Health IT Issues that Deserve a Second Read – April 2015

One of the ways that HITECH Answers is different from other media sites is the sense of community. The thought leaders in our community are good about sharing their thought on the issues of today. We publish at least eleven guest posts a week now, on our three sites. In case you missed some, here are the top ten read and shared guest posts of the month. You can also read previous month’s Top Ten Lists. Thank you for contributing and reading.

The Unofficial HIMSS15 Book List
By Joy Rios, Health IT Consultant at Ask Joy Health IT Consulting

It’s impossible to absorb all the information that’s flying at you, especially from an event as huge as HIMSS. Although there is plenty to read that’s new from CMS, mainly the proposed rules for MU3, Modifications to MU for 2015 – 2017, and the 2015 Certification criteria, here’s my curated list of books that were mentioned throughout the conference that might be more enjoyable bedtime reading. Continue reading on HITECHAnswers.net…

What you don’t do in 2015 will cause 9% CMS penalties in 2017
By Jim Tate, EMR Advocate, Meaningful Use Audit Expert

The initial notifications of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) meaningful use (MU) penalties shocked many a health care provider. Years of incentive programs were initiated to stimulate the adoption and use of electronic health records, and many providers did not realize there was a backside to the incentives – penalties. Continue reading on HITECHAnswers.net…

Interoperability, Usability, and Meaningful Use Stage 3
By Bennett Lauber, Chief Experience Officer, The Usability People

Satisfaction and usability ratings for certified electronic health records (EHRs) have decreased since 2010 among clinicians across a range of indicators.” This announcement was made two years ago the 2013 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Conference & Exhibition by Michael S. Barr, MD, MBA, FACP. His presentation highlighted “ the need for the Meaningful Use program and EHR manufacturers to focus on improving EHR features and usability. Continue reading on HITECHAnswers.net…

Floodgates in Stage 3 of Meaningful Use
By John D’Amore, MS, President and CTO of Diameter Health

Prepare for a data deluge. Stage 3 of Meaningful Use will provide unprecedented access and interoperability of clinical information in electronic health records. In this article, we highlight several key considerations of the new proposed regulation for health information technology, published here on March 20, 2015. Continue reading on HIEAnswers.net…

Predictive Modeling Can Detect Meaningful Correlations across Claims Denials Data
By Paul Bradley, Chief Data Scientist, ZirMed

The reasons claims are denied are so varied that managing denials can feel like chasing a thousand different tails. This situation is not surprising given that a hypothetical denial rate of just 5 percent translates to tens of thousands of denied claims per year for large hospitals—where real-world denial rates often range from 12 to 22 percent. Continue reading on RCMAnswers.net…

Will the New Apple Product Accelerate Healthcare’s Shift to Consumerism?
By Vern Davenport, CEO, Medfusion

The Apple Watch market release on April 24 is not only a significant event for the consumer electronics industry, but it will be a significant event for healthcare as well. More than simply a version of the iPhone that fits on a wrist, the Apple Watch promises to be a tipping point for engaging consumers in their healthcare (a topic I wrote about here last year). Continue reading on HITECHAnswers.net…

HITECH and Meaningful Use at a Crossroads
By William Hersh, MD, Professor and Chair, OHSU

It is hard to believe that the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act was passed into law five years ago, in 2009, and at the end of the year, the massive legislation was shaped into a program that has profoundly altered the informatics world, not to mention all of healthcare. Like most large undertakings, especially when infused with politics, the results have been mixed. Clearly the goals of EHR adoption have been substantial in hospitals and by physicians, even if the resulting systems have not achieved the ideals we held out for them. Perhaps as much depending on your political views as much as your informatics views, the glass is either partially empty or partially full. Continue reading on HITECHAnswers.net…

Why 2015 is the Worst Time to be a Physician
By Alan Portela, CEO of AirStrip

With the ONC’s recent release of their 10-year interoperability vision, it might seem like the industry is starting to make things easier for clinicians. In reality, 2015 is starting off to be one of the worst times ever to be a physician. Interoperability is a critical issue to support a transition from fee-for-service to value-based care. Physicians will eventually be reimbursed around their ability to impact clinical outcomes, so the need for clinically relevant information at their fingertips is mission critical. Continue reading on HIEAnswers.net…

Consumer Expectations and the Future of Patient Engagement
By Ric Sinclair, VP of Product, ZirMed

Can you imagine what the “Terms and Conditions” would look like for a site where you agreed to a purchase up to and even beyond the limit of your credit card—with no idea what the purchase amount would ultimately be? And more to the point, can you imagine anyone agreeing to them? Of course not. Continue reading on RCMAnswers.net…

EHRs: The Way it Should Be
By Donald M. Burt, MD, Chief Medical Officer, PatientKeeper, Inc.

Some things in life are perfect as they are; you could not ask for more. Maybe it’s that idyllic vacation spot you return to time and again. Or a restaurant that never disappoints. Or (if you’re really lucky!) a spouse, parent or sibling who is always there for you, in just the way you need. Most things in life, however, could stand at least a little improvement. Continue reading on HITECHAnswers.net…

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