Health IT Issues that Deserve a Second Read – January 2024

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 January. You can also read previous month’s Top Ten Lists. Thank you for contributing and reading.

Most Played Radio Episode in January

From Life-Centered HealthcareWhat is the Future of Health Education? To shift from a reactive sick care system to one that is proactive and preventive, we need an interdependent approach to medical education — or should we say health education? Join Dr. Sherine Gabriel, Executive Vice President for Health at Arizona State University, and host Ann Somers Hogg, as they discuss a new model for medical education that improves health through an interdependent approach.

Most Read Thought Leader Posts in January

HIMSS Forum Illuminates AI Progress: Focus on Operational Efficiency and Five Other Takeaways
By Beth Friedman, Sr. Partner, FINN Partners
LinkedIn: Beth Friedman
X: @FINNPartners

The same day White House officials announced a second round of industry commitments for the “safe, secure, and trustworthy use and purchase of AI in healthcare,” a group of more than 200 healthcare professionals met to discuss the identical topic (and a few more) during the HIMSS AI in Healthcare Forum. Held in San Diego, the event featured speakers from high-profile organizations including Microsoft, Cleveland Clinic, and the American Medical Association. Continue reading…

What is FHIR in Healthcare?
By John Ellis, DO, VP of Regulatory & Clinical Affairs, NextGen Healthcare
LinkedIn: John Ellis, DO
X: @NextGen

One of the key players in the healthcare insights arena is FHIR. Let’s break down what FHIR is and why it’s so crucial in achieving true healthcare interoperability. What does FHIR stand for? FHIR, pronounced, as you might have guessed, “fire,” stands for Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources. It’s an open standard developed by HL7 (Health Level Seven International), designed to facilitate the exchange of healthcare information in a standardized way. Continue reading…

Expanding Cardiac Rehab and Addressing RPM Technology for Heart Health
By Jiang Li, CEO, Vivalink
LinkedIn: Jiang L
X: @Viva_LNK

Cardiac rehabilitation is integral to heart health recovery and management, playing a pivotal role in restoring patients to optimal well-being and minimizing the risk of future cardiovascular complications, particularly after a cardiac event like a heart attack. However, the conventional in-clinic rehabilitation model faces a multitude of challenges, from accessibility to patient preferences and overall operational efficiency. Continue reading…

Using Predictive Analytics to Manage Cash Flow in Hospitals
By Devin Partida, Editor-in-Chief, ReHack.com
LinkedIn: Devin Partida
X: @rehackmagazine

Effective cash flow management ensures hospitals have the resources to provide uninterrupted, high-quality patient care. These institutions face unique financial challenges, like managing expenses for medical supplies, equipment and staff salaries. However, predictive analytics is transforming health care finance. This advanced approach allows hospitals to anticipate and prepare for financial challenges, ensuring they can continue to provide excellent services without… Continue reading…

Health Equity Depends on Pragmatic Tech for Healthcare’s Digital Have-Nots
By Bevey Miner, Executive Vice President, Healthcare Strategy and Policy, Consensus Cloud Solutions
LinkedIn: Bevey Miner
LinkedIn: Consensus Cloud Solutions
X: @ConsensusCS

No matter how large or well-resourced a health system may be, making the right care decisions ultimately depends on its ability to exchange information with healthcare’s “digital have-nots”—organizations that weren’t eligible for EHR implementation incentives, like post-acute facilities, home health, substance use disorder clinics and assisted living facilities. Continue reading…

Financial Clearance Automation to Accelerate Patient Access and Shrink Denial Rates
By Matt Bridge, Senior Vice President – Strategy and Solutions, AGS Health
LinkedIn: Matt Bridge
X: @AGS_Health

Finance leaders are battling the rising denial headwinds that threaten to derail the progress healthcare organizations have made toward stabilizing revenues after years of operating in the red. For many, the solution is an optimization of financial clearance and other patient access processes. Doing so, however, is often hampered by staffing and outdated… Continue reading…

HHS Urges Continuous Staff Cyber Training
By Art Gross, President and CEO, HIPAA Secure Now!
LinkedIn: Art Gross
X: @HIPAASecureNow

In a groundbreaking development, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has reached a settlement with Lafourche Medical Group, a Louisiana-based medical facility, following a phishing cyberattack that compromised the electronic protected health information of nearly 35,000 patients. This marks the first settlement under HIPAA related to a phishing attack, following the first case related to ransomware just earlier this year. Continue reading…

Staffing Strategies from the Health IT Industry Outlook Report
By Sheri Stoltenberg, CEO and founder, Stoltenberg Consulting
LinkedIn: Stoltenberg Consulting
LinkedIn: Sheri Stoltenberg
X: @StoltenbergCon

Anticipating continued digital health advancement in the year ahead, health IT executives are considering new ways to leverage technologies to meet evolving patient, provider, and staff demands. However, according to the recent Health IT Industry Outlook Survey, 44% of hospital and health system CIOs deemed “retaining and budgeting for qualified IT resources” as the top IT operational challenge over the next year. Continue reading…

Platform Dive: Three HIPAA-compliant Alternatives to Google Analytics
By Christy Jones, Director of Marketing & Optimization, Reason One
LinkedIn: Christy Jones
X: @reasononeinc

Hospitals, health systems, and medical practices are increasingly aware that Google Analytics does not satisfy HIPAA requirements. The reason? The US Department of Health and Human Services released guidance bringing IP addresses under the umbrella of protected health information. Still, many organizations are proceeding with daily business tasks unchanged, a situation that can feel like you’re on a runaway train with no one at the brake. Continue reading…

How Generative AI Can Support Value-based Care
By Rahul Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, HSBlox
LinkedIn: Rahul Sharma
X: @RS_HSBlox

A 360-degree view of the patient is essential in providing clinicians, payers, and patients themselves with actionable insights that can lead to improved outcomes. Artificial intelligence is increasingly playing major roles in data digitization, prediction analytics, and decision support systems. For example: Continue reading…