Health IT Issues that Deserve a Second Read – April 2023
One of the ways that Answers Media is different from other media sites is the sense of community. The thought leaders in our community are good about sharing their thoughts on the issues of today. We publish at least eight guest posts a week now, so in case you missed some, here are the top ten read and shared guest posts in the month of April. You can also read previous month’s Top Ten Lists. Thank you for contributing and reading.
Most Played Radio Episode in April
From The Handoff, Gladys Campbell and host Dr. Dani Bowie discuss the nursing workforce and how it is off track due to an overemphasis on symptom management. Gladys explains the importance of nurses looking upstream to find the root cause of problems in the workforce. She argues that nursing is reducing itself to a series of tasks and ignoring other important factors like job growth, autonomy, recognition, and pride in work. Gladys also discusses the impact of contract labor on nursing, and how nurses could follow the lead of physicians and set up their own practice groups to increase flexibility and specialization.
Most Read Thought Leader Posts in April
Data Privacy and Security in Healthcare AI: Challenges and Solutions
By Vatsal Ghiya, CEO and Co-Founder, Shaip
Twitter: @weareshAIp
Machine learning and artificial intelligence are changing the face of healthcare. Patient populations are growing larger, and our health is becoming more complex. Providers, researchers, and payers alike are looking for strategies to increase the quality of care and reduce costs simultaneously. Continue reading…
Why Providers Need to Meet Patients Where They are for Payment Flexibility
By Rajesh Voddiraju, CEO, HealthiPASS
Twitter: @HealthiPASS
More than ever, providers need to deliver greater payment flexibility and transparency to patients amidst the proliferation of high-deductible health plans and soaring patient balances. In 2021, 55.7% of American private-sector workers were enrolled in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) the highest on record dating back to 2012 and the eighth consecutive yearly increase, according to a 2023 analysis by ValuePenguin. Continue reading…
Avoiding Billing Headaches in a Growing Practice
By John Wallace, PT, MS, Senior Vice President, RCM and Member Value, WebPT
Twitter: @WebPT
Many growing practices need help scaling their people-driven processes, including billing workflows. Sometimes these issues are tied to processes needing to be documented or systematized. Other challenges arise when practice owners take a hands-off approach, relying on technology or KPIs only. The solution: streamlining billing operations without relying solely on software. Continue reading…
Are Pharmacists a Remedy for Medication Errors at Transitions of Care?
By Weston Blakeslee, Ph.D., Senior Director of Clinical Product Solutions & Innovation, DrFirst
Twitter: @DrFirst
Twitter: @WestonBlakeslee
The last thing any clinician wants is for a patient to have a negative effect from a drug interaction. Yet medication errors that cause adverse drug events (ADEs) continue to happen, especially if providers treat patients for a specific condition without knowledge of other medications those patients may be taking for unrelated conditions. Continue reading…
Information Blocking Regulations Work in Concert with HIPAA Rules And Other Privacy Laws to Support Health Information Privacy
By Rachel Nelson and Kathryn Marchesini, ONC
Twitter: @ONC_HealthIT
We often get asked about how ONC’s information blocking regulations and HHS’ Office for Civil Rights’ Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules interact with one another. To help clarify, ONC just released a few new information blocking frequently asked questions that illustrate how the federal regulations interact. Continue reading…
How Telehealth Has Minimized the Mental Health Stigma
By Devin Partida, Editor-in-Chief, ReHack.com
Twitter: @rehackmagazine
Mental health care has long been thought of by many as a private subject. However, telehealth has enabled people to be open about mental health awareness. It uniquely normalizes care and reduces related stigma. Telehealth lets patients contact their providers through messaging or video chat. Additionally, they can use remote monitoring devices to transfer relevant health data, making care accessible. Continue reading…
HIPAA Security Policies
By Art Gross, President and CEO, HIPAA Secure Now!
Twitter: @HIPAASecureNow
In healthcare, it is crucial to ensure the security and privacy of electronic health records and all patient data with security policies. HIPAA provides guidelines for healthcare organizations and covered entities to follow in order to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of patient health information PHI, or ePHI. What are some of the security policies that healthcare organizations should implement to maintain HIPAA compliance? Continue reading…
Sutton’s Law, Humana and Medicare Advantage
By David Burda, News Editor & Columnist, 4sight Health
Twitter: @davidrburda
Twitter: @4sighthealth_
I didn’t know this until I looked it up, and that there’s a thing called “Sutton’s Law” that medical schools teach to medical students. The law basically says first order the diagnostic tests that will confirm or rule out the most likely diagnosis of a patient’s illness or injury. The law is named after bank robber Willie Sutton, who allegedly said, ”Because that’s where the money is,” when asked by a reporter why he robs banks. Continue reading…
Biosimilars, Saving Costs on Specialty Drugs
By Tom Dorsett, CEO, RazorMetrics
Twitter: @razormetrics
As of April 2023, the FDA has approved the use of 40 “biosimilars”, which are a less expensive version of an advanced “biologic” medication. The rise of biosimilars is a major source of excitement as a way to control rising drug costs. But is the fervor warranted? Biologics are aptly named as they are actually biological medicines made from living organisms, a relatively new pathway to treat difficult diseases. Continue reading…
Open Secret: The Threat to Interoperability
By Jim Tate, EMR Advocate
Twitter: @jimtate
The path to interoperability of healthcare data is proving to be a long and winding road. “The right data, at the right place, at the right time” has become the mantra. The emergence of TEFCA (Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement) is the most recent and far-reaching effort to achieve cross platform access to healthcare data. Continue reading…
