Weekender 2/11/22

Weekly News Recap

• AndHealth, founded by CoverMyMeds co-founder Matt Scantland, exists stealth mode and raises $57 million in funding.
• Germany-based Ada expands its Series B round to $120 million and plans aggressive expansion to the US.
• Senators form a commission to consider updating HIPAA.
• Best in KLAS named.
• NThrive will acquire Pelitas.
• Premier reports Q2 results.

Best Reader Comments

I have been interviewed by the CEO of a company once, and I walked away from it thinking “what do you actually *do* that this is how you spend your time?” To me it indicates poor leadership and an inability or unwillingness to build a team that can do the job independently. (HIT Girl)

I sometimes wonder if the unspoken role of the EMR is to remind and support the clinicians. What did they do, when did they do it, and why? As long as your capability includes interviewing the clinicians, maybe an incomplete EMR/EHR isn’t the worst thing. POC activities can continue. However the higher level goals we set, including Population Health surveys? Those typically mean that interviews of the onsite clinicians are too slow and introduce unwanted errors into the process. (Brian Too)

Watercooler Talk Tidbits

Readers funded the Donors Choose teacher grant request of Ms. M in Phoenix, who asked for headphones for her second grade class. She reports, “These headphones have made a huge difference for learning and our classroom environment. Students now have access to accommodations and differentiation when utilizing our online programs. As well, it helps keep our classroom environment quieter and peaceful when using our technology. We are so thankful for these! We use them every day! Thank you for supporting our classroom!”

A Florida doctor claims that he was duped by the owner of a sober living facility who is accused of insurance fraud in having the doctor order 30,000 urine tests as the facility’s medical director – the owner called them “liquid gold”– that netted the owner $31 million.

Doctors and advanced practice registered nurses in Tennessee argue over a pending state bill that would eliminate the existing requirement that doctors sign off on 20% of the charts of APRNs every 30 days. Nurses say the requirement means patients are paying for the time of a doctor they didn’t see and nurses are restricted from opening independent practices in rural areas, while the Tennessee Medical Association says nurses would rather live in cities just like doctors anyway. Tennessee is one of 26 states that require chart review.

The state of Oklahoma is paying an unnamed doctor$15,000 for each prisoner who is executed under the state’s death penalty. The doctor doesn’t actually administer the drugs used – they start the IV and verify that the correct drugs have been prepared. The doctor also earns $1,000 per day for attending weekly training.

Alamance Regional Hospital (NC) welcomes 25 National Guard troops who will help the hospital deal with staffing shortages.

Epic employee volunteers create handmade Valentine’s Day cards for the 300 people who are serviced by SSM Health’s Meals on Wheels program.

In Case You Missed It

• News 2/11/22
• EPtalk by Dr. Jayne 2/10/22
• HIStalk Interviews Clay Ritchey, CEO, Verato
• HIStalk Interviews Kyle Silvestro, CEO, SyTrue
• News 2/9/22
• HIStalk Interviews Russell Branzell, CEO, CHIME
• Curbside Consult with Dr. Jayne 2/7/22
• HIStalk Interviews Torbjörn Kronander, CEO, Sectra
• Monday Morning Update 2/7/22

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