A new dementia currency in primary care

There has been unparalleled interest in, and awareness of, dementia over the last five years. This was ignited by the publication of the National Dementia Strategy in 2009, energised by the first Prime Minister’s challenge on dementia in 2012 and fuelled by a raft of developments such as the hospital dementia scheme, the primary care detection initiative, the creation of Dementia Action Alliances across the country, reduction in the prescription of antipsychotic drugs by 50% and the creation of one million dementia friends.

Spotlight

Lark Health

Lark Health is the leading chronic disease prevention and management platform using proven, AI health coaching to deliver better outcomes at scale. Lark uses cutting edge AI and connected health monitors, which can be combined with human coaches, to provide real-time, personalized, 24/7 support and counseling to help users make healthier choices and manage their conditions. Lark’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), Wellness Program, Diabetes Care Program, and Hypertension Program serve nearly 2 million users, and have demonstrated clinically validated outcomes published in 11 peer-reviewed journals and analyst reports.

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Health Technology

Unveiling EHR’s Future: Key Events for Industry Professionals

Article | September 12, 2023

Unleash the power of attending EHR events, empowering healthcare providers with accessible patient information for enhanced care. Stay updated with the latest trends at these top EHR summits. Electronic health records (EHRs) have sparked a transformative revolution in the healthcare industry, empowering providers with readily accessible patient information. With technology progressing and digital healthcare solutions becoming increasingly vital, staying up-to-date with the latest EHR trends and developments has become crucial for healthcare professionals and C-suite executives. This article highlights a curated list of EHR events that gather visionaries, experts, and pioneers from diverse domains to foster knowledge exchange, collaborations, and exploration of cutting-edge EHR advancements propelling the industry to new frontiers. 1. The MedTech Conference October 9-11, 2023 | California This EHR conference offers attendees an opportunity to stay abreast of the latest updates and insights through an extensive program featuring over 100 sessions that showcase diverse perspectives. From examining physicians' viewpoints on value-based care to exploring the approaches of policymakers in cybersecurity and trade considerations, as well as delving into the innovative applications of AI by scientists, the conference provides a platform for knowledge exchange. With world-class speakers, comprehensive educational programming, valuable networking opportunities, and the potential for business development, this EHR summit serves as a homecoming for the global medtech community, fostering collaboration and forming partnerships that drive innovative solutions for a healthier world. 2. IEEE International Conference on Digital Health July 2-8, 2023 | Chicago The IEEE International Conference on Digital Health (ICDH) stands as a powerful global platform where esteemed researchers and industry practitioners converge to exchange cutting-edge advancements in digital health technologies. With a focus on both the current state-of-the-art and practical applications, ICDH facilitates discourse on emerging research themes and the future trajectory of digital health. Its overarching objective is to unite prominent researchers, community leaders, visionaries from academia and industry, end-users, and healthcare professionals in the digital health domain. It fosters the exchange of research findings, practical expertise, and forward-looking perspectives on sustainable health and social care transformations. 3. EAI MobiHealth 2023 November 28-30, 2023 | Portugal The 12th EAI International Conference on Wireless Mobile Communication and Healthcare (MobiHealth 2023) serves as a testament to the significant growth of the healthcare industry, propelled by factors such as an aging population, the prevalence of chronic diseases, and technological advancements. The healthcare sector has been greatly influenced by wireless communication & mobile computing and is constantly evolving with new technologies like 5G, IoT, robotics, and smart buildings. The integration of these innovations, along with e-health, m-health, edge computing, software-defined networks, and network function virtualization, has further revolutionized the industry. This hybrid conference aims to unite individuals and organizations worldwide in wireless communication, mobile computing, and healthcare applications. 4. 3rd IEEE International Conference on ICT Solutions for eHealth July 9-12, 2023 | Tunisia e-Health has emerged as a significant research area, attracting cross-disciplinary research groups interested in deploying new ICT technologies for healthcare, particularly cloud computing, IoT, and computational intelligence. After five successful workshop editions, ICTS4eHealth, which has transitioned into an International IEEE Conference, now announced its third edition. The conference brings together researchers from academia, industry, government, and medical centers to present the latest advancements in cloud systems for connected health infrastructure and applications and the utilization of IoT and computational intelligence techniques in eHealth. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, this EHR conference aims to advance the field of e-Health and contribute to developing innovative ICT solutions for improved healthcare outcomes. 5. DigiHT 2023 October 19-20, 2023 | Virtual The International Conference on Digital Health and Telemedicine 2023 (DigiHT 2023) will serve as a global platform for diverse participants, including academics, practitioners, technologists, application developers, students, and industry professionals. The conference will feature parallel sessions, enabling attendees to engage in knowledge-sharing and networking opportunities. It will also offer avenues for publishing research findings and host high-level forums featuring speeches from esteemed hospitals and health systems, both national and international, who will provide valuable perspectives, insights, and expertise. The central focus of the conference revolves around the theme 'Enhancing Health Equity and Improving Patient Outcomes: Empowerment Strategies for Patients to Take Control of Their Care and Well-being through Digital Healthcare.' EHR events like this one aim to increase access to health technology research and innovations while fostering collaboration and innovation among global digital health and telemedicine professionals. 6. MEDITECH LIVE 2023 September 20-22, 2023 | Massachusetts This EHR conference aims to convene a diverse group of experienced healthcare innovators who are deeply committed to fostering collaboration amidst the ongoing transformation of health information technology. Through engaging in high-level panel discussions and specialized breakout sessions, participants will collectively explore the disruptive forces that impact the industry and brainstorm tangible solutions. EHR events like this serve as a platform for redefining the intersection of healthcare leadership and technology, focusing on making a meaningful impact on communities. Distinguished speakers at the event include Paul Keckley (Healthcare Policy Analyst and Managing Partner of Keckley Group) and Amer Kaissi, a nationally-recognized speaker, author & executive coach who will bring valuable insights to the discourse. 7. Electronic Medical Records Boot Camp August 21-22, 2023 | Virtual 'Electronic Medical Records Boot Camp: Biostatistical Methods for Analyzing EMR Data' is a comprehensive two-day virtual event that offers seminars and interactive analytical sessions, providing participants with an in-depth understanding of electronic health data opportunities, statistical challenges, and the latest techniques. The widespread implementation of EHRs and EMRs in US hospitals has resulted in vast amounts of patient information, enabling cohort-wide investigations and personalized medicine. However, analyzing such extensive and diverse observational data poses technical difficulties. This intensive workshop addresses the potential of EMR/EHR data for health studies, statistical challenges, and advanced techniques through hands-on computer lab sessions and case studies. Participants will learn about data integration, addressing biases and missing data, comparative effectiveness studies, and predictive analysis. By the end of the boot camp, attendees will be well-versed in harnessing the power of EMR/EHR data for transformative healthcare research. 8. eClinicalWorks National Conference October 20-22, 2023 | Tennessee Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville will host electronic health records events like eClinical Works National Conference. This EHR summit will be an engaging and informative event for healthcare professionals. Attendees can delve into the latest enhancements and developments related to the V12 and Healow products for three days. The event will showcase these products' cutting-edge features and functionalities, demonstrating their potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry. 9. 2023 GSA Conference Workshop November 8-12, 2023 | Florida At the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting in November, multiple principal investigator Vincent Mor, Ph.D., and colleagues will conduct a workshop titled 'The Long-Term Care Data Cooperative: Leveraging Nursing Home Electronic Health Records for Research.' Funded by National Institute of Aging, this initiative aims to enhance care quality in skilled nursing facilities by compiling comprehensive electronic health records data from over 2,100 nursing homes nationwide. The workshop will allow attendees to explore sample data, understand the core data model, and learn how to request access for research purposes. Additionally, interested participants can apply for 'real-world data scholars' training grants to leverage this valuable resource further. 10. International Conference on Global Healthcare November 16-18, 2023 | France The 10th edition of the upcoming scientific conference (Global Healthcare 2023) will be held in Paris. With a central theme of 'Fostering the Endeavors to Enhance Global Healthcare, ' this EHR summit aims to be the largest and most comprehensive event in the worldwide healthcare industry. The conference will focus on various aspects such as clinical best practices, research advancements, innovation, discoveries, and emerging trends in healthcare. Attendees can expect an enriching scientific program featuring symposiums, seminars, keynote addresses, oral presentations, and poster presentations showcasing the latest global best practices, research findings, industry regulations, and technological breakthroughs. EHR events like this one are held to empower attendees by providing comprehensive insights and fostering knowledge exchange in electronic health records and beyond. Final Analysis These electronic health records events offer medical professionals a comprehensive conference track that is tailored to their specific needs and interests. Attendees can engage in face-to-face conversations, access high-quality programming focused on current hot topics, and benefit from unparalleled networking with industry leaders, making these EHR events a must-attend! Furthermore, the conference track provides medical professionals with specialized sessions, workshops, and presentations that delve deep into the practical aspects of implementing, optimizing, and utilizing electronic health record systems. By actively participating in these sessions, medical professionals can gain practical skills, learn best practices, and acquire valuable insights that can directly impact their daily routine and patient care.

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Health Technology, AI

What’s So Great About FHIR? Find Out Here

Article | July 18, 2023

Affordable healthcare is the need of the hour and interoperability is the means to that end. The healthcare ecosystem is looking into ways they can enable this affordability as soon as possible, and that is where FHIR comes in. FHR promises an on-demand exchange of secure healthcare information. It has become an increasingly popular protocol, thanks to its commitment to ensuring interoperability in the app economy, via apps. The privilege enjoyed by consumers and participants in most industries is the ease of accessibility of information. With most of it being on the cloud, a URL ensures access to the same information regardless of where it is being accessed from or which internet enable device. This is the privilege FHIR aims to introduce in healthcare, over the current document-based approach where forms are either faxed, emailed, or electronically exchanged. FHIR is for Building new healthcare apps Develop cloud-based health apps that integrate with social networks Providing a simple to use standards-based API for cloud-based health integration services The government looking to implement a national EHR FHIR Aims to Reduce Cost The medical expenses of an average American in a year are north of $12k and rising. The reasons are the unnecessary complications in the healthcare IT infrastructure. With FHIR, HL7 aims to reduce the burden on providers in sharing and accessing healthcare data at the point of care, thereby reducing the administrative expenses spent on moving data back and forth. It also promises to grant on-demand access to patients – enabling them to make better-informed healthcare decisions. What is part of FHIR? Pre-defined Resources and API A common way to represent data as building blocks and rules for connecting them Target support for common scenarios Implementer Friendly Familiar tooling and technologies using web standards Multiple Libraries available for faster implementations Mobile Friendly Concise and easily understood specifications, RESTful API and JSON Leverages cross-industry web technologies Multi-paradigm Thick client, browser, or mobile devices Supports human readability as the base level of interoperability Large Community for Support Heaps of open-source software and training events, webinars, and connectathons Specification feedback welcomed, including update requests-tracker Out-of-the-box Interoperability Base resources can be used as it is, can also be adapted for local requirements Seamless exchange of information using messages or document Start The FHIR Health plans are jumping on the FHIR bandwagon faster than ever thanks to the Interoperability and Patient Access rule as well as the latest proposals. Do not get left behind or sustain the ramifications of non-compliance with CMS regulations.

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Health Technology, Digital Healthcare

How to optimize health IT systems for immunization drives

Article | September 8, 2023

Government bodies have organized vaccination drives from the days of paper, pen and file folders. Nations across the globe have successfully run vaccination programs on a large scale. In countries such as India, with the second-largest population, a vaccination campaign to eradicate polio was delivered at specified centers and going door-to-door. India was declared officially polio-free in March 2014. All without technology! Routine vaccination administration has always been either by a scheduled or walk-in appointment. Vaccinating populations for polio, smallpox or similar diseases has always been a part of a multi-year plan for governments.

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Health Technology

5 Ways AI is Likely to Benefit Medicine & Improve Patient Care

Article | September 12, 2023

Since ChatGPT’s launch in November 2022, artificial intelligence (AI) tools have become disruptive to nearly every industry. While there's been controversy about whether AI would benefit the healthcare industry, it has proven to be just as capable in healthcare as in other sectors. In the medical field, there is reason to believe AI tools may be an even more reliable and useful resource than other sectors. Medical students have been panicking over AI's threat to their career prospects. But as these systems mature, the experts increasingly believe that AI may serve as a counterpart to human medical expertise rather than a threat. How AI Tools Are Expected to Aid Medical Professionals? Again and again, as the debate over modern AI tools rages on, we encounter the analogy of the calculator. No one feels threatened by calculators, not even professional mathematicians. Instead of throwing up their hands, math experts embrace the power of these now archaic computerized devices. If the experts are correct, this may be similar to the future of the alliance between AI and humans. According to the designers and programmers who understand how these systems work as well as how information technology tends to progress, AI can be expected to help the medical profession in the following ways: Cosmetic Surgery Consultations One of the farthest-reaching applications we see develop is in consultations for plastic surgery and similar applications. Perhaps one of the easiest aspects to understand is hair-loss consultations. In our practice, we use a device known as HairMetrix, which uses an AI-driven analytical system to help determine what is causing a patient to lose their hair and which treatment options would be the most effective. Because it is AI-driven, it is fully based on visual scans and is completely non-invasive. Just like this, AI can be used in an abundance of other ways to minimize the use of exploratory surgery and improve healthcare outcomes. Improved Diagnostics Artificial intelligence is already helping medical providers deliver diagnoses more quickly. These tools can identify anomalies that might otherwise take human hours or even weeks to identify. This has improved the rate of cancer detection, among other things, which will predictably improve survival rates. Developing New Pharmaceuticals The development of new medicines is notoriously slow. Not only is testing a painstaking process, but even seeking FDA approval can take years. AI is expected to help the development of pharmaceuticals through simulation on the molecular level, allowing researchers to see how the active mechanisms in a drug will work in the body. Improved Administrative Efficiency In the medical field, administrative tasks are notoriously slow. It is believed that generative AI will be able to automate many administrative functions and innumerable office chores. It could streamline sorting patient files, accelerate the interpretation of data, and much more. Patient Access In an area where information technology is already improving patients' lives, access to medical advice is still a bottleneck in the system. AI tools have the potential to slowly bridge the gap in health disparities. Combined with the power to diagnose, this could dramatically increase the capability of online patient portals. Of course, this list of anticipated AI capabilities is far from exhaustive. Researchers and medical professionals have high hopes for these tools, and some are already proving to be more than mere speculation. In a world where AI is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace, the healthcare sector stands poised to benefit significantly from this technological revolution. From streamlining administrative tasks to revolutionizing diagnostics, the potential of AI in medicine is vast and diverse. As we witness AI-enabled tools like HairMetrix, enhancing the cosmetic surgery consultations and AI algorithms expediting diagnostic accuracy, it's clear that we are only at the beginning of a healthcare transformation that is set to improve patient care, increase survival rates, and revolutionize medical practices.

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Spotlight

Lark Health

Lark Health is the leading chronic disease prevention and management platform using proven, AI health coaching to deliver better outcomes at scale. Lark uses cutting edge AI and connected health monitors, which can be combined with human coaches, to provide real-time, personalized, 24/7 support and counseling to help users make healthier choices and manage their conditions. Lark’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), Wellness Program, Diabetes Care Program, and Hypertension Program serve nearly 2 million users, and have demonstrated clinically validated outcomes published in 11 peer-reviewed journals and analyst reports.

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Health Technology

Springfield Clinic Partners With Cedar to Improve Patients' Digital Consumer Experience

Cedar | January 20, 2022

Springfield Clinic, the second largest multispecialty clinic in Illinois, and Cedar, a market-leading healthcare financial technology platform built for today's consumers, announced a partnership to transform patients' financial experience from co-pay to bill. The implementation of Cedar's solution is an integral part of Springfield Clinic's commitment to creating a cohesive digital engagement strategy for all patient interactions with their more than 600 providers of primary and specialty healthcare. "We are committed to making a seamless digital patient journey synonymous with the 'Springfield Clinic Experience,'" says Jack O'Hara, Chief Information Officer at Springfield Clinic. "Cedar's financial technology platform is the perfect complement to our digital front door strategy, which seeks to improve patient efficiency and accuracy of data while reducing administrative tasks for staff, empowering them to do more of what they do best: care for patients. Patient financial experiences can be notoriously frustrating, and we want to provide a superior and personalized digital experience across the healthcare journey." Cedar provides a complete and modern consumer engagement platform for patient interaction with their healthcare provider. Starting with pre-registration and following the patient through billing, Cedar will enable Springfield Clinic to deliver a seamless and simplified path that eliminates friction for patients navigating the financial journey with consumer-centric design and personalized experiences. "Making a process digital doesn't necessarily equate to making it better—what differentiates delightful experiences from mediocre ones comes down to personalization and meeting the patient where they are. We look forward to partnering with Springfield Clinic on their journey to truly transform their patients' digital experience and are honored that Cedar's platform will play such an integral role." Florian Otto, CEO and co-founder of Cedar About Springfield Clinic, LLP Springfield Clinic is a forward-thinking, physician-led multispecialty medical group devoted to providing the highest quality healthcare to its patients. More than 600 physicians and advanced practitioners deliver care in approximately 80 medical specialties and sub-specialties serving more than 20 counties, reaching more than 500,000 patients in the greater central Illinois area. As one of the largest private multispecialty medical clinics in the state, Springfield Clinic currently employs over 3,200 clinical and administrative staff members who are committed to improving health, providing value and serving the community. About Cedar Cedar's mission is to empower us all to easily and affordably pursue the care we need. As the only complete solution to address all of the challenges consumers face when paying for healthcare, Cedar enables a better and more transparent financial experience. Since 2016, Cedar has provided a smarter, more efficient way for hospitals, health systems and medical groups to manage the patient payment ecosystem and create a personalized financial experience while also dramatically improving billing operations.

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The top 6 policy priorities that could improve behavioral health care access at hospitals and save billions

Fiercehealthcare | May 13, 2019

Issues such as the opioid epidemic and an increased suicide rate in the U.S. are increasing demand for behavioral health care services even as challenges such as workforce shortages and payment policies are restricting patient access.But policy changes such as improved reimbursement could help the nation's hospitals better address those access issues, according to a new analysis from the American Hospital Association.While nearly one in five Americans is affected by a behavioral health disorder, many individuals are unable to access the services they need," the authors of the report wrote. "Hospitals and health systems play a central role in meeting the health needs of their community.

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How Much Does Healthcare Influence Longevity?

Medscape | May 13, 2019

Healthcare is only one of several factors that affect longevity in the United States, a new study reaffirms. Behavioral and social factors have much more influence.Robert Kaplan, PhD, and Arnold Milstein, MD, MPH, from Stanford University School of Medicine's Clinical Excellence Research Center in California, tested how much healthcare affects the risk for premature death using four different research methods and data sets.

Read More

Health Technology

Springfield Clinic Partners With Cedar to Improve Patients' Digital Consumer Experience

Cedar | January 20, 2022

Springfield Clinic, the second largest multispecialty clinic in Illinois, and Cedar, a market-leading healthcare financial technology platform built for today's consumers, announced a partnership to transform patients' financial experience from co-pay to bill. The implementation of Cedar's solution is an integral part of Springfield Clinic's commitment to creating a cohesive digital engagement strategy for all patient interactions with their more than 600 providers of primary and specialty healthcare. "We are committed to making a seamless digital patient journey synonymous with the 'Springfield Clinic Experience,'" says Jack O'Hara, Chief Information Officer at Springfield Clinic. "Cedar's financial technology platform is the perfect complement to our digital front door strategy, which seeks to improve patient efficiency and accuracy of data while reducing administrative tasks for staff, empowering them to do more of what they do best: care for patients. Patient financial experiences can be notoriously frustrating, and we want to provide a superior and personalized digital experience across the healthcare journey." Cedar provides a complete and modern consumer engagement platform for patient interaction with their healthcare provider. Starting with pre-registration and following the patient through billing, Cedar will enable Springfield Clinic to deliver a seamless and simplified path that eliminates friction for patients navigating the financial journey with consumer-centric design and personalized experiences. "Making a process digital doesn't necessarily equate to making it better—what differentiates delightful experiences from mediocre ones comes down to personalization and meeting the patient where they are. We look forward to partnering with Springfield Clinic on their journey to truly transform their patients' digital experience and are honored that Cedar's platform will play such an integral role." Florian Otto, CEO and co-founder of Cedar About Springfield Clinic, LLP Springfield Clinic is a forward-thinking, physician-led multispecialty medical group devoted to providing the highest quality healthcare to its patients. More than 600 physicians and advanced practitioners deliver care in approximately 80 medical specialties and sub-specialties serving more than 20 counties, reaching more than 500,000 patients in the greater central Illinois area. As one of the largest private multispecialty medical clinics in the state, Springfield Clinic currently employs over 3,200 clinical and administrative staff members who are committed to improving health, providing value and serving the community. About Cedar Cedar's mission is to empower us all to easily and affordably pursue the care we need. As the only complete solution to address all of the challenges consumers face when paying for healthcare, Cedar enables a better and more transparent financial experience. Since 2016, Cedar has provided a smarter, more efficient way for hospitals, health systems and medical groups to manage the patient payment ecosystem and create a personalized financial experience while also dramatically improving billing operations.

Read More

The top 6 policy priorities that could improve behavioral health care access at hospitals and save billions

Fiercehealthcare | May 13, 2019

Issues such as the opioid epidemic and an increased suicide rate in the U.S. are increasing demand for behavioral health care services even as challenges such as workforce shortages and payment policies are restricting patient access.But policy changes such as improved reimbursement could help the nation's hospitals better address those access issues, according to a new analysis from the American Hospital Association.While nearly one in five Americans is affected by a behavioral health disorder, many individuals are unable to access the services they need," the authors of the report wrote. "Hospitals and health systems play a central role in meeting the health needs of their community.

Read More

How Much Does Healthcare Influence Longevity?

Medscape | May 13, 2019

Healthcare is only one of several factors that affect longevity in the United States, a new study reaffirms. Behavioral and social factors have much more influence.Robert Kaplan, PhD, and Arnold Milstein, MD, MPH, from Stanford University School of Medicine's Clinical Excellence Research Center in California, tested how much healthcare affects the risk for premature death using four different research methods and data sets.

Read More

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