Healthtech Security
Article | November 29, 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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Health Technology, Digital Healthcare
Article | September 8, 2023
NIS2 Cybersecurity Rules Approaching: Is Your Organization Prepared? The EU NIS cybersecurity regulations are evolving for 2024, and if you’re not currently aware of how they’ll apply to your organization, now is the time to get up to speed with the desired requirements. Not only is the directive being tightened, but an extended range of healthcare and related organizations will be added to the list of ‘critical entities’ that must comply. These include certain medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and organizations that carry out R&D. The Network and Information Systems (NIS) standards were set up in 2016 to protect essential services – such as water, energy, healthcare, transport, and digital infrastructure – from online cyberattacks. The updated legislation, NIS2, will have stricter rules,reporting requirements, and higher penalties for non-compliance. They will apply to medium-sized and large businesses that operate within one or more EU countries. Those based only in the UK can’t sit back; however, the original NIS regulations will still apply as part of British law. What’s more, a UK version of the rules is coming very soon, and it’s likely that the framework will closely resemble the EU’s. What will the requirements cover? There are a number of cyber risk management measures that all organizations that come under the scope of NIS2 will be required to put in place. For instance, they will need to conduct regular security assessments and risk analyses, adopt incident response and handling plans, and appoint a chief information security officer (CISO), among other obligations. The new directive will streamline and strengthen incident reporting requirements. Entities must notify regulators of any incident that has compromised data or had a significant impact on the provision of their services, such as causing severe operational disruption or financial loss. Applying information system security policies and business continuity plans will form part of the obligations, as will conducting cybersecurity testing and training for all staff. The use of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and encryption, wherever appropriate, will also be mandated. There is plenty of focus within the directive on the cornerstones of cybersecurity best practices particularly, the proper control of administrator-level account credentials, privileged access, and endpoints, all of which are prime targets for attackers. Under NIS2, organizations are being separated into ‘critical’ and ‘important’ entities. It’s important to determine which category yours’ will fall under, as each has different requirements. The third-party threat will also be addressed in NIS2 by pulling in managed service providers (MSPs) to the list of ‘critical entities’, with the aim of keeping digital supply chains secure. MSPs are often granted privileged access to clients’ corporate systems and networks, which creates security risks. What are the consequences of non-compliance? Organizations that come under the regulations’ purview will be subject to random checks, regular security audits, on-site inspections, and off-site supervision. For those found to be in breach, sanctions could include warnings, temporary suspension of certain activities, and temporary prohibition to exercise certain managerial functions. Financial penalties could be as high as 10 million Euros or 2% of an organization’s global turnover, whichever is higher. What steps should healthcare organizations take now? Organizations should take action to establish whether the EU or UK NIS2 regulations will apply to them and what their responsibilities will be. Having identified any gaps in existing cybersecurity processes, policies, and practices, they must determine what changes need to be made to address them. As a priority, they must review their incident response plans and incident management and reporting procedures. It’s also a good idea to begin assessing the security posture of partners and third parties in the supply chain and incorporating relevant security requirements into contracts. Given the framework’s focus on protecting privileged admin accounts, organizations should implement controls limiting the number of staff members with these robust credentials. Implementing privileged access management (PAM) will allow IT to control who is granted access to which systems, applications, and services, for how long, and what they can do while using them. Preparing for the introduction of the EU NIS2 regulations should be considered more than just a compliance exercise. By meeting the strengthened requirements, healthcare organizations will be building a foundation of resilience that protects them, their customers, and the essential services they provide.
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Health Technology, Digital Healthcare
Article | August 16, 2023
Stay at the forefront of the digital healthcare revolution by mastering EHR analytics. Discover the top EHR certifications that provide comprehensive training and industry-recognized credentials.
As healthcare organizations increasingly embrace digital solutions, the demand for skilled professionals well-versed in EHR analytics continues to soar. Numerous certifications and courses have emerged to meet this demand, offering comprehensive training and industry-recognized credentials.
This article delves into the top EHR certifications and courses, exploring their unique features, advantages, and opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
1. Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist
By pursuing this course, participants will gain knowledge and practical skills in EHR, medical billing & coding, anatomy & physiology, medical terminology, medical law and ethics, and health insurance in the United States. This electronic health record specialist certification includes hands-on exercises using specialized software to create patient records, generate lab reports, and take notes & codes. Furthermore, it emphasizes the legal aspects of patient confidentiality and the responsible disclosure of medical records, ensuring a solid understanding of privacy regulations and ethical obligations within the healthcare industry.
2. Deep learning in Electronic Health Records - CDSS 2
The course provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles of electronic health records (EHR) while also addressing the challenges of applying time-series classification methods to EHR data, such as missing values and variable heterogeneity. Professionals will learn various imputation techniques and encoding strategies to handle these challenges effectively. Upon completion of the course, University of Glasgow awards a certificate. Additionally, this electronic health records certification explores the role of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) in analyzing data to aid healthcare providers in making informed decisions and improving patient care.
3. Introduction to Electronic Health Records
The course aims to provide an introduction to the field of digital health, covering essential concepts and definitions in this emerging area. It encompasses various vital topics, including Learning Health Systems, EHR, and a wide range of digital health technologies such as mobile applications, wearable devices, health information systems, telehealth, telemedicine, ML, AI, and big data. The EHR analytics course evaluates these technologies by examining the opportunities and challenges they present and the evidence of their effectiveness in the context of digital health, both globally and within public health and healthcare domains. This electronic health record certification includes a case study on using digital health technologies to address various aspects of the global response to COVID-19.
4. Interprofessional Healthcare Informatics
This course is offered jointly by the University of Minnesota and its National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education. It provides a hands-on and interactive exploration of fundamental informatics tools and techniques, incorporating technology-enabled educational innovations to enhance the learning experience. The ten modules in the course will help participants create an online learning community and a functioning healthcare informatics network. The EHR analytics course covers multiple topics, such as emerging technologies, telehealth, gaming, simulations, and eScience. It aims to collectively imagine and shape the future of healthcare informatics within the rapidly evolving landscape. The course welcomes healthcare professionals and IT enthusiasts, encouraging a diverse and interdisciplinary approach to learning.
5. Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist
The Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) course is a fully-online program designed to train individuals to become certified specialists in electronic health records. It equips participants with the necessary skills to navigate EHR systems and pass the CEHR certification exam. In this EHR certification program, professionals will learn essential tasks such as auditing patient records for compliance, extracting clinical information, coding for reimbursement claims, processing medical record requests, reviewing documents for accuracy, collecting patient data, and facilitating communication with healthcare professionals and insurance providers. The course focuses on hands-on experience with actual EHR software, provides an overview of EHR systems, emphasizes compliance with HIPAA regulations, explores various medical record components, and trains students to track vital patient information and report public health data effectively.
6. Electronic Healthcare Records Basics, Plain & Simple
This EHR analytics course emphasizes the critical role EHRs play in improving healthcare services. The course holds immense importance as it delves into topics such as the comparison between digital and paper patient records, definitions of EMR, EHR, and PHR, the necessity for a unified view of records, the critical components of EHR systems, perspectives from both patients and clinicians, technology-related challenges, the concept of meaningful use, and the impact of the 21st Century Cures Act in facilitating advancements in healthcare. By undertaking this course, participants will acquire comprehensive knowledge as well as an understanding of EHR systems and their potential for revolutionizing healthcare delivery.
7. Records and Health Information Management
This comprehensive EHR training certification program has been designed for professionals looking to advance their careers or seeking to stay up-to-date in the medical field and prepare for industry-standard certification exams. The course covers essential skills such as processing patient admission and discharge documents, accurately recording and maintaining information in the electronic medical record (EMR), understanding third-party reimbursement terminology and concepts, and utilizing computer hardware as well as software to enter and process data using medical record software. Learners can get an excellent opportunity to gain comprehensive insights into electronic health records and enhance career prospects in the healthcare industry.
Closing Lines
The EHR analytics certifications discussed in this article offer healthcare professionals invaluable opportunities for long-term success and growth in the evolving realm of healthcare informatics. By acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge through these programs, professionals can enhance their proficiency in managing and utilizing EHR systems, positioning themselves as highly sought-after assets within the healthcare industry.
The comprehensive EHR certification training provided by these certifications and courses not only equips individuals with the technical know-how but also grants them industry-recognized credentials that validate their expertise. This recognition opens doors to diverse career pathways, including positions in healthcare organizations, consulting firms, research institutions, and governmental agencies. Moreover, staying abreast of the latest developments in EHR systems through continuous education ensures professionals remain at the forefront of technological advancements, enabling them to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced digital healthcare landscape.
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Article | December 8, 2020
A cruelly ironic truth is that nurses and other caregivers assisting injured and ill patients often wind up injured themselves. In fact, the caregiver profession has among the highest rates of injury, with back injuries being the most common and the most debilitating. Every year, more than 10% of caregivers leave the field because of back injuries. More than half of all caregivers will experience chronic back pain.
Most back injuries to caregivers happen when lifting patients from beds or wheelchairs. Injuries can occur instantly, but they can develop over time as well, often without the caregiver’s awareness. For example, the caregiver can sustain disc damage gradually and not feel any pain, and by the time he or she does experience pain, there can already be serious damage.
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