Health IT Issues that Deserve a Second Read – March 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 March. You can also read previous month’s Top Ten Lists. Thank you for contributing and reading.

Most Played Radio Episode in March

From Health Unabashed, hosts Gil Bashe and Gregg Masters welcome Hal Wolf, CEO of HIMSS (Health Information Management Systems Society). They discuss his career trajectory, including tenure at Permanente Medical Group and goals for HIMSS going forward.

Most Read Thought Leader Posts in March

Strengthening Cybersecurity Resilience in Small Healthcare Organizations Insights from the Change Healthcare Ransomware Attack
By Usman Choudhary, General Manager, VIPRE Security Group
LinkedIn: Usman Choudhary
LinkedIn: VIPRE Security Group

The recent cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a prominent player in the healthcare technology sector, has again brought cybersecurity vulnerabilities to the forefront. This ransomware attack, attributed to the Blackcat gang, underscores the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures, particularly for smaller healthcare organizations with limited resources. Continue reading…

New AI Technologies are Advancing the Industry for Patients and Providers
By Branden Neish, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Weave
LinkedIn: Branden Neish
LinkedIn: Weave

The explosion of artificial intelligence has led to rapid transformation across all industries and healthcare has been no exception. The use of AI in healthcare has sparked a complex conversation on the potential ethical concerns and the processes for implementation, but as AI has become increasingly ubiquitous in day-to-day life, attitudes toward AI in healthcare are starting to shift. Continue reading…

5 New Health IT Insights Gleaned at ViVE 2024
By Beth Friedman, Sr. Partner, FINN Partners
LinkedIn: Beth Friedman
LinkedIn: FINN Partners

ViVE, a collaborative event sponsored by the College of Healthcare Information Executives (CHIME) and HLTH, attracts leaders from hospitals, health systems, and payers for a week of innovation and insights. This year’s affair, hosted by the Los Angeles Convention Center, was my second ViVE Event and perhaps my best. Continue reading…

Thoughtful Tech for Seniors: Meeting the Unique Needs of Aging Americans
By John Bou, COO and Co-Founder, Modio Health
LinkedIn: John Bou
LinkedIn: Modio Health

The United States faces a profound challenge as our senior population grows at an unprecedented rate, with estimates projecting a doubling of Americans aged 65 and older to 80 million by 2040. This demographic shift is expected to intensify the strain on healthcare resources and exacerbate the provider shortage. Continue reading…

Clark on Connecting: From Purple Suits to Green Chucks
By Susan Clark, Senior Director of Program Development, DirectTrust
LinkedIn: Susan Clark
Clark on Connecting

For this month’s Clark on Connecting I am excited to share some very fresh examples of #6degreesofsusanclark that occurred at the 2024 ViVE conference in Los Angeles last month. I have decided to coin a new phrase for when I make Clark Connections, “clonnections.” I am sure I have more examples if I gave myself a minute to think about, but for today, I will highlight the first three that came to mind. Continue reading…

New Research Leverages AI/ML and Sensor Technologies To Confirm Efficacy of Activity-Based Parkinson’s Therapy
By Frank A. Fornari, PhD, Founder and CEO, BioMech Health
LinkedIn: Frank Fornari
LinkedIn: BioMech

While physical activity, physical therapy, and structured exercise have long been considered effective treatments for Parkinson’s disease, their efficacy has been difficult to scientifically establish due to the inability to measure changes in key functional motion indicators like gait and overall balance – which has, in turn, hampered patients’ motivation to adhere to these therapies as part of their treatment. Continue reading…

Triad of Modernizing Healthcare: genAI, Interoperability, and Advanced Operational Systems
By Jeff Robbins, CEO, LiveData
LinkedIn: Jeffrey (Jeff) Robbins
LinkedIn: LiveData, Inc.

Healthcare institutions have found themselves compelled to achieve greater efficiency amid financial constraints. Simultaneously, healthcare leaders acknowledge prioritizing patient-centered care and staff contentment. The following three healthcare technology concepts underscore the transformative impact of generative AI, interoperability, and advanced operational systems on enhancing the experience for healthcare professionals and patients alike. Continue reading…

Putting the ‘Continuous’ in the Cardiac Care Continuum
By Stuart Long, CEO, InfoBionic
LinkedIn: Stuart Long
LinkedIn: InfoBionic, Inc.

Everyone knows someone affected by cardiac disease. Of course, we all recognize the risk factors: age, lifestyle, pre-existing conditions… But a quick read through the American Heart Association’s “Most Read Survivor Stories of 2023” tells a different story: that cardiac disease can strike swiftly and indiscriminately. That everyone knows someone. Continue reading…

Innovation in Population Data Analytics Driven by the 21st Century Cures Act’s API Standards Requirements
By Adam Wong, ONC
LinkedIn: Adam Wong
LinkedIn: ONC

The SMART Health IT (SMART) team based in Boston Children’s Hospital Computational Health Informatics Program has been a leader in developing new capabilities leveraging the HL7® FHIR® standard. A 2010 Strategic Health IT Advanced Research Project (SHARP) was SMART’s first ONC funding opportunity that led to the creation of the SMART on FHIR application programming interface (API). Continue reading…

The Costly Lever of Prior Authorization
By David Burda, News Editor & Columnist, 4sight Health
LinkedIn: David R. Burda
LinkedIn: 4sight Health
X: @davidrburda

The long-running debate over prior authorization (PA) typically is framed around patient care. PA delays or denials prevent patients from receiving medically necessary care when they need it. Within that frame is the administrative burden that PA puts on physicians. They spend too much time on PA requests when they could be spending that time with patients. Continue reading…