Tag: Patients

Virtual care system designed for COVID-19 grows into a multiuse digital health tool

Virtual care system designed for COVID-19 grows into a multiuse digital health tool

Healthcare IT news

In 2019, Cleveland-based University Hospitals saw an opportunity to use automation and digital care technologies to improve patient engagement, clinical care and outcomes.THE PROBLEM
Ultimately, the health system was looking for ways to improve patient engagement first and foremost and then wanted to see how it could use automated tools to improve outcomes.
It also recognized the foundational changes occurring in the health system – especially when it came to consumer behavior and increased competition from nontraditional healthcare disruptors. The organization wanted to offer its patients tools and options that support their personal healthcare journeys in these ways.
PROPOSAL
“We implemented Amwell Automated Care Programs…

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Virtual care enables BrightView Health to increase outpatient access

Virtual care enables BrightView Health to increase outpatient access

Healthcare IT news

BrightView Health, a behavioral health facility that specializes in addiction treatment and substance abuse, already was using telehealth when the COVID-19 pandemic and associated response happened. The organization mostly was using telehealth between its various locations.THE PROBLEM
However, BrightView did not have a secure communications platform to engage with patients either synchronously or asynchronously.
“So, the pandemic and the lockdowns created some potential gaps in access to care that we needed to predict and fill,” said Navdeep S. Kang, chief clinical officer at BrightView Health and a fellow with the Obama Foundation. “We looked at several platforms to implement secure communications.
“We were specifically interested…

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HCA uses AI to decrease time from cancer diagnosis to first treatment by almost a week

HCA uses AI to decrease time from cancer diagnosis to first treatment by almost a week

Healthcare IT news

HCA Healthcare has 14 hospitals covering a radius of more than 300 miles. The staff members knew they had a large catchment area. However, caseloads were based on registry data that was delayed, and not a true reflection of the provider organization’s oncology program as a whole.THE PROBLEM
“With multiple points of entry, we relied on manual searches through pathology, physician schedules and referrals to identify newly diagnosed cancer cases and patients,” said Kristina Rua, RN, an oncology nurse, oncology nurse navigator and president of the Florida Academy of Oncology Nurse and Patient Navigators, who previously was director of oncology navigation services in…

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Telestroke service reaches rural NSW faster than the metro

Telestroke service reaches rural NSW faster than the metro

Healthcare IT news

The NSW Telestroke Service has been fully rolled out across New South Wales, transforming healthcare in rural and regional communities.This life-saving service connects patients with a network of specialist stroke doctors via video consultation, managed by Prince of Wales Hospital. It provides rapid 24/7 access to stroke diagnosis and treatment. The service has so far delivered treatment to over 3,000 stroke patients at 23 rural and regional hospitals in the state. 
Jointly funded by the NSW and Commonwealth governments, the A$21.7 million ($15 million) service was implemented in collaboration with eHealth NSW, the Agency for Clinical Innovation and the Ministry of Health, with…

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Cosmos, Epic's massive EHR analytics platform, helps reduce new mother readmissions

Cosmos, Epic’s massive EHR analytics platform, helps reduce new mother readmissions

Healthcare IT news

Nearly 20% of postpartum patients in America develop high blood pressure; Epic Research just found in a new study that postpartum hypertension nearly triples the chances of rehospitalization.After looking at more than 1.2 million birth encounters and then grouping and comparing the highest blood pressure readings taken in the 24 hours after discharge, the study found:

Patients with blood pressure levels at or above 160/110 shortly before discharge are nearly three times more likely to be readmitted than patients with normal blood pressure readings.

More than 5% of postpartum patients with the highest blood pressure readings, equal to or greater than 160/110 mmHg,…

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Intermountain and Story Health partner on specialty care for heart failure

Intermountain and Story Health partner on specialty care for heart failure

Healthcare IT news

Intermountain Health is looking to artificial intelligence and high-touch coaching to increase care personalization and medication adherence for patients with heart failure.WHY IT MATTERS 
Coaches from Story Health, which helps develop personalized care plans using clinical data, will be available to answer Intermountain patients’ questions via text or call. They’ll also remind them about essential medication changes and ensure that vascular patients have access to the medications they need between visits.
“Patients have long journeys with their health, and a significant part of that journey takes place after they leave the clinician’s office,” said Tom Stanis, CEO and cofounder of Story Health, in…

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E-prescribing now live at Northern Health's mental health services

E-prescribing now live at Northern Health’s mental health services

Healthcare IT news

Melbourne-based Northern Health has started rolling out electronic prescribing at its Mental Health Division and outpatient clinics. The cloud-based e-prescribing platform by MediRecords has just been integrated with its PAS and clinical patient folder (CPF) software, according to a media release.
WHY IT MATTERS
This latest implementation of the MediRecords cloud platform allows e-prescriptions to be sent instantly to patients or their carers. It also comes with a QR code to be scanned at pharmacies for dispensing, providing mental health patients with quicker access to new and repeat medications.
The adoption of this FHIR-based technology also means doctors no longer have to search a second…

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Johns Hopkins AI models predict ICU delirium risk

Johns Hopkins AI models predict ICU delirium risk

Healthcare IT news

Two dynamic analytics models developed at Johns Hopkins University predicted delirium-prone patients when tested on two datasets drawn from 100,000 stays at a Boston hospital’s intensive care unit, according to new research.WHY IT MATTERS
Delirium – sudden bouts of confusion, inattention, paranoia, agitation and hallucinations – can put patients at higher risk of prolonged hospitalization, future dementia and death. By forecasting delirium, alerted clinicians could apply countermeasures that can mitigate adverse outcomes, according to the premise of artificial intelligence research published in Anesthesiology. 
“For a lot of these physiological transitions, we think that there are early warning signs that may not be obvious…

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Remote therapeutic monitoring is reimbursable – here's what you need to know

Remote therapeutic monitoring is reimbursable – here’s what you need to know

Healthcare IT news

Ever since CMS released the new CPT codes for remote therapeutic monitoring last year, health systems have been eager to use them, but unsure of the criteria. Providers are acknowledged for the time they spend connecting with patients outside of the office.With the new CPT codes, providers can get reimbursed for:

Educating patients on how to use a remote care-management platform.

Monitoring a platform’s alerts and patients’ use of remote education.

Direct patient/provider messaging within the platform.

Data collection via the platform, i.e., collecting patient feedback on pain levels, activity and motion.

To qualify for reimbursable RTM, providers need to use software deemed a medical device…

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