Patients want engagement with digital options, personal touch

Consumers are willing to embrace technology to engage with their healthcare providers, but still prefer a personal touch despite the abundance of digital channels available for communication, according to a Pegasystems and Censuswide survey of more than 2,000 U.S. consumers and 200 decision makers at healthcare engagement programs. The survey found 62 percent of consumers prefer phone interactions with doctors’ offices and 45 percent prefer the same with insurers. As for volume, nearly 30 percent of consumers want more communication from their doctor’s office and nearly 20 percent want more from their insurer. Survey respondents said they trust their doctors more than their health insurers to use artificial intelligence to make decisions about their health (42 percent versus 29 percent).

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Health Technology

Crothall and Beyond Clean Revolutionize Sterile Processing Education

Beyond Clean | September 07, 2023

Two prominent entities in the sterile processing industry, Crothall Healthcare and Beyond Clean, have entered into a strategic partnership to develop an innovative educational curriculum specially designed for sterile processing professionals serving in hospitals throughout the United States. This partnership leverages both organizations' collective wealth of knowledge and extensive experience to empower sterile processing professionals with state-of-the-art expertise, enhance patient safety, and elevate the overall benchmarks for sterile processing industry-wide. Afif Escheik, BA, CHL, CER, CIS, CRCST, CST, Regional Director of Operations at Crothall Healthcare, expressed that this partnership will enhance the company's capacity to provide sterile processing professionals with the educational tools necessary to meet and exceed industry standards, reduce errors, and optimize productivity. Crothall's track record of achievement in the field of sterile processing has been founded upon its stringent, data-centric methodologies, which have led to a remarkable enhancement in audit compliance of nearly 90%, a substantial reduction in process errors of up to 50%, and significant productivity gains of up to 62%. Through this collaboration, Crothall intends to incorporate these invaluable insights into developing the forthcoming curriculum. Hank Balch, Founder and President of Beyond Clean, remarked that this partnership will help elevate the standard of sterile processing in the United States, significantly impacting patient safety and quality of service. The collaborative curriculum is adaptable for various care settings, promoting sustainable, high-value care, enhancing patient safety, and reducing errors across the healthcare organization. This partnership signifies a significant step towards a safer and more efficient future in surgical services. About Crothall Healthcare With more than three decades of experience in the healthcare sector, Crothall Healthcare is the foremost provider of patient-centered support services, offering comprehensive solutions tailored to diverse care settings. Its sterile processing services integrate extensive healthcare expertise, clinical rigor, and industry best practices to deliver efficient and highly effective services. About Beyond Clean Beyond Clean is a global expert in sterilizing educational content. The company's unwavering commitment to sterile processing motivates it to empower frontline professionals with essential knowledge, education, and steadfast assistance. It also enables them to uphold impeccable standards and ensure the continuous cleanliness of all instruments.

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Healthcare Analytics

Keena Healthcare Technology and Altera Digital Health Expand Strategic Partnership

Business Wire | October 27, 2023

Keena Healthcare Technology, a healthcare optimization organization, and Altera Digital Health, a global health IT leader, announce today that they have engaged in a reseller agreement. The expanded sales collaboration deal is an extension of the partnership and developer agreement Keena has had with Altera’s TouchWorks® EHR business unit since 2008. Keena has had several years of successful selling into Altera’s TouchWorks EHR client base of provider practices and has consistently prioritized its strategic focus on developing new technologies and services needed to optimize their clinical and financial performance. In parallel, Keena has looked to maintain a select group of trusted strategic partnerships with industry leaders and best of breed niche technology vendors to efficiently extend their sales reach into select segments of the marketplace. said Craig Luce, Founding Partner of Keena Healthcare Technology. We are very optimistic about our expanded relationship with Altera and the opportunity to work closely with their client success and client development teams. There is both a strategic and cultural fit between our two organizations that we feel will be of significant benefit to the TouchWorks EHR client base, while at the same time fulfilling a common high priority initiative for Keena and Altera. [Source:Business Wire] With the current EHR market made up principally of system replacement transactions, a premium is placed on strengthening relationships with existing clients and providing them with new opportunities for performance optimization and value-add solutions. Altera’s expanded partnership with Keena demonstrates the company’s commitment to and investment in providing more value to their TouchWorks EHR clients. ”Altera Digital Health strives to be insanely great for our clients. We’re constantly identifying new ways technology can meaningfully improve their everyday lives, whether they’re from our own portfolio or that of our likeminded partners,” said Ben Scharfe, Executive Vice President of the TouchWorks EHR business unit at Altera Digital Health. The timing is perfect for our sales team to leverage Keena’s past successes and provide an extended line of enhanced value solutions to our loyal TouchWorks EHR clients.” About Keena Healthcare Technology Keena is a full-service healthcare optimization organization focused on clinical workflows, interfaces, conversions and archival solutions. Built upon a vision for improving technology delivery, Keena is the collaboration of two companies that share a core value system for life, work, and healthcare. Having come from the pedigree of EHR Integration Services and Byte Sized Solutions, Keena transforms the way people manage information, develop workflows and share knowledge within healthcare. About Altera Digital Health A global healthcare IT leader, Altera Digital Health develops and elevates technology to connect and inspire healthier communities. Formerly the Allscripts Hospitals and Large Physician Practices business segment, Altera’s platform approach to our solutions is changing the way healthcare is delivered. Altera designs digital health services that lead healthcare to a higher place, while we guide those we partner with, all along the way. Together, with our clients, we’re bringing next-level healthcare within reach.

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Health Technology, AI

Aidoc and Mayo Clinic Maximize Patient Care through AI Assistance

Aidoc | October 12, 2023

Aidoc, a pioneer in clinical AI technology, has entered into a collaborative partnership with Mayo Clinic Platform to enhance healthcare by facilitating access to Aidoc's AI technology and platform. Aidoc uses AI to help medical teams in charge of diagnosing, caring for, and treating patients stay in touch with each other. This ensures that essential data is always available to make smart decisions about healthcare interventions and what to do next. Ed Simcox, Vice President of Solutions at Mayo Clinic Platform, confirmed that Aidoc is well-positioned to deal with several common issues with AI-based healthcare solutions, such as the costs of implementing them only once. By eliminating these barriers, healthcare providers of varying scales can readily implement AI, promoting improved patient outcomes and enhancing the overall care experience. Elad Walach, Aidoc's CEO, said, We're excited about Mayo Clinic Platform's vision to transform care at scale. Together we are improving clinical workflows, enhancing patient outcomes and driving the evolution of healthcare through the power of AI. [Source – Cision PR Newswire] Mayo Clinic has integrated Aidoc's innovative AI solutions for clinical decision support since 2020. Its collaboration with Mayo Clinic Platform is expanding access to these advanced tools for a broader range of healthcare providers and patients. Aidoc's offerings encompass 13 FDA-cleared image and partner algorithms, facilitating the prioritization of clinical findings. It also has a built-in risk stratification system, a mobile app for real-time notifications in time-sensitive cases, and seamless integration of EHR data, which makes it easier for people from different departments to talk to each other and coordinate care. Aidoc's aiOS system confronts prevalent issues integrating artificial intelligence within practical healthcare environments. These challenges encompass the management of unstructured data, the efficient utilization of staff resources, the quantification of return on investment, and the resolution of fragmented organizational structures. About Aidoc Aidoc is a pioneering force in clinical AI, focusing on aiding and empowering healthcare teams to optimize patient treatment, resulting in improved economic value and clinical outcomes. Aidoc's proprietary aiOS builds the foundation for analyzing and aggregating medical data, enabling care teams to operationalize the unexpected and work seamlessly with a continued focus on the patient. Used in more than 1,000 medical centers worldwide, Aidoc has the most FDA clearances (13) in clinical AI, and its AI-based solutions cover 75% of patient populations, enabling physicians to make informed decisions based on real-time data.

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Health Technology

ShiftKey Extends Its Tech Solutions to Embrace Acute Care Facilities

ShiftKey | September 15, 2023

ShiftKey, a leading technological enterprise at the forefront of reshaping the future of workforce engagement, has officially announced its expansion into acute healthcare facilities. ShiftKey's technology, data resources, and talent marketplace are set to be accessible to acute care facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. This expansion addresses workforce-related challenges and enhances patients' access to top-tier healthcare services. Furthermore, the technology has already undergone beta testing at acute care facilities in Alabama, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Carolina, and West Virginia. CEO of ShiftKey, Mike Vitek, characterized the company's foray into the acute care sector as a pivotal step in its platform and business development. He emphasized the organization's vantage point on healthcare staffing challenges and expressed optimism regarding the potential alleviation of strain on acute care facilities and healthcare professionals. Meanwhile, Brandon Tappan, Chief Revenue Officer at ShiftKey, added that the escalating workforce challenges confronting healthcare facilities have become an annual trend. The departure of nurses from acute care facilities in large numbers underscores the imperative for a novel approach to address staffing needs within institutions serving vulnerable populations. Integrating ShiftKey's technology into acute care facilities represents establishing an independent healthcare staffing solution. This initiative aims to reinvigorate and safeguard this vital industry by enabling individuals to rejoin the workforce on their terms. About ShiftKey ShiftKey is a technological enterprise dedicated to transforming workforce access and integrity. Employing data and a marketplace model, the company facilitates connections between independent licensed professionals and facilities with workforce requirements. It is pivotal in advancing empowered labor, stability, and solutions for professionals, institutions, and beneficiaries. With a platform encompassing 10,000 healthcare facilities and myriad independently licensed professionals, ShiftKey is one of the foremost leaders in strategic workforce solutions, catalyzing a more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous workforce economy for the years ahead.

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