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Morning Headlines 6/20/16

June 19, 2016 Headlines Comments Off on Morning Headlines 6/20/16

Up to 20 Percent of U.S. Trauma Deaths Could Be Prevented With Better Care

A report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on trauma-based mortality rates in the US finds that quality of care for trauma patients varies greatly depending on when and where a patient is injured, resulting in 30,000 preventable deaths per year. The report calls for a national trauma care network to establish best practices and integrate civilian and military trauma care practices.

Online Trust Audit Briefing

An independent investigation recognizes Healthcare.gov as the second-most secure consumer website, while Twitter took top honors.

Doctors’ Hand Hygiene Plummets Unless They Know They’re Being Watched, Study Finds

A new study from Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (CA) finds that hand washing compliance rates improve dramatically when health professionals know they are being watched.

LeadingAge CAST Releases New Electronic Health Record Adoption Model

LeadingAge introduces an EHR adoption model for long-term and post-acute care organizations.

Morning Headlines 6/16/16

June 15, 2016 Headlines Comments Off on Morning Headlines 6/16/16

Cerner chips away at building $4.5B campus

A local Kansas City newspaper reports on the progress Cerner has made on its 10-year, $4.5 billion Trails Campus construction.

Florida Blues collected $471 million profit on ACA plans in 2015

Florida Blue Cross and Blue Shield reports $471 million in profits from its insurance exchange business, unlike the massive losses reported by other major insurers like Highmark, Humana, and UnitedHealth Group.

Consumerism in focus at AHIP 2016 this week, organizers say

Former CMS Administrator and current AHIP President and CEO Marilyn Tavenner presents the keynote speech at this year’s AHIP annual conference, calling for an increase in technology as healthcare reimbursement moves away from fee-for-service payment models.

New Methodology To Examine Spending Patterns For End-Of-Life Care

According to a Health Affairs study analyzing end-of-life spending data for Medicare patients finds that costs run five times higher for patients with multiple chronic diseases during the last year of life.

Morning Headlines 6/15/16

June 14, 2016 Headlines 1 Comment

Why I Disagree with the Snake Oil Analogy

BIDMC CIO John Halamka, MD takes issue with the “snake oil” analogy AMA CEO James Madara, MD used to describe EHRs during a speech at the AMA Annual Meeting. Halamka acknowledges that current EHRs do not share data, engage patients, or enable population health effectively, but says “There is no snake oil.   We created the digital foundation that is a prerequisite for the next generation of tools.”

Sonoma West Medical Center chief nursing officer sues hospital, Dan Smith, after dismissal

The former CNO at Sonoma West Medical Center (CA) files a wrongful termination suit after being fired for voicing concerns that the home-grown EHR designed and implemented by a hospital board members’ startup company was unsafe.

Teladoc Secures Major Victory in Patent Dispute with American Well

A Massachusetts federal court judge dismisses a patent infringement suit filed by American Well against telehealth competitor Teladoc, concluding that American Well’s patent is invalid because major elements are “too abstract” to be patentable.

Patient wishes are tough to see in electronic health records

A Minneapolis newspaper discusses the difficulty providers have finding advance directives within EHRs, citing a recent study that found “less than one-third of ER doctors feel very confident they could locate information in the electronic record.”

Morning Headlines 6/14/16

June 13, 2016 Headlines Comments Off on Morning Headlines 6/14/16

Digital Dystopia

American Medical Association CEO James Madara, MD speaks at the AMA Annual Meeting about the state of technology in healthcare, saying, w“e’re seeing digital tools in medicine that, unlike digital tools in other industries, make the provision of care less, not more, efficient.”

Walgreens formally cuts ties with Theranos

Walgreens ends its relationship with Theranos, effective immediately, citing bad test results and ongoing federal investigations.

ONC Publishes New Reports on Health IT Safety

ONC publishes two health IT safety reports: Report of the Evidence on Health IT Safety and Interventions, and Goals and Priorities for Health Care Organizations to Improve Safety Using Health IT. The reports were drafted eternally with ONC support as part of ONC’s Health IT Safety and Surveillance Plan.

Americans’ Experiences with ACA Marketplace and Medicaid Coverage: Access to Care and Satisfaction

The Commonwealth Fund publishes survey results measuring the impact marketplace insurance coverage has had on consumers. The survey found that over 80 percent of consumers were satisfied or very satisfied with the insurance they purchased, while just over 70 percent report that coverage options are good, very good, or excellent.

Morning Headlines 6/13/16

June 12, 2016 Headlines Comments Off on Morning Headlines 6/13/16

Privacy Concerns Halt UCSD’s Posting Of Patients’ Physician Critiques

UC San Diego Medical Center suspends its plan to publish physician ratings on its website after realizing that it solicited reviews from patients without informing them that the responses would be used in a public forum.

SA Health is offering $90,000 for a spin doctor to sell its EPAS electronic patient record project

South Australia is looking for a spokesperson to reassure the public that its over budget, behind schedule 80-hospital Allscripts EHR implementation is still a worthwhile investment.

70% of Consumers Still Don’t Price Shop for Healthcare Services: HealthMine Wellness Survey

A survey of 750 consumers enrolled in wellness programs finds that 70 percent do not compare prices before seeking medical services or pharmaceutical drugs, while only 29 percent of health plans offer online tools that would help consumers price shop.

Man lives for over a year without a heart in his body

CNET profiles the SynCardia Freedom Portable Driver, a 13 pound machine that fits in a backpack and uses compressed air to keep blood pumping through the body. A Michigan man has been using one for more than a year while waiting on the transplant list for a new heart.

Morning Headlines 6/10/16

June 9, 2016 Headlines 12 Comments

Electronic Health Records Company Settles FTC Charges It Deceived Consumers About Privacy of Doctor Reviews

Practice Fusion settles FTC charges that it misled consumers by soliciting reviews for their doctors without disclosing that the information would be publicly posted on the Internet, leading to patients unknowingly publishing their own sensitive patient information.

The Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016

The House passes the Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act, exempting ambulatory surgical centers from MU and MIPS penalties.

Southcoast Health’s implementation of new electronic health record boosts South Coast region’s economy with an estimated $3 million in local spending

Southcoast Health (MA) says that its $100 million Epic implementation resulted in $3 million going back to the local economy in the form of hotel room, auto rental, gas, and dining costs for the Epic staff and consultants that helped manage the implementation.

Shkreli taunts feds, pleads not guilty to new charge

Martin Shkreli pleads not guilty to an updated indictment that added a new conspiracy charge to the list of criminal allegations against him.

Morning Headlines 6/9/16

June 8, 2016 Headlines 1 Comment

Connecture buys exchange competitor ConnectedHealth

Connecture, a technology company that builds online health insurance marketplaces, acquires ConnectedHealth, a benefits technology platform that helps employers chose health plans. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Will genetic tests help prevent chronic diseases?

Cerner launches a one-year pilot study that will help determine whether patient’s genetic data can play a motivating role in promoting behavior change.

Three more Phoenix VA officials fired in aftermath of wait-time, retaliation probes

The VA has formally fired three more administrators within the Phoenix VA Health Care System. Lance Robinson, assistant director at the Carl Hayden VA Medical Center; Brad Curry, the chief of Health Administration Service; and Dr. Darren Deering the hospital’s chief of staff were all terminated for “negligent performance of duties and failure to provide effective oversight."

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs Are Associated With Sustained Reductions In Opioid Prescribing By Physicians

A Health Affairs study correlates the use of prescription drug monitoring programs with a 30 percent reduction in the rate of prescribing Schedule II opioids, a change that continued in the second and third years following the launch of the program.

Morning Headlines 6/8/16

June 7, 2016 Headlines Comments Off on Morning Headlines 6/8/16

Cerner’s Burke: Patterson is ‘fully engaged’

Cerner President Zane Burke reports that CEO Neal Patterson remains fully engaged in day-to-day operations as he undergoes cancer treatments.

Theranos Says Only One Percent of Results Affected; Some Doubt Tests

Theranos says that less than one percent of its blood test results have been voided or corrected, a clarification on earlier reports that it would need to cancel or amend tens of thousands of results.

‘Silicon Valley arrogance’? Google misfires as it strives to turn Star Trek fiction into reality

Verily, Google’s life science business unit, comes under fire as a number of its high profile projects flounder, including a cancer-detecting wristband and glucose-sensing contact lenses.

Back to Meditech: Delta Regional Hospital to Deliver Quality Care at a Lower Cost with Meditech 6.1

325-bed Delta Regional Hospital (MS) will implement Meditech, replacing Cerner.

Morning Headlines 6/7/16

June 6, 2016 Headlines Comments Off on Morning Headlines 6/7/16

Dr Farzad Mostashari Explains the New ACO Benchmarking Rule

Former national coordinator Farzad Mostashari, MD comments on newly published ACO benchmarking rule.

Biden unveils launch of major, open-access database to advance cancer research

Vice President Biden announces formation of the Genomic Data Commons, an open-access cancer database that will help researchers collaborate and share information, as part of the administration’s Cancer Moonshot.

Forbes’ 2016 List Of America’s Richest Self-Made Women

Judy Faulkner comes in third on Forbes’ list of America’s richest self-made women, with a net worth of $2.4 billion.

Geisinger researchers profile overdose patients and predictors of death

Researchers at Geisinger Health System analyze EHR data of 2,000 patients admitted to the hospital for drug overdoses to create a risk algorithm capable of predicting which patients are most likely to die and experience other serious complications from their drug abuse.

Morning Headlines 6/6/16

June 5, 2016 Headlines Comments Off on Morning Headlines 6/6/16

McKesson Considers Separation of Information-Technology Unit

McKesson may sell its health IT business unit to focus efforts on its core drug distribution business. The business unit is valued at an estimated $5 billion. 

Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes Did Not Just Lose $4.5 Billion

Fortune’s Dan Primack argues that Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes never should have been listed as a billionaire by Forbes because her worth was based entirely on her ownership stake in a company whose value was set by “a small group of outside investors.”

Pioneering Data-Sharing Network Created to Accelerate Cancer Precision Medicine Development

Intermountain Healthcare, Stanford Cancer Institute, and Providence Health & Services launch a data-sharing network that will transmit genomic data from cancer research to help oncologists develop more effective treatment plans.

Potential Patient Information Breach at ProMedica Bixby and Herrick Hospitals

ProMedica Bixby and Herrick hospitals (MI) informs 3,500 patients that their records were breached after an internal investigation found that seven employees were accessing patient records without justification.

Morning Headlines 6/3/16

June 2, 2016 Headlines Comments Off on Morning Headlines 6/3/16

From $4.5 Billion To Nothing: Forbes Revises Estimated Net Worth Of Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes

Forbes lowers its estimate of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes’ net worth to zero, down from $4.5 billion.

Redskins: Laptop containing player data was stolen

The Washington Redskins have confirmed that the medical records of thousands of NFL players have been compromised after a laptop belonging to one of the teams athletic trainers was stolen in April.

A Foundation for Discovering Clinical Health IT Applications

ONC awards Boston Children’s Hospital a total of $275,000 in grants to lead the development of an online app store for FHIR apps.

Equation Acquired by MedAssets-Precyse

Equation, a financial and clinical healthcare analytics vendor, is acquired by MedAssets-Precyse for an undisclosed sum.

Morning Headlines 6/1/16

May 31, 2016 Headlines Comments Off on Morning Headlines 6/1/16

Adoption of Electronic Health Record Systems among US Non-Federal Acute Care Hospitals: 2008-2015

ONC reports that 84 percent of US hospitals had adopted a basic EHR by 2015, up from just 9.4 percent in 2008, though pediatric and psychiatric specialty hospitals still trail with 55 percent and 15 percent adoption, respectively.

Pontiac General Hospital Selects OpenVista Healthcare IT Platform

Pontiac General Hospital (MI) will implement Medsphere’s OpenVista EHR, a commercialized version of the VA’s open source Vista EHR.

Local health departments brace for funding loss amid Zika standoff

In July, the CDC will cut $45 million in emergency public health funding from health districts in all 50 states after Congress fails to pass a bill to fund Zika-related work .

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center completes recruitment for pediatric migraine study using Curelator Headache

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (OH) will use an app designed by digital health startup Curelator to research migraine triggers in adolescents.

Morning Headlines 5/31/16

May 30, 2016 Headlines Comments Off on Morning Headlines 5/31/16

Jawbone has stopped producing its fitness trackers and sold the remaining inventory to a third party

Jawbone stops manufacturing its line of UP fitness trackers but makes no announcement suggesting that it will exit the market entirely.

Doctors Test Tools to Predict Your Odds of a Disease

The Wall Street Journal profiles Norwell Health’s (NY) use of a clinical decision support tool that scrubs EHR data and predicts which condition the patient being treated most likely has before lab or imaging tests are ordered.

A New Way to Report College Sexual Assault

The New York Times profiles Callisto, a startup that hopes to improve sexual assault reporting on college campuses with a website that lets college students file sexual assault reports online.

Intel backs AI-powered analytics startup Lumiata in $10M funding round

AI startup Lumiata raises a $10 million Series B fund from Intel Capital. The company is building algorithms to quantify and manage risk within population health programs.

Morning Headlines 5/30/16

May 29, 2016 Headlines Comments Off on Morning Headlines 5/30/16

US IPO Week Ahead: Billionaire doctor back with another IPO

Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD, will bring NantHealth public this week in a $91 million offering.

Court Rules Companies Cannot Impose Illegal Arbitration Clauses

A federal appeals court ruled against Epic on Thursday, deciding that companies cannot force their employees to sign arbitration agreements that prevent them from filing lawsuits against their employer.

Nanaimo doctors say electronic health record system unsafe, should be shut down

In Canada, providers at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital are unhappy with the recent $174 million Cerner go live, returning to paper charts in both the ICU and ER “out of concern for patient safety.”

Stung by Yelp Reviews, Health Providers Spill Patient Secrets

ProPublica reports that doctors, dentists, and other clinicians are responding to negative Yelp reviews left by unhappy patients inappropriately, sometimes posting confidential patient information within their responses.

Morning Headlines 5/27/16

May 26, 2016 Headlines Comments Off on Morning Headlines 5/27/16

Epic Systems Takes Out Troll Patent on Abstract Idea

Epic wins a patent infringement lawsuit filed by patent troll Preservation Wellness Technologies. Epic argued, and a judge agreed, that the patent in question vaguely described “unpatentable subject matter” related to managing and sharing medical records.

CMS’s Andrew Slavitt talks with MMS about MACRA

In an interview with Massachusetts Medical Society, CMS Acting Administrator Andrew Slavitt discusses MACRA and interoperability, saying, “If you are a customer of a piece of technology that doesn’t do what you want, it’s time to raise your voice. We’re doing everything we can to make sure that the technology vendors stop focusing on meeting the regulations, so they can start focusing on their customers and their users.”

Upgrading the Certified Health IT Product List: Understanding Corrective Action Information

ONC updates its Certified Health IT Product List to include information on vendors that have at any point fallen out of compliance with certification requirements.

The Fraudulent Claims Made By IBM About Watson and AI

Cognitive science expert Roger Schank, PhD calls out IBM for marketing Watson as a cognitive computer, calling the company and its advertisements fraudulent.

Morning Headlines 5/26/16

May 25, 2016 Headlines Comments Off on Morning Headlines 5/26/16

Congressional panel asks DOJ to investigate creation of Cover Oregon

The US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has asked the Justice Department and the Oregon State Attorney’s office to launch criminal investigations into the mishandled launch of Oregon’s health insurance exchange, Cover Oregon.

Evaluating the impact of a computerized surveillance algorithm and decision support system on sepsis mortality

Huntsville Hospital (AL) reduces sepsis-related mortality by 53 percent after implementing an early warning sepsis surveillance system.

To Cut Wait Times, VA Tries MinuteClinics In Northern California

In an effort to reduce appointment wait times for veterans, the VA partners with CVS to offer urgent care services to veterans in San Francisco. The VA will integrate patient records with CVS MinuteClinic and all care provided will be free for veterans.

Flatiron Health and the FDA Embark on Cancer Research Collaboration

Oncology software vendor Flatiron Health will collaborate with the FDA to research the use of immunotherapies in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Morning Headlines 5/25/16

May 24, 2016 Headlines Comments Off on Morning Headlines 5/25/16

Soon-Shiong: Why I’m investing $70.5M in Tribune

Healthcare billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong invests $70.5 million in Tribune Publishing, parent company of the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, making him the second-largest shareholder, holding 12.9 percent.

New Clarification – $6.50 Flat Rate Option is Not a Cap on Fees for Copies of PHI

HHS clarifies that providers may charge a flat fee of $6.50 for patient record requests, or continue calculating a request fee based on allowable labor costs for either a specific request or for an average request.

Apple CEO Tim Cook reveals the Apple Watch’s ‘holy grail’

Tim Cook reports that Apple is “really focused” on health and that Apple Watch is the company’s plan for entering the market.

Founder and Former Practice Fusion CEO Unveils New Company – iBeat

Former fired Practice Fusion founder and CEO Ryan Howard launches a new company, iBeat, which will develop a wearable heart monitor.

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