and lowering barriers to interoperability -- that should be top of mind for CIOs in 2018.  Continue Reading

• How a healthcare data scientist can aid in value-based care

  As hospitals begin to make the transition to value-based care, data scientists can help analyze patient trends that will lead to improved outcomes and better quality of care.  Continue Reading

• Value-based models of care depend on advanced technologies

  As healthcare shifts from fee-for-service to value-based care, health systems and physician groups are using advanced technology to achieve better care at lower cost.  Continue Reading

• Cloud for healthcare spawns benefits and challenges

  Cloud systems for health IT applications are proliferating quickly in an industry resistant to cloud. In this Q&A, an expert says the cloud for healthcare is too compelling to ignore.  Continue Reading

• Analyst: The changing role of the CIO in healthcare

  The changing role of healthcare CIOs is due to many factors: emerging technologies, regulations, reimbursement and more. An analyst suggests how CIOs can stay current.  Continue Reading

• Value-based payment given higher priority than cybersecurity

  Health IT experts discuss why healthcare organizations may be more focused on reimbursement than on cybersecurity.  Continue Reading

• Patient matching software works for Connecticut state agency

  A Connecticut state social services agency uses master patient index software to enable accurate patient matching for clients seeking behavioral and physical healthcare services.  Continue Reading

• To solve lack of interoperability, health IT tries third-party apps, HIEs

  Many healthcare professionals are turning to third-party applications, the use of APIs and HIEs to overcome the lack of interoperability still present in healthcare.  Continue Reading

• New cybersecurity technologies can help providers prevent attacks

  While providers have made progress on cybersecurity, malware and insider threats are still rampant; newer technologies like access control and behavioral analytics are effective.  Continue Reading

• Patient engagement in healthcare a key to value-based reimbursement

  With the advent of value-based care, patient engagement is becoming increasingly important to keep patients as long-term customers and get them involved in their own treatment.  Continue Reading

• Wearable health device helps former ONC coordinator rack up steps

  Former ONC national coordinator Dr. Farzad Mostashari piles up thousands of daily steps with his Fitbit band, but he remains skeptical about the efficacy of wearable health technology.  Continue Reading

• Learn how to detect cyberattacks and prevent them

  Cyberattacks have become an all-too-common occurrence. Health IT experts offer advice on how to detect, prevent and recover from cyberattacks using the most effective technologies.  Continue Reading

• HIE executive director: Why HIEs probably aren't data blocking

  Some experts have discussed how data blocking is occurring with HIEs. But an HIE executive director argues that other barriers are in the way and contractually HIEs can't data block.  Continue Reading

• PatientPing helps with coordinating care among healthcare providers

  In this Innovation Spotlight, SearchHealthIT features PatientPing, a startup in Boston that provides technology to improve coordinating care.  Continue Reading

• Risk adjustment coding tech leads to $62 million in additional revenue

  With the help of risk adjustment coding tech, which utilizes natural language processing and big data, UPMC Health Plan was able to capture $62.2 million in additional revenue.  Continue Reading

• MACRA reporting and value-based care will be hard on small practices

  A McKesson Corporation analytics expert talks about the challenges facing small physician practices during the transition to MACRA and value-based healthcare.  Continue Reading

• Amazing Charts EHR keeps pace with bigger vendors' systems

  In the ambulatory EHR world, stalwart vendor Amazing Charts has survived selling usability, pricing transparency and cloud technology even as the number of small practices shrinks.  Continue Reading

• APIs in healthcare are now a certified health IT system requirement

  Government regulators are now requiring vendors of federally certified health IT to make APIs part of their electronic health record systems; some healthcare CIO groups object.  Continue Reading

• Smartwatch wearable helps OCR HIPAA audit director stay fit

  Deven McGraw, director of OCR's HIPAA audit program, wears her smartwatch during free-time workouts and while getting steps on the job and says the device helps her keep fit.  Continue Reading

• Physician progress to value-based care reviewed by expert

  The shift from volume- to value-based reimbursement in healthcare promises to put more emphasis on positive medical outcomes, population health expert says.  Continue Reading

• To prep for OCR HIPAA audits, try tech risk assessment

  Weighing technology risks can help healthcare organizations stay ahead of 2016 HIPAA audits by the Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights.  Continue Reading

• Security app helps hospital pass CMS risk assessment, HIPAA audit

  When faced with a CMS risk assessment and HIPAA audit, Beaufort Memorial Hospital turned to Iatric Systems' Security Audit Manager to help it pass.  Continue Reading

• Infographic: Healthcare purchasing strategy focuses on security tech

  TechTarget's health IT spending intentions survey shows security is a top healthcare purchasing strategy. This infographic details top investment areas.  Continue Reading

• Experts weigh in on HHS' healthcare app development guidance

  Who falls under the umbrella of HIPAA? The easy answer is healthcare providers. The not-so-easy answer? App developers.  Continue Reading

• How to keep cloud services compliant with HIPAA standards

  As more healthcare providers send aspects of their business into the cloud, they must be aware that such a move doesn't free them from their HIPAA compliance duties.  Continue Reading

• Consumers, providers adopt online doctor appointment scheduling

  Using DocASAP, an online doctor appointment scheduling system, healthcare consumers and providers can easily book slots with family care practitioners and specialists.  Continue Reading

• Before tackling secure texting in healthcare, change culture

  Experts say that while lip service for secure communications technology is great, the first step is convincing leaders and clinicians to recognize the risks to health data.  Continue Reading

• One doc's journey to Health 3.0, the healthcare of the future

  With all the innovations in healthcare technology, health IT is still far from where it should be, says Zubin "ZDogg" Damania, the creative founder of Turntable Health.  Continue Reading

• Iora Health's collaborative care model puts practices in new light

  This Innovation Spotlight looks at how Turntable Health uses Iora Health's collaborative care model to improve primary care. One interesting aspect: Health coaches guide patient visits.  Continue Reading

• The next step for healthcare big data: pediatrics

  The pediatrics specialty faces many unique challenges when it comes to caring for patients. A panel of experts believes big data can help, including with rare diseases.  Continue Reading

• What executives must know about data breaches in healthcare

  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights' investigations into healthcare data breaches produced information that can help stop future leaks.  Continue Reading

• Hone benefits of EHR investments for post-meaningful use era

  With the release of stage 3 rules, healthcare is heading into the post-meaningful use era. In response, hospitals are preparing to further optimize EHR investments.  Continue Reading

• Home care IT needs upgrade, says health policy expert Micky Tripathi

  Micky Tripathi, CEO at the Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative (MAeHC), said adequate home care IT is not widely adopted in the Bay State. A new survey aims to identify the gaps.  Continue Reading

• Protect PHI security, health data privacy; prep for audits

  Experts said that insider threats to health data privacy and PHI security are common, and providers should prep for HIPAA audits by OCR and other federal agencies.  Continue Reading

• HealthPartners uses document generation tool to streamline health insurance notification

  Faced with sending out 1,200 paper-based health insurance notifications each month, HealthPartners needed a document generation tool to streamline the process.  Continue Reading

• Survey: Clinical analytics jumps in importance

  Clinical analytics is making inroads in revenue cycle management, but its use is still driven mainly by population health and government compliance.  Continue Reading

• With population health models, data curbs the risk

  As population health models force healthcare organizations to take on more financial risk, the industry will lean on data analysis to mitigate the perils.  Continue Reading

• ICD-9 to ICD-10 move may cause retirements, practices to close

  Many physicians feel that the implementation of the ICD-10 code list will not only cause practices to go out of business, but push physicians to retire.  Continue Reading

• For many small practices, ICD-10 readiness is out of reach

  Many small physician practices aren't ready for ICD-10 yet, and, in some cases, it's because their vendors don't have ICD-10-ready services.  Continue Reading

• Larger providers ready for ICD-10 implementation date

  As the Oct. 1 ICD-10 implementation date nears, larger provider organizations appear to be ready, with testing, training and double coding complete.  Continue Reading

• ICD-10 conversion could disturb revenue cycles

  Revenue cycle management professionals seem to have reluctantly accepted that the ICD-10 conversion won't be a smooth process.  Continue Reading

• The ICD-10 release date: Here are important facts to know

  The ICD-10 implementation date is fast approaching, and providers should know what to expect. Here are some important facts from CMS' ICD-10 resources.  Continue Reading

• Coming soon to a hospital near you: ICD-10 deadline nears

  This issue of SearchHealthIT's Pulse e-zine looks at the upcoming ICD-10 deadline, with a focus on the final prep work before the Oct. 1 transition.  Continue Reading

• Sample high-value claims before ICD-10 implementation date

  With the heat on physician practices to prepare for the impending ICD-10 implementation date, two analysts discuss how best to avoid negative outcomes.  Continue Reading

• Implementation of ICD-10 requires precision and accuracy

  An EHR vendor product manager continues her discussion on why providers need to be serious about testing and budgeting when implementing ICD-10.  Continue Reading

• Late-stage best practices for implementing ICD-10

  In a two-part Q&A PointClickCare ICD-10 expert, Genice Hornberger, explains what providers should do in the last phases of implementing ICD-10.  Continue Reading

• Wearable health technology and HIPAA: What is and isn't covered

  Healthcare data many think is protected by HIPAA may not be. With wearable health technology, some experts are concerned by what's not covered.  Continue Reading

• EHR market as viewed through meaningful use attestation stats

  Updated meaningful use attestation stats from large CMS database show top vendors have solidified market dominance in inpatient and outpatient spheres.  Continue Reading

• Big data in healthcare: What's holding everyone back

  Big data and data analytics open doors to precision medicine, population health and value-based care. But health IT professionals still face major barriers.  Continue Reading

• Industry shifts focus to health IT interoperability

  Health information exchange has yet to meet the expectations of some healthcare professionals and regulators. The ONC has a plan to fix that.  Continue Reading

• New tech tops health IT purchasing plans

  Health IT pros plan key investments this year in security, cloud and mobile technology, a TechTarget purchasing plans survey shows.  Continue Reading

• Healthcare spending infographic: Security tops priorities

  New infographic details the top healthcare spending trends from TechTarget's health IT purchasing survey, with security investments a likely priority.  Continue Reading

• Meaningful use a mixed bag for development of EHR systems

  Most agree that meaningful use has driven the development of EHRs, but vendors complain that this focus has distracted them from improving ease of use.  Continue Reading

• In struggles, meaningful use attestation shapes EHR

  Paper-based medical record systems aren't gone yet, but they're waning as providers install EHR software and complete meaningful use attestation.  Continue Reading

• Stage 2 woes may temper the effect of stage 3 meaningful use

  Although no curtain call is planned for meaningful use attestation, it sure looks like stage 3 reporting won't carry the oomph -- or rigidness -- of stage 2.  Continue Reading

• Poor execution of IT in healthcare endangers physician independence

  Two independent physicians in North Carolina experienced IT failures so severe that they reconsidered their solo status.  Continue Reading

• HL7 International CEO on developing health IT standards

  The CEO of HL7 discusses the lack of a national patient identifier and the organization's global approach to standards development.  Continue Reading

• HL7 chief Charles Jaffe talks FHIR

  In this Q&A, HL7 International CEO Charles Jaffe, M.D., says FHIR is moving quickly toward being a top interoperability standard.  Continue Reading

• ONC Annual Meeting turns from meaningful use to larger goals

  The ONC Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., will feature interoperability, population health, value-based care and other issues beyond meaningful use.  Continue Reading

• As HIPAA audits loom, most docs remain unprepared

  The HHS Office for Civil Rights will unleash HIPAA audits on some 550 healthcare groups and business associates. Experts give tips on how to survive.  Continue Reading