Morning Headlines 4/16/20

GE Healthcare and Microsoft are bringing a COVID-19 patient monitoring tool to health systems

GE Healthcare and Microsoft retool software originally intended to debut at HIMSS into monitoring software for COVID-19 patients in ICUs.

Meadville hospital’s computer system not yet fully restored after malware attack

Meadville Medical Center (PA) expects to have all of its IT systems back up and running three weeks after a ransomware attack took everything offline.

Alphabet’s health company defends decision to require a Google account to use its coronavirus screening site

Following in Apple’s footsteps, Verily assures senators that its COVID-19 screening website for California residents adheres to data protection standards, and adds that it has no plans to open up the full platform to non-Google account holders.

Morning Headlines 4/15/20

Epic and University Hospital of New Jersey Partner to Lead Statewide Surge Response

Epic donates software and services to the temporary hospital set up in the Meadowlands Exposition Center by University Hospital (NJ).

Mayo Clinic develops COVID-19 tracking tool for staff

Mayo Clinic (MN) develops a tool using EHR data that alerts staff if they come into contact with a COVID-19 patient.

W2O acquires social media analytics platform Symplur

Marketing firm W20 acquires Symplur, a healthcare-specific social media tracking platform that it used to create a coronavirus media tracking tool for the California Life Sciences Association.

Morning Headlines 4/14/20

FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program Application Portal Opens on Monday

The FCC begins accepting applications for its $200 million COVID-19 Telehealth Program, which will help eligible providers purchase infrastructure, services, and devices needed to offer telemedicine during the pandemic.

Apple Responds to Senators Questioning Privacy of Covid-19 Tools

Apple responds to privacy concerns related to its COVID-19 screening app and website, stressing that the tools don’t collect user data, and that they are not bound by HIPAA guidelines.

Rapid roll-out of telehealth services in Iowa: ‘We’re just going crazy with it,’ one doctor says

Health systems in Iowa see telemedicine utilization rates skyrocket as reimbursement restrictions are lifted in light of COVID-19, prompting many to hope that virtual care will become part of their new normal after the pandemic has passed.

Mobilizing AI for Health to fight against COVID-19

As part of its AI for Health project, Microsoft will donate $20 million to advance the use of AI in the fight against COVID-19, particularly in the areas of data and insights, hospital resource allocation, treatment and diagnostics, research, and information dissemination.

Morning Headlines 4/13/20

Apple and Google partner on COVID-19 contact tracing technology

Apple and Google will enhance their mobile devices with an API that will use Bluetooth to perform coronavirus contact tracing to help detect outbreaks.

Bankruptcy judge OKs sale of St. Vincent hospital to Patrick Soon-Shiong

A federal judge approves the $135 million sale of St. Vincent Medical Center (CA) to health IT, life sciences, and publishing mogul Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD who plans to turn it into a COVID-19 research facility.

Doctors at UCLA, UCSF create registry to study coronavirus effects on pregnancy

Researchers at UCLA Health and UC San Francisco launch the PRIORITY study and national data registry to better understand the effects of COVID-19 on pregnant and post-partum women.

Morning Headlines 4/10/20

Behind the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus dashboard

The Johns Hopkins University and Medicine COVID-19 case-tracking site draws over 1 billion page views each day for its near-real time display of data from WHO, CDC, and other authorities.

The Nation’s Largest Convention Center Being Converted into a COVID-19 Alternative Care Facility in Chicago, To Be Equipped with Epic Health Records Software

The Chicago Department of Public Health will work with Rush University Medical Center to set up a temporary hospital within McCormick Place Convention Center that will use the medical center’s Epic system.

LabCorp and Ciox Health Enter Collaboration to Create Comprehensive Patient Data Registry

LabCorp and HIM vendor Ciox Health will develop a COVID-19 patient data registry for clinical researchers using de-identified lab testing data and data culled from EHRs.

Morning Headlines 4/9/20

Pamela Powers tapped to perform duties as VA’s No.2

President Trump appoints VA Chief of Staff Pamela Powers to the additional role of deputy secretary, making her the top authority over the VA’s EHR modernization project.

Epic Partners with New York Hospitals for COVID-19 Patients Treated at Manhattan’s Javits Center

NYC Health + Hospitals extends its Epic system to the field hospital set up for COVID-19 patients at the Javits Center.

CliniComp International Gets $429M DHA IDIQ to Help Manage Clinical IT Systems

CliniComp secures a $430 million contract to maintain parts of the DoD’s clinical information system while it migrates to Cerner.

Morning Headlines 4/8/20

Former FDA Leaders, Health Experts Urge Action Now to Contain COVID-19 in Future

Duke’s Margolis Center for Health Policy proposes a national COVID-19 surveillance system to allow the country to transition from universal stay-at-home orders to case-based, regional options.

Tyto Care Raises $50M to Expand Its Telehealth Exam and Diagnosis Offering Globally

Telemedicine and related device company Tyto Care raises $50 million in an oversubscribed funding round.

CyberMDX raises $20 million to protect connected medical devices with AI

New York City-based startup CyberMDX will use $20 million in new funding to scale its healthcare cybersecurity capabilities and hire an additional 30 employees.

Morning Headlines 4/7/20

VA pauses work on EHR during coronavirus

Following in the DoD’s footsteps, the VA decides to delay its Cerner EHR project as clinical teams focus on COVID-19 patients.

Hospital Experiences Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a National Pulse Survey March 23-27, 2020

An HHS OIG survey of 323 hospitals finds their biggest challenges in preparing for and treating COVID-19 patients are associated with testing and treatment, and protecting staff.

Alliance of Va. hospitals launches dashboard tracking the status of medical needs

The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association develops a dashboard to help hospitals across the state visualize the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, facility capacities, and data on PPE and medical supply inventories.

HHS Announces Upcoming Funding Action to Provide $186 Million for COVID-19 Response

The CDC will offer select state and local health departments $186 million to build out or improve on testing and surveillance capabilities, and predictive analytics.

Morning Headlines 4/6/20

New York is merging all its hospitals to battle the coronavirus

New York State virtually merges all of the state’s 200 hospitals into a single state system that will share staff, patients, and supplies under the direction of the state’s department of health.

CDC Unveils 1st National Coronavirus Pandemic Tracking System

CDC rolls out COVIDView, an outbreak monitoring tool that displays key indicators that will be updated weekly.

Google is now publishing coronavirus mobility reports, feeding off users’ location history

Using its collection of mobile location data, Google begins publishing reports of how well people in 131 countries are following government directives to remain at home during the pandemic

98point6 Launches New Patient Resources to Ensure Best-In-Class Experience

AI-powered telemedicine company 98point6 will use a $43 million Series D funding round to launch its new patient wait-time dashboard and triple its physician staff by the end of April.

Here’s how doctors are monitoring more than 350 Delaware coronavirus patients virtually

ChristianaCare shifts technology it developed for a virtual primary care practice to remotely monitor COVID-19 patients.

Morning Headlines 4/3/20

OCR Announces Notification of Enforcement Discretion to Allow Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information by Business Associates for Public Health and Health Oversight Activities During The COVID-19 Nationwide Public Health Emergency

The HHS Office for Civil Rights loosens HIPAA regulations to give healthcare business associates more leeway in sharing PHI “in good faith” during the pandemic.

Microsoft works with healthcare organizations to protect from popular ransomware during COVID-19 crisis: Here’s what to do

As remote workforces increase, Microsoft alerts several dozen hospitals to VPN infrastructure vulnerabilities that may attract ransomware attackers.

Google’s AI accurately predicts physicians’ prescribing decisions 75% of the time

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco and Google develop an algorithm using EHR data capable of predicting physician prescription choices 75% of the time.

FCC Adopts $200 Million COVID-19 Telehealth Program

The FCC allocates $200 million to help qualifying providers purchase telecommunications, broadband services, and devices essential for offering telehealth services.

Morning Headlines 4/2/20

MHS Genesis deployment suspended amid COVID-19 pandemic

The DoD presses pause on its roll out of MHS Genesis to better enable its care teams to focus on treating COVID-19 patients.

Exclusive: HCA subsidiary lays off dozens of contractors

Health IT consulting firm CereCore lays off dozens of employees contracted to work for parent company HCA Healthcare.

Microsoft helps Swedish Health Services develop COVID-19 app to track hospital resources

Microsoft and Swedish Health Services (WA) develop an app to help staff track COVID-19 patients, and hospital capacity and supplies.

eConsult solution company AristaMD secures $18 million in Series B funding

AristaMD will use $18 million in new funding to further develop and scale use of its e-consult and referral software for primary care physicians.

Morning Headlines 4/1/20

Cerner Millennium EHR to be used at London’s 4000-bed temporary hospital

London’s 4,000-bed Nightingale Hospital, a COVID-19 emergency treatment facility created inside a convention center, will run Cerner Millennium.

Calling all COVID-19 Health IT Projects

ONC updates its Interoperability Proving Ground, making it easier to find projects already underway that are using health IT to address the pandemic.

Olive Raises $51M to Accelerate its AI Workforce for Healthcare

Healthcare workflow automation company Olive raises $51 million in a funding round led by General Catalyst.

Morning Headlines 3/31/20

Trump Administration Engages America’s Hospitals in Unprecedented Data Sharing

To better allocate federal resources to areas in need, CMS asks hospitals to share COVID-19 testing data with HHS, and bed capacity and supply data with the CDC.

Supply chain companies to launch healthcare industry exchange

Supply chain tech company Resilinc will work with Stanford Health and Premier to launch a Web-based supply exchange that will match hospitals in need of COVID-19 equipment with manufacturers and donors.

New COVID-19 Preparedness App Fills Interoperability Gaps For Surge Preparedness

Epic and OCHIN develop an app for the Washington State Health Care Authority that enables healthcare workers, volunteers, and patients to perform COVID-19 screenings and find local emergency care.

Trump Administration Makes Sweeping Regulatory Changes to Help U.S. Healthcare System Address COVID-19 Patient Surge

CMS expands telemedicine coverage to 80 additional services and will now reimburse physicians for virtual visits at the same rate as in-person visits.

Morning Headlines 3/30/20

Apple announces COVID-19 website and app in partnership with CDC and the White House

Apple develops a COVID-19 screening website and app that it developed in a partnership with the CDC, the White House’s coronavirus task force, and FEMA.

Bright.md Raises $8 Million Series C Round to Bring Critical, Asynchronous Virtual Care to Health Care Systems and Their Patients

Bright.md raises $8 million in a Series C funding round, increasing its total to $20.5 million.

Conference Cancelled

Medical Users Software Exchange cancels its 2020 MUSE Inspire Conference that was scheduled for May 26-29 at Maryland’s Gaylord National Resort & Conference Center.

COVID-19 Community Based Testing Guide

Verily’s Project Baseline issues a guidebook for running COVID-19 community-based testing sites under the a federally supported, state-directed program.

Morning Headlines 3/27/20

Diligent Robotics announces $10M series A

Moxi hospital robot maker Diligent Robotics raises $10 million in a Series A funding round.

Alphabet’s Verily ramps up drive-through coronavirus testing with 1,000 Google volunteers

Verily automates scheduling for its recently expanded drive-up COVID-19 testing sites, part of its Web-based screening and testing project launched in California earlier this month.

New York State COVID-19 Technology SWAT Team

New York State seeks IT volunteers for COVID-19 technology SWAT teams, specifically looking for expertise in product management, development, hardware deployment, and data science.

An Epic donation: Local tech giant transforms former headquarters into daycare for COVID-19 frontline workers

Epic partners with a local childcare provider to convert the use of its former headquarters in Madison, WI to childcare space for UW Health employees.

Morning Headlines 3/26/20

Scripps Research launches DETECT study, leveraging wearable data to flag viral illnesses

The Scripps Research Translational Institute kicks off an app-based study that will use health data from wearables to more quickly pinpoint the onset of viral illnesses like the flu and coronavirus.

Rapid Response to COVID-19: Health Informatics Support for Outbreak Management in an Academic Health System

UC San Diego Health providers and researchers outline the ways in which the EHR is essential to supporting a health system’s management of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Inbox Health Raises $3.5 Million in New Venture Funding

Patient billing company Inbox Health raises $3.5 million in a funding round led by Healthy Ventures.

Morning Headlines 3/25/20

COVID-19 Healthcare Coalition Forms to Support the U.S. Healthcare System and Help Protect U.S. Populations

Consulting firm Mitre and several companies form the COVID-19 Healthcare Coalition, a data-driven effort to study community mitigation efforts, identifying people who have been exposed and need testing; and helping health systems manage staff, space, and supply chains.

HHS Awards $100 Million to Health Centers for COVID-19 Response

HHS allocates $100 million to help nearly 1,400 health centers across the country acquire medical supplies, support screening and testing needs, and expand telemedicine capabilities.

HTD Health Acquires CareVoice, an Advance Care Planning Platform

Health IT software development company HTD Health acquires digital advance care planning vendor CareVoice.