Active Aging Series: Beating Heart Surgery

Rockford Health System and Wesley Willows are proud to present the Active Aging series of educational topics for your healthy life. Active Aging presentations will be offered the first Thursday of every month. The events, held at 4142 Johns Farm Road in the Town Center of Wesley Willows, are free and the public is welcome to attend.

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ECG Management Consultants

ECG Management Consultants has been the trusted adviser for thousands of projects across health systems, hospitals, academic medical centers, and medical groups since our founding in 1973. We apply our 4 decades of knowledge and expertise to help clients of all sizes and scopes find success in the new model of healthcare...

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Health Technology, Digital Healthcare

How Virtual Care and Telehealth are Redefining Healthcare

Article | August 21, 2023

Virtual care and telehealth are no longer seen as merely an innovative method of delivering healthcare; technology is now indispensable to protecting patients, staff, and PPE resources amid the coronavirus pandemic. In a recent Harvard Medical School blog, Lee H. Schwamm, MD, shared that “telehealth, the virtual care platforms that allow health care professionals and patients to meet by phone or video chat, seems tailor-made for this moment in time… The current crisis makes virtual care solutions like telehealth an indispensable tool.” He believes that the role of telehealth is vital to our country as “it can help flatten the curve of infections and help us to deploy medical staff and lifesaving equipment wisely.”

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Health Technology, Digital Healthcare

Top 25 EHR Companies Shaping the Future of Healthcare Technology

Article | August 16, 2023

Discover the EHR companies that empower medical professionals with user-friendly interfaces and clinical decision support. Stay abreast of the top EHR companies reshaping healthcare delivery. Electronic health records (EHRs) have become vital in streamlining patient care, enhancing efficiency, and promoting data-driven decision-making. As healthcare providers shift from traditional paper-based systems to digital solutions, numerous EHR companies have emerged, providing advanced EHR technologies that transform how medical information is collected, organized, and utilized. This article features the top 25 EHR companies at the forefront of this digital revolution, showcasing their innovative solutions, commitment to data security, interoperability, and user-centric designs. 1. WebPT WebPT is a premier rehab therapy platform that elevates patient care and drives business growth. With a comprehensive suite of features, including scheduling, documentation, billing, outcomes tracking, business reporting, and system integrations, it offers a robust web-based solution that caters to outpatient settings of all sizes, facility types, and specialties. Since its launch in 2008, WebPT has demonstrated remarkable growth and success, earning its place on the prestigious ‘Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest-Growing Companies’ for an impressive nine consecutive years, an accomplishment achieved by less than 1% of companies on the Inc. 5000 list. 2. CarePaths EHR CarePaths EHR, a renowned provider of affordable behavioral health EHR and practice management system, is recognized among the best EHR companies catering to psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors in private practice, group practice, and health systems. Its all-inclusive package offers seamless management of various practice aspects, including patient records, clinical record keeping, customized documentation, treatment plans, outcomes & assessment tracking, and practice management tools. CarePaths EHR offers practitioners a seamless experience with eligibility verification, scheduling, reporting, accounting, and convenient ePrescribing functionality, even from mobile devices. 3. iPatientCare iPatientCare is a leading provider of a comprehensive suite of innovative healthcare products and value-added services dedicated to assisting physician offices, rural health clinics, and community/federally qualified health centers (CHC/FQHC) in enhancing patient care, improving patient health outcomes, and reducing the costs associated with delivering care. Its highly acclaimed EHR, integrated practice solutions, and additional services, such as revenue cycle enhancement and quality improvement consulting, offer a complete package to effectively manage practice operations, boost revenue generation, and provide superior patient care. iPatientCare enables healthcare providers to significantly reduce accounts receivable (A/R) days and enhance collection rates while streamlining billing processes, alleviating internal workload, and bridging staffing gaps. 4. Azalea Health Azalea Health is a leading provider of interoperable cloud-based healthcare solutions and services. Its comprehensive portfolio includes electronic health records (EHR) with integrated telehealth functionality, personal health records, mobile health applications, and interoperability services. With a strong focus on customer success, this EHR company caters to practices and ambulatory hospital strategies, delivering immediate improvements in cash flow and clinical outcomes through innovations in revenue cycle performance and care coordination. The company's offerings include laboratory ordering and results management, patient portal and PHR solutions, telehealth services, population health management tools, revenue cycle performance services, patient-centered medical home services, and pre-certification services. 5. Bizmatics PrognoCIS, engineered, owned, and serviced by Bizmatics Inc., is one of the leading EHR companies that provides clinical and business productivity software & services to medical practices and multi-specialties. Its flagship cloud-based application, PrognoCIS, offers a fully-integrated solution encompassing EHR, telemedicine, practice management, medical billing, RCM, patient engagement tools, and more. PrognoCIS EHR, built on a robust multi-tier internet architecture, supports various medical specialties and offers customizable templates for tailored documentation. With seamless information flow between the EHR and Billing modules, the company ensures real-time data exchange. It is HIPAA-compliant, ICD-10 enabled, and Meaningful Stage 2 Certified, with click-saving features that enhance productivity and optimize workflow. 6. Modernizing Medicine Modernizing Medicine Gastroenterology, formerly known as gMed and now a subsidiary of Modernizing Medicine, is a renowned provider of an integrated health IT platform designed explicitly for the gastroenterology industry. Its comprehensive range of data-driven products and services caters to private practices, ambulatory surgery centers, and hospitals. The offerings include an advanced EHR system, an efficient endoscopy report writer, a comprehensive practice management solution, a patient engagement portal, a value-based care solution, data analytics tools, and revenue cycle management services. Additionally, gMed Canada, Inc. operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Modernizing Medicine Gastroenterology, Inc., further extending the company's reach and impact in the healthcare industry. 7. Sevocity Sevocity is a leading provider of electronic health record (EHR) solutions dedicated to empowering physician practices and health centers to adopt and utilize EHRs effectively. It offers affordable and user-friendly cloud-based solutions supported by exceptional customer service. Sevocity's cloud solution ensures secure and convenient access to clinical information anywhere. The innovative model of this EHR software development company enables physician practices and health centers to implement cost-effective solutions with minimal upfront investments and eliminates the need for additional maintenance costs. Electronic health record companies such as this one is committed to facilitating the seamless integration of EHR technology, enabling healthcare providers to enhance their practice efficiency and deliver quality patient care. 8. Visonex Visonex prioritizes establishing solid client relationships by going beyond technology and ensuring ongoing success. With its Clarity EHR solution, Visonex offers a treatment-centric approach tailored to the unique needs of dialysis clinics. Its user-friendly and configurable system keeps clinics ahead of regulatory changes and provides exceptional support with 24/7 assistance and cost-free webinars. The electronic health record company also offers Visonex Enhanced Services that combine Clarity EHR with data management and dialysis billing services, including CROWNWeb electronic submission, quality measures assessment tools, and specialized billers. 9. WRS Health WRS Health is a cloud-based EHR and practice management software company. Its core mission is to assist physicians in achieving balance in their roles as healers, business owners, and individuals. With a focus on simplifying operational tasks and promoting business growth, WRS Health has developed systems and processes that automate practice management, allowing physicians to devote their time to patient care. Its comprehensive tools seamlessly manage clinical and billing information, while additional services such as the virtual front desk assistant, MIPS management, and revenue cycle management support automation and task delegation. 10. eClinical Solutions eClinical Solutions is a globally recognized company that supports life sciences organizations in expediting their clinical development endeavors through its biometrics services and ‘elluminate’ Clinical Data Cloud expertise. The ‘elluminate’ platform serves as the cornerstone of digital trials, allowing clients to conveniently access all their data from a single centralized location. By integrating eClinical Biometrics Services, clients gain self-service capabilities and benefit from advanced analytics, empowering them to make informed and timely business decisions. With its comprehensive suite of services and cutting-edge technology, eClinical Solutions plays a pivotal role in accelerating clinical development initiatives worldwide. 11. AdvancedMD AdvancedMD is a prominent electronic health record software company specializing in cloud medical office software. It caters to ambulatory medical practices, providing comprehensive solutions to support independent physicians and their staff. The company offers a flexible outsourced billing option, allowing practices to leverage the services of a third-party billing company. It empowers clients with state-of-the-art tools and technologies that seamlessly integrate practice and patient workflows, creating a transformative practice experience. With AdvancedMD, healthcare facilities can efficiently handle higher patient volumes, resulting in enhanced productivity and improved financial outcomes. Patients benefit from electronically connecting and engaging with their healthcare providers, enhancing their overall healthcare experience. 12. Practice Fusion Practice Fusion is cloud-based EHR offers time-saving features like customizable templates and patient charts that adapt to individual needs, focusing on enhancing efficiency and streamlining workflows. This EHR platform integrates with local pharmacies, laboratories, imaging centers, and other tools, enabling smooth information exchange. Clients benefit from flexible billing options, collaborating with industry-leading partners to expedite payment processes. Monitoring progress is simplified with insightful dashboards, and reporting data can be directly submitted to CMS through the EHR. As a cloud-based solution, there is no need to download software or manage hardware, ensuring both security and up-to-date functionality. 13. DrChrono DrChrono aims to enhance the quality of care by making it more informed, interactive, and personalized. The company's open platform is the backbone for various healthcare solutions, including telehealth, electronic health records (EHR), practice management, medical billing, and revenue cycle management. With a strong emphasis on flexibility and customization, the platform easily extends through a robust API and offers a marketplace of applications and services. DrChrono's platform facilitates millions of patient appointments and efficiently processes billions of dollars in medical billing. It plays a crucial role in revolutionizing the healthcare industry by empowering providers and patients. 14. CureMD CureMD's portfolio comprises a range of cutting-edge solutions, including certified electronic medical records (EMR), practice management, patient portal, and medical billing services. By offering these comprehensive tools, CureMD aims to expedite the adoption of EHRs and assist healthcare providers in achieving ‘Meaningful Use’ qualification, thereby driving positive outcomes and maximizing value and subsidy payments. Leveraging advanced web technology and award-winning usability, CureMD empowers healthcare professionals to make informed decisions, streamline operations, and ensure compliance with industry standards. CureMD's comprehensive EMR solution is tailored to customize care delivery, enhance quality and patient safety, maximize efficiency, and reduce expenses. Its integrated platform combines practice management, electronic health records, patient portals, and a mobile care solution catering to medical practices of all sizes. 14. CureMD CureMD's portfolio comprises a range of cutting-edge solutions, including certified electronic medical records (EMR), practice management, patient portal, and medical billing services. By offering these comprehensive tools, CureMD aims to expedite the adoption of EHRs and assist healthcare providers in achieving ‘Meaningful Use’ qualification, thereby driving positive outcomes and maximizing value and subsidy payments. Leveraging advanced web technology and award-winning usability, CureMD empowers healthcare professionals to make informed decisions, streamline operations, and ensure compliance with industry standards. CureMD's comprehensive EMR solution is tailored to customize care delivery, enhance quality and patient safety, maximize efficiency, and reduce expenses. Its integrated platform combines practice management, electronic health records, patient portals, and a mobile care solution catering to medical practices of all sizes. 15. RXNT Founded in 1999, RXNT has significantly impacted the healthcare industry by introducing a groundbreaking cloud-based solution for prescription writing. Over the years, its commitment to innovation has remained unwavering, enabling it to deliver top-notch solutions that set the industry standard continuously. This electronic health record software company takes pride in offering these cutting-edge solutions at an affordable cost, ensuring that healthcare providers can access the best tools available. By providing these essential tools, RXNT empowers thousands of healthcare providers to concentrate on their core competency—delivering exceptional patient care. 16. TherapyNotes, LLC TherapyNotes is a unique online practice management system tailored specifically for behavioral health, encompassing a comprehensive range of features, including robust notes, scheduling, and billing capabilities. Setting itself apart from other practice management systems, the company excels in its notes system, providing an intuitive form-filled approach that significantly accelerates data entry and note-writing processes. Furthermore, the platform offers a dynamic 'to-do' list that automates task management, guiding clinicians on necessary actions such as post-session note writing, contacting primary care physicians when necessary, and scheduling treatment plan updates. 17. SimplePractice SimplePractice is an all-in-one practice management solution that serves private practices in the health and wellness sector. With a remarkable customer base of over 169,000 practitioners, the company has established itself as the leading EHR provider. This comprehensive platform empowers practitioners to efficiently manage their businesses with various powerful features, including autoPay, online booking, telehealth capabilities, and customizable documentation and notes. Through SimplePractice, practitioners can efficiently optimize their workflows, resulting in significant time savings. 18. eMDs eMDs, a brand of CompuGroup Medical, stands as a prominent provider of comprehensive solutions designed to promote the well-being of both patients and healthcare providers. With a strong focus on integration and connectivity, the company offers a range of solutions, including EHRs, practice management software, RCM, and credentialing services tailored for physician practices and enterprises. CompuGroup Medical understands the unique needs of healthcare professionals and strives to deliver software solutions that enhance physician productivity and elevate the overall clinical experience. EHR companies, such as this one, demonstrate their commitment to excellence through the accolades they receive, with eMDs software consistently earning top rankings in respected physician and industry surveys conducted by prestigious organizations. 19. The Echo Group The Echo Group is recognized as a leading developer and implementer of enterprise-grade software solutions exclusively designed for behavioral health organizations across the United States. The company's suite of tools includes visual EHRs, government reporting and compliance features, clinical and financial decision support functionalities, as well as medical and government billing capabilities. The company provides flexible solutions for managed care organizations with both self-hosted and SaaS deployment options. It offers additional services such as RCM, IT support, fiscal and clinical process workflow analysis. 20. MD Synergy Solutions MD Synergy Solutions is a renowned provider of integrated solutions for medical offices, utilizing its advanced cloud-based technology and innovative RCM services. The company's technology platform encompasses EMR, PM, and patient portals, enabling seamless operations within medical practices. Using proprietary rule engine technology, MD Synergy Solutions delivers exceptional RCM service through its WorkQueues. The company's comprehensive offering caters to small-to-large physician practices, offering easily implementable and adaptable cloud-based software solutions. 21. Pulse Systems, Inc. Pulse, a reputable RCM company, offers advanced medical billing services and cutting-edge technologies to facilitate payment processes, streamline workflow, and enhance patient care delivery for physicians. Renowned as a leading SaaS and mobile solutions provider, Pulse offers a comprehensive suite of integrated EHR, PM, population health, electronic prescription, medical billing clearinghouse, patient engagement, and payment technologies to physicians, medical service providers, and patients alike. With a broad user base encompassing thousands of providers across over 40 specialties, Pulse ensures that its clients achieve optimal financial and clinical outcomes. 22. DocuTAP DocuTAP is a dynamic health information technology company offering integrated technology solutions to over 3,000 on-demand healthcare practices and primary care clinics nationwide. Renowned for its flagship product, DocuTAP's EMR and Practice Management software, this EHR company uses an innovative workflow optimization approach. Its comprehensive on-demand healthcare solution includes 'Clockwise.MD' patient engagement technology, RCM services, as well as DocuTAP Insight, a powerful business intelligence tool with customizable reports and industry benchmarks. 23. Elation Health Elation Health is widely recognized as a premier technology platform for primary care that prioritizes delivering exceptional value. With a strong focus on clinical excellence, the company has provided innovative solutions since its establishment in 2010. Elation Health offers a collaborative EHR platform, enabling practices to effectively initiate, expand, communicate, and excel in delivering personalized, top-tier care to their patients. This electronic health record company is committed to supporting primary care clinicians in preserving the art of medicine while adapting to the ever-changing healthcare environment. 24. Net Health Net Health is a company dedicated to leveraging data to improve human health. Its comprehensive solutions include EHR software and predictive analytics that provide actionable insights for various medical specialties, such as rehab therapy, wound care, home health and hospice, and employee health. Net Health empowers caregivers and organizations to effectively engage with patients, streamline documentation, optimize staffing, ensure appropriate reimbursement, and adhere to regulatory requirements. With its unique approach to analytics, this EHR software company integrates valuable insights into clinical and operational workflows, resulting in improved care quality and enhanced business performance. 25. ChiroTouch ChiroTouch is widely recognized as a leading provider of cloud-based chiropractic software, offering a fully-integrated EHR solution tailored exclusively for chiropractors. This innovative platform is built from scratch and can be seamlessly accessed from any device at any time, providing chiropractors unparalleled convenience and flexibility. ChiroTouch eliminates the need for multiple vendors by offering a comprehensive system that handles payment processing and insurance claims management, allowing chiropractors to focus on their patients instead of paperwork. The software is designed to be user-friendly and accessible, ensuring a smooth transition for practitioners. The new generation of ChiroTouch is purposefully designed to optimize efficiency in all areas, accommodating various payment methods, including cash and insurance. In a Nutshell These top EHR companies will enable medical professionals to benefit from user-friendly interfaces, streamlined workflows, and enhanced clinical decision support, improving patient care and efficiency. Furthermore, the innovations and expertise of these EHR companies have a positive ripple effect, inspiring collaboration and driving advancements across the healthcare ecosystem. By embracing these electronic health record software companies, professionals and EHR companies can harness the power of digital health records to revolutionize healthcare delivery and contribute to the industry's ongoing transformation.

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Health Technology

Transforming Digital Healthcare Software through AI-Enhanced UX Testing

Article | September 12, 2023

Embracing the AI Revolution: Transforming Digital Healthcare Software through AI-Enhanced UX Testing The wave of demographic change sweeping the United States presents an urgent call to action for healthcare providers. According to the US Census Bureau, adults over 65 will account for a quarter of the US population by 2060, signaling a drastic shift in healthcare delivery needs. More than half a million of this demographic will be centenarians, accentuating the need for digital experiences tailored to seniors' unique needs. Despite the rapid advancement of digital health technologies, research indicates that many senior citizens struggle to adapt. A recent study reported that 40% of adults over 65 believe their telemedicine visit was inferior to traditional in-person care, with a meager 5% finding it superior. The promise of convenience delivered by digital health is often overshadowed by the frustration associated with technical difficulties. An astounding 75% of senior citizens admit they need assistance when using new electronic devices. Let's consider the patient portal app, a common touchpoint in the digital health journey. Despite its apparent simplicity, seniors find processes like logging in troublesome due to issues like forgotten passwords, technical bugs, or content readability. This scenario underlines the crucial need for comprehensive User Experience (UX) testing to eliminate these barriers and provide a seamless digital health experience. The Complex Landscape of Healthcare UX Testing The complexity of UX testing in healthcare has been exacerbated by the interplay of multiple modules, services, platforms, and vendors. Take Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems, for instance, which undergo frequent updates, each one potentially impacting the system as a whole. Traditional manual testing methodologies are proving to be time-consuming and costly. Though automation has revolutionized sectors from automotive to finance, the healthcare industry appears to be lagging. A study by the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) reveals that a mere 15% of healthcare providers have adopted modern test automation platforms. Meanwhile, a significant 41% still rely on manual testing. As EMR systems grow increasingly complex and customized, this over-reliance on manual testing poses daunting challenges. The gravity of this issue is amplified by a startling revelation from the HIMSS study - only 6% of healthcare executive leaders express confidence in their organizations' testing practices. In an increasingly digitized healthcare environment, such a low level of assurance raises substantial concerns about patient safety. Although 75% of the surveyed providers have invested in software testing to safeguard their bottom lines, nearly two-thirds confess feeling inadequately resourced in terms of time, money, and talent to meet future testing requirements. As the list of testing demands grows, QA teams are frequently stretched thin, leaving many potential user journey scenarios untested. The Power of AI in UX Testing for Better Patient Outcomes AI technologies hold the potential to revolutionize UX testing in healthcare. The modern healthcare application is a labyrinth of potential user journeys - a typical mobile application model can yield over 9 billion separate scenarios. To effectively navigate this colossal testing landscape, test automation tools employing Machine Learning (ML) algorithms are critical. By analyzing historical patterns, prioritized cases, and real-user insights, ML algorithms can auto-generate test cases and meticulously scrutinize each user interaction. This approach ensures an optimal digital experience and robust coverage of potential issues. The HIMSS study also provides a glimmer of hope, revealing that nearly 80% of healthcare providers plan to adopt real-time testing analytics for quality assurance. AI's role becomes pivotal in augmenting the capacity of software testing teams in this scenario. By leveraging historical patterns and prioritizing test cases, ML-powered testing tools can automate crucial tests across various platforms, devices, and operating systems. This symbiosis of human expertise and AI not only bolsters productivity but enables comprehensive testing coverage within tight time constraints. The Future of Healthcare Software UX Testing The path to perfecting a patient’s digital journey is fraught with challenges. Healthcare organizations venturing into automated software testing or contemplating in-house tool replacement must stay abreast of evolving healthcare testing requirements. This understanding is key when evaluating automation vendors against the backdrop of regulatory standards. Opting for a technology-agnostic solution ensures extensive test coverage, boosts efficiency, and guarantees longevity as technologies advance. Introducing your software QA teams to user-friendly, low/no-code test automation tools can simplify the onboarding process and fosters better collaboration with Dev teams and business testers. As we stand at the precipice of this transformative period in healthcare, it's clear that the AI revolution holds the key to unlocking the future of digital healthcare UX testing. By harnessing AI's potential, healthcare providers can ensure a user-friendly, seamless digital experience for the fastest-growing demographic, setting new industry standards in the process.

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Impact of Incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Healthcare Industry

Article | December 15, 2020

As medical science has improved rapidly, life expectancy around the world also has risen. Still, as longevity increases, healthcare systems are facing a growing demand for advanced services, increased costs, and a struggling workforce to meet various requirements of patients. Demand is driven by many unstoppable forces: a shift in lifestyle choices, shifting patient expectations, population aging, and the never-ending cycle of innovation are a few among others. Challenges Faced by the Healthcare Industry According to Mckinsey, one in four people in North America and Europe will be over the age of 65 by 2050. This shows that, soon, the healthcare industry will have to deal with a larger number of patients with more complex requirements. Catering to these patients is expensive and requires health systems for providing long-term focused and proactive care. To remain sustainable, healthcare systems need major transformational and structural changes. The industry also needs a larger workforce because according to the World Health Organization (WHO), globally there is a shortfall of approximately 9.9 million nurses, physicians, and midwives. Apart from attracting, training, and retaining these healthcare professionals, you also have to ensure that their time and effort add value to patient care. Utilizing the solutions powered by modern technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the healthcare industry, will add perfection and more value to human efforts. AI in the healthcare industry has the potential required to transform and revolutionize healthcare by addressing the challenges in the industry mentioned earlier. AI can better the outcomes, improve efficiency, and augment productivity in healthcare delivery. This article takes an in-depth look at the impact of AI in healthcare. Impact of AI in the Healthcare Industry In the coming years, AI in the healthcare industry will improve the day-to-day life of healthcare practitioners, augment the patient experience, improve care delivery, and can even facilitate life-saving treatments and revolutionize the industry. Additionally, AI will improve population-health management, operations, and strengthen innovations. According to Statista, the global AI healthcare market will increase to more than US$28 billion by 2025. Here is a detailed look into the areas where and how AI in the healthcare industry will be impactful. Chronic Care Management Chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, kidney diseases, are the leading cause of disability and death in the US and the main drivers of the country’s annual health cost. Effectively managing various chronic diseases is an overarching and long-term process. But with the help of the right tool, healthcare providers can meet the needs of these patients without delay. Artificial intelligence tools in the healthcare industry can help healthcare providers overcome the complexities of chronic disease management and make it more effective and provide quality treatment. AI in the healthcare industry is increasingly being leveraged by organizations to improve chronic disease management, enhance patient health, and drive down costs, which will also eventually result in data-driven and personalized care. AI in the healthcare industry is expected to move the industry toward proactive care delivery from a reactive one and lead the industry to provide more individualized treatments. This is just one of the ways AI in the medical industry is going to revolutionize chronic care management in hospitals. Care Delivery Artificial intelligence in the healthcare industry is changing the way care is delivered; it is expected to make healthcare more efficient, accurate, and accessible. Reducing costs and improving health outcomes are the values health systems and hospitals are trying to deliver to patients every day. Hospitals are increasingly incorporating technologies, which are powered by the use of AI in healthcare to meet the challenge. According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), AI in the healthcare industry has unlimited potential to solve most of the vexing challenges in the industry. They identify AI use cases in the healthcare industry in four broad areas, which are administrative, operational, financial, and clinical areas. Administrative Use Cases for AI in the Healthcare Industry • Admission procedures • Appointment scheduling • Customer service responses • Discharge instructions • Hiring and orientation protocols • Licensure verification • Patient check-in procedure • Prior authorizations • Quality measure reporting Operational Use Cases of AI in the Healthcare Industry • Inventory management • Materials management • Supply chain management • Facilities management Financial Use Cases for AI in the Healthcare Industry • Billing and collections • Claims management • Insurance eligibility verification • Revenue cycle management Clinical Use Cases of AI in the Healthcare Industry • Predictive technologies • Interventional technologies By incorporating and utilizing these scopes with AI in the healthcare industry, the industry can be transformed into a next-gen level in no time. It also allows healthcare practitioners to focus more on patients, which would eventually help in raising staff morale and improving retention. Clinical Decision Support Recent advancements in AI in the health industry are capable of enhancing the currently used clinical decision support (CDS) tools to have value-based imaging and to improve patient safety. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), the synergy between CDS systems and AI in the healthcare industry will be able to: • Reduce friction in radiology workflows • Identify relevant imaging features easily • Generate structured data to develop machine learning algorithms • Enable an evolution toward decision support for a holistic patient perspective • Suggest imaging examinations in complex clinical scenarios • Assist in identifying appropriate imaging opportunities • Suggest appropriate individualized screening • Aid health practitioners to ensure continuity of care AI in the healthcare industry is competent in making CDS a next-gen one, enhancing the experiences of radiologists and providers, and improving patient care. Diagnostics Slowly but surely, AI is improving almost every aspect of human life with innovations and advancements. The latest is that AI in the healthcare industry is impending a revolution in medical diagnostics by providing accurate risk assessments, accelerating disease detection, and boosting hospital productivity. By automatically prioritizing urgent cases and accelerating reading time, image recognition AI enhances the workflow of radiologists. It even helps in the prevention of diseases by the early detection of diseases. In medical images such as x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, AI-driven software can efficiently be used to accurately spot signs of many diseases, especially in detecting many chronic diseases such as cancer. According to the NIH, AI will be widely applied in the healthcare industry especially for various tasks such as patient engagement and adherence, diagnosis, and treatment recommendations. So, there is no doubt that AI in healthcare will revolutionize the diagnostic process in the approaching years by detecting diseases, classifying diseases, and improving the decision-making process. The application of AI in the healthcare industry will make people live longer. Triage and Diagnosis AI can be effectively used to automatically triage cases. AI algorithms will analyze the cases and forward cases to pathologists after determining the priority based on the probability of cases according to the criteria set by labs. This makes the workflow of pathologists easier and efficient. Through the process the algorithm will be able to: • Verify the digital images attached to the case belong to that case • Validate the tests ordered and match the specimen type • Identify cases marked as stat • Determine the cases, which can be positive or are most likely to be negative Moreover, AI technologies in the healthcare industry also can be effectively used to provide more accurate and faster diagnoses. This speeds up the entire process of triage and diagnosis and is expected to revolutionize the healthcare industry soon. The Future Outlook for AI in the Healthcare Industry Over the next few years, AI in the healthcare industry has the best opportunities in hybrid models to support clinicians in diagnosis, identifying risk factors, and in treatment planning. This scope will result in faster adoption of AI technology in healthcare, which will show measurable improvements in operational efficiency and patient outcomes. With a plethora of issues to overcome, which are driven by documented factors such as growing rates of chronic diseases and the aging population, it is obvious that the healthcare industry needs new innovative solutions. AI-powered solutions in the healthcare industry will achieve a clear impact on the global healthcare industry in a short time. Frequently Asked Questions Which is the best application of AI in the healthcare sector? Cognitive surgical robotics is the best application of AI in the healthcare sector as it helps practitioners collect data from real surgical processes, which would help in improving existing surgical approaches. Why is artificial intelligence important in healthcare? Artificial intelligence in healthcare is vital as it can help make decisions, analyze and manage data, and have conversations. So, AI will drastically change the everyday practices and roles of clinicians. When was AI-first used in healthcare? The term, Artificial intelligence (AI) was first described in 1950, but the limitations of the term prevented its acceptance. In the 2000s, these limitations were overcome and people started to accept the term.

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Spotlight

ECG Management Consultants

ECG Management Consultants has been the trusted adviser for thousands of projects across health systems, hospitals, academic medical centers, and medical groups since our founding in 1973. We apply our 4 decades of knowledge and expertise to help clients of all sizes and scopes find success in the new model of healthcare...

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Fitbit launched a large-scale study to validate its technology to detect atrial fibrillation

Fitbit | May 07, 2020

Fitbit launched a sweeping heart study on Wednesday aimed at exploring whether its devices can detect atrial fibrillation. The company's focus on health care, along with its work in clinical trials to alert users to conditions like hypertension and sleep apnea. Fitbit's strategy is to make easy-to-use health tools that detect a range of conditions more accessible to the general population. Wearables giant Fitbit launched a sweeping heart study on Wednesday aimed at exploring whether its devices can detect atrial fibrillation. It's part of Fitbit's broader ambitions in healthcare to use its wearable technology for preventive health to reduce the risk of life-threatening events like stroke by detecting problems earlier. With the launch of the heart study, Fitbit is chasing down competitor Apple which received FDA clearance in 2018 for its ECG feature and more recently launched a study with Johnson & Johnson to explore whether its own wearables can detect Afib. "Wearable data and the kinds of information wearable data can provide will serve as another tier in the healthcare system," Eric Friedman, Fitbit co-founder and chief technology officer told FierceHealthcare. Read More: DOXIMITY LAUNCHES DOXIMITY DIALER VIDEO- A FREE TELEHEALTH APP FOR PROVIDERS The company's focus on health care, along with its work in clinical trials to alert users to conditions like hypertension and sleep apnea, makes it clear that it wants to pivot its wearables from just fun accessories to health devices. Fitbit’s user-generated health data, combined with the company’s analytics, can provide an "early warning sign" to users about potential problems like irregular heart rhythms suggestive of atrial fibrillation (Afib), Friedman said. "It could serve as a 'check engine light' to help get that person to the appropriate level of care, and that could be, at first, a telehealth physician or a personal health coach. That's another layer in the healthcare system. Fitbit devices will be a "Minute Clinic' on your wrist before you have to go see a physician," he said. Fitbit's strategy is to make easy-to-use health tools that detect a range of conditions more accessible to the general population, according to the company. Until recently, tools for detecting AFib had a number of limitations and were only accessible if you visited a doctor, My hope is that advancing research on innovative and accessible technology, like Fitbit devices, will lead to more tools that help improve health outcomes and reduce the impact of AFib on a large scale. - Steven Lubitz, M.D., principal investigator of the Fitbit Heart Study Fitbit launched in 2007 and now has close to 30 million active users. In November, tech giant Google announced plans to buy the company for $2.1 billion, but that deal still needs to be approved by regulators. Scripps Research Institute and Stanford Medicine are collaborating with Fitbit on research aimed at using Fitbit data to help detect, track and contain infectious diseases like COVID-19. The two studies are examples of where Fitbit can fit in healthcare, Friedman said. The heart study looks at individual wearable data to detect heart health trends and the second study looks at population-level wearable data—including heart rate, sleep, and activity levels—to try to detect the early onset of a virus. "We're not trying to replace the healthcare system. Doctors and clinicians are dealing with acute healthcare issues and they don't have the bandwidth to look at longitudinal trends," Friedman said. "Where Fitbit wants to play and where we have value is that all-day, continuous health monitoring and guidance to help users stay healthy and manage their health conditions." Focus on heart health The Fitbit Heart Study aims to enroll hundreds of thousands of people, and its results will support the company’s regulatory submissions globally. To track heart rate, Fitbit’s devices use photoplethysmography (PPG) technology to measure the rate of blood flow directly from a user’s wrist. Theoretically, these measurements can be used to determine a user’s heart rhythm, which Fitbit’s algorithm will analyze for irregularities in the Fitbit Heart Study. Study participants who receive a notification about an irregular heart rhythm will be connected with a doctor for a virtual appointment at no cost and may receive a free electrocardiogram (ECG) patch in the mail to confirm the notification. One of the goals of the study is to understand how wearable data and virtual care can be used as a model of healthcare that does not involve in-person care, according to Tony Faranesh, senior research scientist at Fitbit. This model of care can be used to both offload the in-person care so the healthcare system can focus on more complicated, more acute health issues, and it's also a way of empowering and educating users about their own health and enabling them to make positive changes before they see a doctor. - Tony Faranesh, senior research scientist at Fitbit. AFib affects nearly 33.5 million people globally and patients with Afib have five times higher risk of stroke. But it also can be difficult to detect. Fitbit wearables have the potential to accelerate Afib detection because the devices provide 24/7 heart rate tracking. This enables long-term heart rhythm assessment, including when users are asleep. The optimal way to identify irregular rhythm through heart rate tracking technology is to screen when the body is at rest, according to the company. "We have the opportunity to develop and provide access to technology that may be able to improve public health and save lives," Friedman said. Fitbit also is pursuing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other global regulatory authorities for its Afib detection software. Read More: HOSPITAL AND PROVIDER GROUPS CHEER NEW CMS FLEXIBILITY ON TELEHEALTH, CAPACITY AND ACO LOSSES Fitbit inked a multiyear partnership with pharmaceutical giants Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer last year to develop programs to identify and support people found to be at increased risk for stroke. Those programs will be implemented following FDA clearance for Fitbit's Afib detection software. Fitbit completed a clinical trial of its new ECG feature for spot detection of AFib and plans to seek review by the FDA and global regulatory authorities. About Fitbit We're a passionate team dedicated to health and fitness who are building products that help transform people's lives. While health can be serious business, we feel it doesn't have to be. We believe you're more likely to reach your goals if you're encouraged to have fun, smile, and feel empowered along the way.

Read More

The 5:2 Fasting Diet Benefits the Heart

LabRoots | March 21, 2018

A popular fasting diet called the 5:2 or “Fast Diet” may actually be better than traditional calorie-restricting diets for heart health. Scientists from the University of Surrey found recently that the 5:2 diet lowered levels of fat in the blood and reduced blood pressure. The 5:2 diet was popularized by British doctor and journalist Michael Mosley. The diet contains no requirements about which foods to eat, only about when you should eat them. Five days of the week are normal eating days, and the other two days of the week restrict calories to 500-600 per day, with at least one non-fasting day in between the two restricted calorie days.

Read More

Heart Failure from Pressure Overload is Preventable

LabRoots | March 20, 2018

Heart failure that ultimately results from disease factors like high blood pressure can be predicted and potentially prevented. In a new University of Alabama at Birmingham study, scientists show how macrophages from the immune system contribute to pressure overload-related heart failure. Pressure overload that leads to heart failure can either be in the form of high blood pressure or aortic stenosis, a condition where the aortic valve opening in the heart narrows and causes the heart muscle to work harder than it should.

Read More

Fitbit launched a large-scale study to validate its technology to detect atrial fibrillation

Fitbit | May 07, 2020

Fitbit launched a sweeping heart study on Wednesday aimed at exploring whether its devices can detect atrial fibrillation. The company's focus on health care, along with its work in clinical trials to alert users to conditions like hypertension and sleep apnea. Fitbit's strategy is to make easy-to-use health tools that detect a range of conditions more accessible to the general population. Wearables giant Fitbit launched a sweeping heart study on Wednesday aimed at exploring whether its devices can detect atrial fibrillation. It's part of Fitbit's broader ambitions in healthcare to use its wearable technology for preventive health to reduce the risk of life-threatening events like stroke by detecting problems earlier. With the launch of the heart study, Fitbit is chasing down competitor Apple which received FDA clearance in 2018 for its ECG feature and more recently launched a study with Johnson & Johnson to explore whether its own wearables can detect Afib. "Wearable data and the kinds of information wearable data can provide will serve as another tier in the healthcare system," Eric Friedman, Fitbit co-founder and chief technology officer told FierceHealthcare. Read More: DOXIMITY LAUNCHES DOXIMITY DIALER VIDEO- A FREE TELEHEALTH APP FOR PROVIDERS The company's focus on health care, along with its work in clinical trials to alert users to conditions like hypertension and sleep apnea, makes it clear that it wants to pivot its wearables from just fun accessories to health devices. Fitbit’s user-generated health data, combined with the company’s analytics, can provide an "early warning sign" to users about potential problems like irregular heart rhythms suggestive of atrial fibrillation (Afib), Friedman said. "It could serve as a 'check engine light' to help get that person to the appropriate level of care, and that could be, at first, a telehealth physician or a personal health coach. That's another layer in the healthcare system. Fitbit devices will be a "Minute Clinic' on your wrist before you have to go see a physician," he said. Fitbit's strategy is to make easy-to-use health tools that detect a range of conditions more accessible to the general population, according to the company. Until recently, tools for detecting AFib had a number of limitations and were only accessible if you visited a doctor, My hope is that advancing research on innovative and accessible technology, like Fitbit devices, will lead to more tools that help improve health outcomes and reduce the impact of AFib on a large scale. - Steven Lubitz, M.D., principal investigator of the Fitbit Heart Study Fitbit launched in 2007 and now has close to 30 million active users. In November, tech giant Google announced plans to buy the company for $2.1 billion, but that deal still needs to be approved by regulators. Scripps Research Institute and Stanford Medicine are collaborating with Fitbit on research aimed at using Fitbit data to help detect, track and contain infectious diseases like COVID-19. The two studies are examples of where Fitbit can fit in healthcare, Friedman said. The heart study looks at individual wearable data to detect heart health trends and the second study looks at population-level wearable data—including heart rate, sleep, and activity levels—to try to detect the early onset of a virus. "We're not trying to replace the healthcare system. Doctors and clinicians are dealing with acute healthcare issues and they don't have the bandwidth to look at longitudinal trends," Friedman said. "Where Fitbit wants to play and where we have value is that all-day, continuous health monitoring and guidance to help users stay healthy and manage their health conditions." Focus on heart health The Fitbit Heart Study aims to enroll hundreds of thousands of people, and its results will support the company’s regulatory submissions globally. To track heart rate, Fitbit’s devices use photoplethysmography (PPG) technology to measure the rate of blood flow directly from a user’s wrist. Theoretically, these measurements can be used to determine a user’s heart rhythm, which Fitbit’s algorithm will analyze for irregularities in the Fitbit Heart Study. Study participants who receive a notification about an irregular heart rhythm will be connected with a doctor for a virtual appointment at no cost and may receive a free electrocardiogram (ECG) patch in the mail to confirm the notification. One of the goals of the study is to understand how wearable data and virtual care can be used as a model of healthcare that does not involve in-person care, according to Tony Faranesh, senior research scientist at Fitbit. This model of care can be used to both offload the in-person care so the healthcare system can focus on more complicated, more acute health issues, and it's also a way of empowering and educating users about their own health and enabling them to make positive changes before they see a doctor. - Tony Faranesh, senior research scientist at Fitbit. AFib affects nearly 33.5 million people globally and patients with Afib have five times higher risk of stroke. But it also can be difficult to detect. Fitbit wearables have the potential to accelerate Afib detection because the devices provide 24/7 heart rate tracking. This enables long-term heart rhythm assessment, including when users are asleep. The optimal way to identify irregular rhythm through heart rate tracking technology is to screen when the body is at rest, according to the company. "We have the opportunity to develop and provide access to technology that may be able to improve public health and save lives," Friedman said. Fitbit also is pursuing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other global regulatory authorities for its Afib detection software. Read More: HOSPITAL AND PROVIDER GROUPS CHEER NEW CMS FLEXIBILITY ON TELEHEALTH, CAPACITY AND ACO LOSSES Fitbit inked a multiyear partnership with pharmaceutical giants Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer last year to develop programs to identify and support people found to be at increased risk for stroke. Those programs will be implemented following FDA clearance for Fitbit's Afib detection software. Fitbit completed a clinical trial of its new ECG feature for spot detection of AFib and plans to seek review by the FDA and global regulatory authorities. About Fitbit We're a passionate team dedicated to health and fitness who are building products that help transform people's lives. While health can be serious business, we feel it doesn't have to be. We believe you're more likely to reach your goals if you're encouraged to have fun, smile, and feel empowered along the way.

Read More

The 5:2 Fasting Diet Benefits the Heart

LabRoots | March 21, 2018

A popular fasting diet called the 5:2 or “Fast Diet” may actually be better than traditional calorie-restricting diets for heart health. Scientists from the University of Surrey found recently that the 5:2 diet lowered levels of fat in the blood and reduced blood pressure. The 5:2 diet was popularized by British doctor and journalist Michael Mosley. The diet contains no requirements about which foods to eat, only about when you should eat them. Five days of the week are normal eating days, and the other two days of the week restrict calories to 500-600 per day, with at least one non-fasting day in between the two restricted calorie days.

Read More

Heart Failure from Pressure Overload is Preventable

LabRoots | March 20, 2018

Heart failure that ultimately results from disease factors like high blood pressure can be predicted and potentially prevented. In a new University of Alabama at Birmingham study, scientists show how macrophages from the immune system contribute to pressure overload-related heart failure. Pressure overload that leads to heart failure can either be in the form of high blood pressure or aortic stenosis, a condition where the aortic valve opening in the heart narrows and causes the heart muscle to work harder than it should.

Read More

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