Health Technology
Article | September 12, 2023
While artificial intelligence (AI) offers numerous advantages across a wide range of businesses and applications, an ongoing report spreads out some convincing focuses on the different difficulties and perils of using AI in the social insurance segment. As of late, AI has been progressively consolidated all through the medicinal services space. Machines would now be able to give emotional wellness help by means of a chatbot, screen tolerant wellbeing, and even anticipate heart failure, seizures, or sepsis.
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Health Technology, Digital Healthcare
Article | September 7, 2023
With their speed and maneuverability, drones have long captured attention for their potential to deliver shopping orders and photograph the world from above. But the machines can also serve a medical purpose by shuttling drugs, defibrillators and other equipment to emergency sites or care facilities. Improvements in battery life, GPS navigation and artificial intelligence functions are making drones a more practical option in healthcare, says Dr. Daniel Kraft, faculty chair for medicine and neuroscience at Singularity University, an executive education program that also serves as a business incubator and consultancy service. Theft is also a concern, says Will Stavanja, chief technical officer at AirBox Technologies, which is testing its DroneX fleet for medical deliveries in the Caribbean. “Right now, most drones land, drop the package and leave,” says Stavanja, whose team has developed smart mailboxes for secure delivery. Addressing that risk will be key to determining whether drones can handle sensitive cargo. “You want a very high degree of certainty,” Kraft says. “It’s one thing if you lose a urine sample or a blood sample; you can get another one. It’s another to lose an organ.”
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Health Technology, Digital Healthcare
Article | August 21, 2023
With consumers’ share of healthcare costs expanding, we need to do a better job making charges more transparent and more predictable
My husband recently stubbed his toe. Badly. Badly enough that I encouraged him to go see a doctor. He was reluctant. While I suspected he’d rather just garner sympathy by complaining to me while limping around the house (just kidding, honey), his stated reason was all too familiar: “I have no idea what we’ll have to pay. They’ll want to do anX-ray,it might need surgery, and I have no idea what it’ll cost.” All true. We have good health insurance; but like most Americans, when we go to the doctor or have a procedure, what we will actuallyhave topay out of pocket remains a mystery.This is something that we can and should change.
As consumers we are shouldering more and more of the cost of healthcare. And the biggest increases are for those of us with employer-sponsored plans. According to an analysis of federal data by the Commonwealth Fund,deductibles in employer plans more than doubled between 2008 and 2017, from $869 to $1,808. Especially troubling, an accompanyingCommonwealth Fund survey revealed that only 62% of adults were very or somewhat confident in their ability to afford healthcare.
This increasing burden is also evident when you look at the crushing levels of medical debt in the United States. According to a new studyby JAMA, medical debt is now the largest contributor to personal debt. And the data for this study was collectedbeforethe COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of this debt is driven by unpredictability—if the heart procedure you needed costs several thousand dollars more out of pocketthan you thought it would, you may not be prepared, emotionally or financially, to pay it. This is a bad outcome, obviously. The risk of nonpayment rises for the provider; and a recuperating patient is burdened with the stress of a large,unexpected bill.
More skin in the game
Soas consumers are paying more out of pocket, some may become reluctant to seek care (like my husband) or seek more information about what they willhaveto pay for the care they receive. Consumers are also armed with incredible levels of price transparency with other products—everything from hotel rooms to clothing to household items. With so much skin in the game, and the internet providing so much information, consumers’ expectations are changing when it comes to healthcare.
State and federal regulators are also beginning to take action, a trend that will likely accelerate. Most hospitals are now required to publicly disclose the prices they charge. This does not, however, solve the issue for consumers. While it provides a measure of visibility into pricing for insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid, it doesn’t show what share the patient will ultimately pay.
Making the complicated simple
The complexity of pricing in healthcare is well documented. Niall Brennan, CEO of the Health Care Cost Institute, a nonprofit that analyzes medical costs, suggests that healthcare costs are too high.As a recent Wall Street Journal article reported, a price of a C-section varied from $6,241 to$60,584 at one hospital. This all has to do with the vagaries of the agreements that hospitals sign with multiple insurance companies and government payers. In turn, each insurance company will have its own deductible and out-of-pocket schedules, which providers don’t have access to.
We are seeking to change this at Change Healthcare. We are piloting our Care Cost Estimator with a few innovative providers. With the Care Cost Estimator, weleverage our unique dataset, and the largest eligibility network in the industry, to make the unpredictable, predictable.Because we’ve managed 15 billion healthcare transactions—and our network covers 1 million physicians, 6,000 hospitals, and 2,400 payers—we have an unmatched ability to analyze what real-world patients are paying for practically any procedure, performed at almost any hospital or clinic.
With a cloud-based transaction engine, providers will now be able to tell their patients how much they will have to pay out of pocket for a given procedure.And this analysis takes place in real time.
Removing unpredictability in pricing
This gives providers the opportunity to offer added value for their patients, taking some unpredictability out of whatis often a stressful transaction. In addition, it accelerates patient payment cycles which, as the patient’s share of the cost burden increases, is becoming more and more important. We’re not talking $50 co-pays anymore; it’s thousands of dollars per transaction. If necessary, providers can also help the patient plan for the expense, offering financing options, thus reducing unpaid bills. For the patient, it allows more informed decision-making and peace of mind.
Testing the beta version of our Care Cost Estimator with our partners will allow us to receive real-world feedback and collaborate with customers on how to continuously improve the product as we scale it. We expect the ROI for providers, in addition to the payment-cycle improvements, will include greater patient satisfaction and loyalty. For the patient, it provides information necessary to help make proper decisions and plan emotionally and financially; in other words, giving the consumer the same information for vital healthcare transactions that’s available to them for practically any other purchase.
This kind of win-win solution is at the core of Change Healthcare’s mission to improve the healthcare experience for everyone—including my husband and his broken toe!
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Digital Healthcare, Medical Devices
Article | June 27, 2023
Explore a curated collection of EHR books while discovering the potential of exploring electronic health records books, empowering individuals to navigate complexities and make informed decisions.
Electronic health records (EHRs) have revolutionized the healthcare industry, streamlining patient data management and transforming how medical information is accessed, stored, and shared. A carefully curated list of essential EHR books can be an invaluable resource for healthcare professionals looking to expand their knowledge and expertise in this rapidly-evolving field.
Explore these electronic health records books that deepen insights and help navigate the intricate world of healthcare:
1. Connected for Health
Editor: Louise L. Liang
‘Connected for Health: Using Electronic Health Records to Transform Care Delivery’ explores the implementation of the world's most extensive non-governmental electronic health record system. The book delves into the far-reaching impact of this system on patient care outcomes, operational efficiency, safety, and patient engagement. Louise L. Liang draws upon valuable insights and lessons learned from the successful deployment strategy, showcasing how these technological tools are revolutionizing healthcare delivery and reshaping the organizational culture within the industry. This comprehensive resource sheds light on the transformative potential of electronic health records, offering a glimpse into the future of connected healthcare and its potential to improve patient experiences and drive positive change within healthcare organizations globally.
2. Hacking Healthcare
Authors: Fred Trotter and David Uhlman
‘Hacking Healthcare: A Guide to Standards, Workflows, and Meaningful Use’ is a concise and insightful book that critically evaluates the US healthcare system's adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) and other IT solutions to meet the government's meaningful use requirements. While acknowledging the tremendous opportunities for IT professionals, it also highlights the significant challenges of overhauling outdated record systems, workflows, and practices. EHR books, such as this one, provide a comprehensive overview by examining the unique characteristics of healthcare settings, exploring the complexities of transitioning from paper to digital records, analyzing billing and payment systems, emphasizing patient engagement through EHRs, and addressing the critical issue of avoidable errors.
3. The Innovator's Prescription
Authors: Clayton M. Christensen, Jerome H. Grossman, and Jason Hwang
‘Innovator's Prescription: A Disruptive Solution for Health Care’ presents a visionary prescription for reforming the ailing healthcare system. The book applies the principles of disruptive innovation to revolutionize the broken healthcare system. It identifies and addresses various symptoms, offering proven solutions that will improve the affordability and quality of healthcare. The book explores how precision medicine can reduce costs and deliver personalized care, how disruptive business models can enhance accessibility, affordability as well as quality, and how patient networks can improve the treatment of chronic diseases. Additionally, it highlights the need for employers to adapt their roles in EHRs to compete effectively in a globalized era.
4. The Guide to the Future of Medicine
Author: Bertalan Meskó
‘The Guide to the Future of Medicine (2022 Edition): Technology and The Human Touch’ is an insightful and authoritative book that examines the transformative power of electronic health records (EHRs) and other technological advancements in medicine and healthcare. The author comprehensively assesses how EHRs have revolutionized healthcare delivery, offering a roadmap to tomorrow's potential. By exploring the integration of EHRs with emerging technologies and trends, such as exoskeletons, social media for medical information, and supercomputers in medical decision-making, EHR books like this one offer patients, medical professionals, and healthcare stakeholders an enlightening and fact-based perspective on how technology can shape and enhance their well-being while preserving the essential human touch.
5. The Digital Doctor
Author: Robert Wachter
‘The Digital Doctor: Hope, Hype, and Harm at the Dawn of Medicine’s Computer Age’ explore integrating electronic health records (EHRs) into healthcare. Driven by compelling stories and astute analysis, the book addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by technology in medicine. It raises pertinent questions about the impact of digital systems on patient care, highlighting concerns such as the loss of human connection and the occurrence of medical errors despite computerization. With clarity and compassion, the author emphasizes the need to understand the transformative nature of technology in healthcare and advocates for its proper implementation to ensure a harmonious relationship between humans and machines.
6. The Internet of Healthy Things
Authors: Joseph C. Kvedar, Carol Colman, and Gina Cella
‘The Internet of Healthy Things’ explores the profound impact of IoT on healthcare, with a particular emphasis on electronic health records (EHRs). This integrated electronic health records book delves into the transformative potential of real-time biometric data in understanding the relationship between lifestyle and chronic diseases. The authors describe the driving forces behind this trend and unveil the business opportunities it presents for various sectors, including payers, providers, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, technology vendors, and innovative newcomers. The book provides insights into consumer behavior, strategies for designing compelling health devices and platforms, exploration of novel form factors for health information delivery, strategic guidance for startups and entrepreneurs entering the connected health market, and interviews with industry leaders and innovators.
7. Electronic Health Records
Author: Jerome H. Carter
The second edition of ‘Electronic Health Records: A Guide for Clinicians and Administrators’ offers medical professionals and administrators a comprehensive grasp of the functionality and significance of electronic health records (EHRs). The book addresses the numerous inquiries when assessing, procuring, and utilizing an EHR system. It is a valuable resource for individuals who remain undecided about investing in an EHR system or seek a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of the growth potential and associated challenges of EHRs. The book offers insightful guidance and effectively combines written explanations with visual aids such as figures and tables. It is an exceptional resource for introductory courses on healthcare systems.
8. Ensuring the Integrity of Electronic Health Records: The Best Practices for E-records Compliance
Author: Orlando López
‘Ensuring the Integrity of Electronic Health Records: The Best Practices for E-records Compliance’ is a comprehensive guide that emphasizes the crucial role of data integrity in the design, implementation, and utilization of systems handling electronic health records (EHRs). The book highlights the importance of recording data accurately and ensuring its consistency throughout its lifecycle. Providing practical insights and up-to-date information enables a better understanding of the controls necessary for maintaining compliance with EHR regulations. With a specific focus on production and quality control systems in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, the book addresses the suitability of EHR implementation, risk-assessed controls, and proper handling of EHRs, ultimately emphasizing the criticality of data integrity in ensuring patient safety and regulatory compliance.
9. Electronic Health Records
Author: Richard W. Gartee
‘Electronic Health Records: Understanding and Using Computerized Medical Records’ is an instructional resource for Health Information Management and Health Information Technology programs. Written by Gartee, this electronic health records educational book effectively utilizes EHR in medical practice through practical exercises and activities. Suitable for various educational institutions, the book includes a Student CD with networking capabilities. The ‘Medcin Software’, integrated into the instructors' manual, enhances learning with its multi-user functionality and widespread use in EHR systems. This comprehensive resource prepares students to apply their skills in real-world EHR applications.
10. Electronic Health Records and Medical Big Data
Author: Sharona Hoffman
‘Electronic Health Records and Medical Big Data: Law and Policy’ is a comprehensive book that offers a profound understanding of electronic health record (EHR) systems, medical big data, and the regulatory landscape governing them. It is a valuable resource for students and professionals alike, providing interdisciplinary analysis and insights. The book explores the impact of EHR systems on clinical care and the generation of medical big data, examining their benefits, drawbacks, and the legal framework surrounding their use. It addresses various challenges, including privacy, security, data quality, and analysis. With detailed recommendations for regulatory, policy, and technological improvements, the book emphasizes the vital role of the law in safeguarding and enhancing EHR systems and the medical big data derived from them. Its structure comprises two main parts, focusing on EHR systems in clinical settings and the utilization of medical big data for research and non-clinical purposes.
Final Chapter
This curated list of engaging electronic health records books serves as an essential read for patients, providers, and C-suite executives alike. These EHR books not only unravel the intricacies of the digital age but also provide valuable insights into the evolving healthcare industry. For healthcare professionals, these resources offer a deeper understanding of EHR implementation, usability, and the legal considerations surrounding them. Additionally, professionals can leverage the knowledge gained from these electronic health records educational books to navigate the complexities of integrating EHR systems within their organizations, driving strategic decision-making, and ensuring the delivery of effective and compassionate healthcare services. By embracing the transformative potential of these EHR books, informed by the wisdom shared within them, healthcare leaders can forge a path toward a more efficient, patient-centered, and technologically-advanced healthcare system.
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