The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently launched an
education initiative and set of online tools that aim to provide
healthcare organizations various tips on how to protect patients'
protected health information (PHI) when using mobile devices such as
laptops, tablets, and smartphones. The initiative offers videos,
easy-to-download fact sheets, and posters to promote best ways to
safeguard patient health information. More
HHS Rolls Out Mobile-based Data Protection Initiative
The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently launched an
education initiative and set of online tools that aim to provide
healthcare organizations various tips on how to protect patients'
protected health information (PHI) when using mobile devices such as
laptops, tablets, and smartphones. The initiative offers videos,
easy-to-download fact sheets, and posters to promote best ways to
safeguard patient health information. More
Exploring the Impact of Patient Portal Usage
A
recent study conducted by researchers at the Oakland, Calif.-based
integrated healthcare organization, Kaiser Permanente, found that users
of Kaiser's personal health record (PHR), My Health Manager, visited
their doctor's office 16 percent than those who weren't users of it. One
of the study's authors explains why this result shocked him and what it
might mean. More
Teamwork Key to Long Term Sustainability of Health IT Systems
Effective Teamwork and Sustainability in Health IT Implementation,
reviews grantee experiences related to planning, long-term use,
partnerships, vendor relationships, and end-user perceptions a few years
after the end of the project period.
The majority of grantees reported that health IT upgrades were beneficial to the organization and that ongoing investments in health IT infrastructure were warranted. The report includes an organizational readiness checklist to help health professionals identify and mediate obstacles to successful health IT implementation. For more information, please visit: http://healthit.ahrq.gov/THQIT
The majority of grantees reported that health IT upgrades were beneficial to the organization and that ongoing investments in health IT infrastructure were warranted. The report includes an organizational readiness checklist to help health professionals identify and mediate obstacles to successful health IT implementation. For more information, please visit: http://healthit.ahrq.gov/THQIT
10 Ways to Fight Cyber-Threats in Health Care
Because data breaches pose serious threats to not only hospital networks
but patients' privacy and lives, cyber-security is a major concern for
health care organizations. Fortunately, there are steps that can be
taken to make networks more secure.
READ MORE »
App Helps Hemophilia Patients Track Bleeding Incidents
Pharmaceutical manufacturer Novo Nordisk has developed HemaGo, an iPhone
app that allows patients with bleeding disorders to track their
condition and treatment.
READ MORE »
Susannah Fox of Pew Research Center Talks About New Findings on Mobile Health Usage
Susannah Fox, associate director at the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, spoke with iHealthBeat about
Pew's latest study on Internet use among U.S. residents and new
findings about the use of mobile phones to look up health-related
information.More
EHR vendor announces free software for charity-driven care
A major EHR vendor has announced plans to give away $1 million worth of
software to doctors who provide unreimbursed care to low-income
patients. More…
Studies find pros and cons for online health tools, electronic visits
As health IT adoption increases, providers are using technology to reach
more patients through the web and give them greater access to online
health tools. And while there are many benefits, organizations have seen
mixed results so far. More…
A Nurse Navigates Her Husband's Care Transitions
Health Affairs:
Following her husband's stroke, it fell to Beth Ann Swan, a registered
nurse and nursing school dean, to coordinate her recovering husband's
care and manage his transitions among several hospitals and home. Swan
writes about her experience in the Narrative Matters section of the
November Health Affairs.
You can read Swan's full essay at the link above, or listen to her read it. http://www.healthaffairs.org/
swan_beth_ann_anurselearns_
swan_beth_ann_anurselearns_
Phone help for the hard-of-hearing
Voice carryover relay service (VCO) can be done over a landline with a VCO phone that displays text,
or with a smartphone or computer and an IP (Internet) relay service to
place or make the call.
Either way, the deaf person can speak to the other party and read the person's response as text. The text is provided by a communications assistant.
Relay services are provided free by the FCC, telephone companies and other providers. Costs are covered by surcharges on local phone bills.
Sprint offers an IP relay service with VCO capability and a mobile app for iPhones and select Android phones. Purple's IP-Relay for iPhone and Android works like an instant messaging chat.
Deaf persons who are proficient at sign language opt for video relay services. VRS allows a person to sign with a communications assistant, who then speaks to the other caller. Conversation flows faster and more naturally than with text-based relay services.
With Purple VRS for iOS and Android, you can make VRS, voice-to-video and point-to-point calls over 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi.
Either way, the deaf person can speak to the other party and read the person's response as text. The text is provided by a communications assistant.
Relay services are provided free by the FCC, telephone companies and other providers. Costs are covered by surcharges on local phone bills.
Sprint offers an IP relay service with VCO capability and a mobile app for iPhones and select Android phones. Purple's IP-Relay for iPhone and Android works like an instant messaging chat.
Deaf persons who are proficient at sign language opt for video relay services. VRS allows a person to sign with a communications assistant, who then speaks to the other caller. Conversation flows faster and more naturally than with text-based relay services.
With Purple VRS for iOS and Android, you can make VRS, voice-to-video and point-to-point calls over 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi.
UK considering virtual clinics using iPad and Skpe to help close budget gap
www.imedicalapps.com
In
an effort to decrease costs, UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt plans to
create a new system of “virtual clinics.” Modeling after systems in
India, patients would connect to their physicians using their iPad and
Skype. More
One-third of patients look to phone for health info
The trend among patients to use smartphone applications as healthcare
aids continues to grow, according to research published Nov. 8, 2012 by the
Pew Internet & American Life Project.More
Patients Want To Maintain Control Over Their EHR Information
A new study finds that most patients are comfortable sharing all of
their electronic health record data with their primary care physician.
However, many patients are unwilling to share such information with
specialists or other providers. Clinical Innovation & Technology.
How does your hospital use social media?
Hospital Social Media Use Infographic
Tom van de Belt did some research into hospital social media use including comparing the US use compared with the Europeans. They put out this infographic that describes the details of one of his papers. It shouldn’t be a huge surprise that US hospitals are behind on social media use. I’m sure some of it can be chalked up to our litigious society. Although, I’m sure there are some hospital culture elements at play as well.Most of those hospital social media users aren’t really engaging the patients with social media either. They are just using social media as a broadcast channel.
Patient Information Exchange for Skilled Nursing Facilities
The Keystone Beacon Community serving central Pennsylvania,
one of 17 federally funded communities across the nation serving as
model sites for comprehensive use of health information technology, has
developed a tool to enable skilled nursing facilities to share patient
information, whether it is a paper or electronic health record. More
Mobile for Reproductive Health
www.imedicalapps.com
Dr.
Donan Mmbando, the Director of Preventive Services at the Ministry of
Health and Social Welfare in Tanzania presented 'Use of Mobile
Technologies for Family Planning and Reproductive Health.' Using SMS
through mobile phones to help in family planning. While the rise of
smart phones and integration of apps has been seen in the US, mobile
phones are still demonstrating effect in lower economic regions in
healthcare management. More
10 Windows 8 Apps for Doctors, Patients and Researchers
10 Windows 8 Apps That Aid Health Care
With the introduction of Windows 8, health IT has a new environment in which to develop resources and clinical applications. Among the more than 10,000 apps in the Windows Store are several that are geared toward health. Here are 10 such apps. READ MORE »
With the introduction of Windows 8, health IT has a new environment in which to develop resources and clinical applications. Among the more than 10,000 apps in the Windows Store are several that are geared toward health. Here are 10 such apps. READ MORE »
Clinton Health Matters Initiative & Remote Monitoring
Remote and home patient monitoring technologies will be a key component
of former President Bill Clinton’s new push, through his William J.
Clinton Foundation, to eliminate health disparities between communities
of different socioeconomic and racial strata. More
New AHRQ Guide Identifies Successful Design Methods for Development of Consumer Health IT
A new AHRQ guide, Designing Consumer Health IT: A Guide for Developers and Systems Designers, presents suggested recommendations for designers and developers of consumer health IT products. Recommendations include general guidance for designers and design teams on the process of designing and developing a product and guidance that is specific to a design phase such as idea generation, identification of end users, testing, and commercialization. The guide includes results of an environmental scan and grey literature review along with expert interviews to improve consumer health IT design to increase effective use. Select to access this report (PDF file, PDF Help).
EHRs Among Today's Top Health IT Hazards
informationweek.com: Inaccurate patient information, mobile distractions and med device interoperability are putting patients at risk, says recent report from ECRI. More
Who Uses Mobile Apps to Get Health Information?
A new survey finds substantial numbers of consumers use
their cell phones to find health information. The Pew Internet &
American Life Project commissioned Princeton Survey Research Associates,
which conducted telephone interviews with 3,014 U.S. adults from August
7 to Sept. 6. Here are some of the findings. More
Two-thirds of healthcare organizations lack a written mobile strategy
According to survey respondents, the top three topics that are important
to developing a mobility strategy are security, budget, and
integration. In the area of security, almost 70 percent of survey
respondents expressed concern, specifically about protected health
information security on smartphones. To learn more:
- here's the white paper (.pdf)
- here's the white paper (.pdf)
Remote telemedicine for assessing concussions
Telemedicine can play a key role in providing access to a concussion specialist in rural areas, according to a study by Mayo Clinic researchers in Phoenix. More
Stage 2 Meaningful Use Specifications Now Available
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services has posted Stage 2 EHR meaningful use specification sheets for
eligible professionals and hospitals.They include objective, measure and exclusion for each core
and menu objective, in addition to a definition of terms, attestation
requirements, and corresponding standards and certification criteria.
The specification sheets are designed to aid in calculating the numerator and denominator for each objective, and in determining qualification for an exclusion from an objective. Click here for the sheets.
The specification sheets are designed to aid in calculating the numerator and denominator for each objective, and in determining qualification for an exclusion from an objective. Click here for the sheets.
Yes, you do have a right to your health records
HIPAA explicitly gives patients the right to access their own records.
This is not new. The HIPAA privacy rules have been in force since 2002.
Yet, far too many patients have no idea of this right and far too many
providers don’t inform patients of this right or do what they can to
prevent access. Click for More
Meaningful Use Criteria Reference Grid Available
The Office of the National Coordinator for HIT has released
new meaningful use quick reference grid layouts to ease the
understanding of how Stage 1 and Stage 2 meaningful use objectives and
measures correlate with the 2014 Edition electronic health records
certification criteria.
More information and links to the grids are available here on ONC’s blog site. The blog starts with a reference to grids released two years ago--don’t click on that link, but on the 2014 grid links below it. More
More information and links to the grids are available here on ONC’s blog site. The blog starts with a reference to grids released two years ago--don’t click on that link, but on the 2014 grid links below it. More
Successful design methods for development of consumer health IT
A
new guide funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(AHRQ) “Designing Consumer Health IT: A Guide for Developers and Systems
Designers” presents suggested recommendations for designers and
developers of consumer health IT products. Recommendations included are
either general guidance for designers and design teams that can be
applied to the process of designing and developing a product; or
specific to a design phase such as idea generation, identification of
end users, testing and commercialization. The guide presents results of
an environmental scan and grey literature review; and expert interviews
to improve consumer health IT design in order to increase effective use
of consumer health IT. Select to access this report (PDF file, 299 MB), http://healthit.ahrq.gov/
A Peek into the Future of Health Care Technology
A Peek into the Future of Health Care Technology
These days, it seems like there’s an app for almost everything--including health care.
NurseZone More
These days, it seems like there’s an app for almost everything--including health care.
NurseZone More
Telemedicine in stroke impacts treatment and patient outcomes
www.imedicalapps.com Telemedicine
can allow for immediate, direct access to stroke specialists regardless
of physical proximity, saving time crucial for ensuring that rt-PA can
be used safely. More
Telemedicine from the 1920s?
Interesting article in Smithsonian magazine's Paleofuture blog,
suggesting that an early radio and publishing professional may have
predicted telemedicine as early as 1925. More
Many Top Health Care Technology Hazards Are IT-Related
According to an ECRI Institute report, health IT systems play a role in
some of the top 10 health care technology hazards. Such hazards include
data errors in electronic health records and other health IT systems. Clinical Innovation & Technology, Health Data Management.
National Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center -- or NH-ISAC -- launched an emergency response system
System Aims To Support Health Data Sharing During Emergencies
A new emergency response system launched by the National Health
Information Sharing and Analysis Center aims to protect critical health
care infrastructure and information systems during a natural disaster or
cyberattack. The system is designed to help health care organizations
access emergency response protocols and improve their information
sharing. Healthcare IT News et al.
Wireless Monitor Pilot in LA
Patient Room: Wireless Plaster Monitor Pilot Underway in LA
Toumaz
US, a joint venture of United Kingdom-based Toumaz Ltd. and healthcare
venture backer Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D., has begun
a pilot of its SensiumVitals wireless continuous monitoring plaster at
St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica. read
more »
2014 Clinical Quality Measures Now Available
AHRQ has developed the U. S. Healthcare Knowledgebase (USHIK)
with both Meaningful Use Stage 1 and State 2 (2014) clinical quality
measures. The USHIK Web site provides different formats
for viewing, downloading, and comparing versions of electronic CQMs and
their value sets. It allows users to compare present, past, and future proposed versions of Meaningful Use quality measure and value sets. USHIK
allow researchers to browse, compare, and synchronize diverse data sets
in order to promote interoperability, uniformity, and comparability of
health data. Select to access USHIK.
Tools to Improve Safety for Patients with Limited English Proficiency
Research
shows that safety events that affect patients with limited English
proficiency tend to be more severe and occur more frequently due to
communication errors. Two new tools are now available to help improve patient safety in those with limited English proficiency. The TeamSTEPPS®
Limited English Proficiency module developed by AHRQ and the Department
of Defense can help staff reduce medical errors for patients with
limited English skills. Approximately 57 million people –
20 percent of the U.S. population – speak a language other than English
at home, and approximately 25 million – nearly 9 percent of the U.S.
population – are defined as limited English proficient, meaning that
they speak English less than “very well.” The module is available in CD
format and includes PowerPoint presentations, teaching modules, and
video vignettes that can be used to train staff. As a companion to the
TeamSTEPPS module, “Improving Patient Safety Systems for Patients With Limited English Proficiency: A Guide for Hospitals”
helps hospital leaders learn how to identify, report, monitor, and
prevent medical errors among patients with limited English Proficiency. Select to access the TeamSTEPPS Limited English Proficiency module and Hospital Guide. Copies of the module CD are available by sending an e-mail to AHRQPubs@ahrq.hhs.gov.
Digital assets: Help your heirs from getting lost in the cloud
For many of
us, stashing information has moved from old-fashioned filing cabinets,
desk drawers, and shoeboxes into the digital "cloud." Will your heirs be able to find out what you own (and what you owe) if you can't log on and show them? The answer may be no. A Retirement Institute study found that 57%
of respondents hadn't made provisions to pass their digital financial
records on to their heirs, even though more than half of those with
digital property believed that it's important to do so. More
New Resource for Bereaved Fathers
Drs. Don Rosenstein and Leeza Park, of the University of North Carolina, recently launched a website
for men who are simultaneously mourning the loss of their wives to cancer while raising their children alone: http://www.singlefathersduetocancer.org It is a great resource to provide support, information, and resources to this population.
Spanish version of “Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment"
One
of the challenges associated with a cancer diagnosis is coping with
changes in your diet, appetite, and taste. The NCI’s “Eating Hints:
Before, During,
and After Cancer Treatment” provides cancer patients with guidelines to
navigate food choices in order to stay healthy and eat a well-balanced
diet. This popular resource has recently been released in Spanish. To
view, “Consejos de alimentación:
Antes, durante y después del tratamiento del cancer,” click the link below.
Wireless Revolution in Home Health
With texting, tweeting, Facebook PMing and Gchat increasingly replacing face-to-face or telephone conversations, it's only logical that clinicians will find a way to enhance provider-patient communications.
The trend is official now. In October, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocated use of the 2360-2400 MHz bandwidth for medical use. Those bands were previously reserved for flight testing in the aerospace industry. This change should further facilitate real-time monitoring. More
Percentage of U.S. Adults Are Interested in Various Types of Appointment Reminders?
Sixty-five percent of U.S. adults said they are interested or very
interested in receiving email reminders about upcoming medical
appointments, while 28% said they are interested or very interested in
receiving such reminders via postal mail, according to a recent survey
conducted by Harris Interactive for the Optum Institute.
New CMS Quality Measure Specifications for Meaningful Use
Last week, CMS released technical specifications outlining how health
care providers participating in the meaningful use program can report
their performance on certain clinical quality measures. CMS also made
available several resources to help health care providers and electronic
health record vendors better understand the process for reporting
clinical quality measures. AHA News et al. More
Readmission programs could violate anti-fraud laws
Although Medicare penalties for high rates of readmissions offer an opportunity for hospitals to improve quality and lower cost, efforts to reduce readmissions could violate fraud and abuse laws, Report on Medicare Compliance reported.
Lawyers warn that discharge planning and transitional care programs
could cross the line from care improvements to potentially fraudulent
practices if hospitals can't prove that such services are part of
inpatient care. More
Medication reminders
Remembering to take daily doses of medicine is a nuisance, especially multiple medications on an irregular schedule.
Actually, nuisance is too weak a word. When your health and potentially your life are on the line, it's vitally important to adhere to a strict daily regimen. Fortunately, these apps can keep you on top of your medication regimen. More
Google Crisis Response Map Tracking Hurricane Sandy
eWeek: Google's Crisis Maps come from the company's philanthropic division, which last January began a Public Alerts Website
to offer important emergency information on storms, hurricanes,
earthquakes and other natural disasters and crises. The alerts will tell
users what's happening and when, the severity of the disaster and where
to go for help. More
CMS Clarifies Medicaid Hospital Meaningful Use Payment Formula
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has posted a
new frequently asked question concerning the counting of
inpatient-bed-days in determining the payment formula under the Medicaid
electronic health records meaningful use program....More
Web based intervention to decrease back pain
A web-based intervention to improve and prevent low back pain among office workers: a randomized controlled trial.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther
This is a good discussion of a unique and very modern approach to an age old problem. This could generate many similar trials.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther
This is a good discussion of a unique and very modern approach to an age old problem. This could generate many similar trials.
Nurses' Satisfaction With CPOE Increases Over Time
A study finds that nurses initially were less satisfied than physicians
with computerized provider order entry systems. However, nurses'
satisfaction with CPOE systems increased over the course of one year,
while physicians' satisfaction levels remained steady. FierceHealthIT.
Free screen reader for blind people
For the blind, sight-based technology can sometimes be a stumbling block. Most computers, phones and gadgets are built around a visual interface. But these things can be huge assets to blind people as well. You just need the right software. NVDA is one example. It's a free, open source screen reader. It stands for NonVisual Desktop Access, and it reads aloud text and visual clues in a synthetic voice. It was created by two blind software programmers to help them use their computers.
Cost: Free
Link: nvda-project.org
System: Windows XP, Vista, 7
Learning First Aid from the Red Cross through a Health Gamification app
www.imedicalapps.com
Gamification
integration into health education has the benefit of increasing
utilization by patients. The American Red Cross App has created an app
to help users learn first aid and then practice their knowledge through
games. Completion of these Q&A games leads to awards that can then
be posted to the Apple Game Center. Click for more
How Many U.S. Adults Used Mobile Phones and Tablet Computers for Health-Related Activities?
The number of U.S. adults using mobile phones for health-related
activities increased from 61 million in 2011 to 75 million in 2012,
while the number of U.S. adults using tablet computers for
health-related activities grew from 15 million in 2011 to 29 million in
2012, according to a recent report by Manhattan Research. More
U.K. Website Leverages Crowdsourcing To Help Identify Cancer Trends
A website launched by Cancer Research U.K. is seeking volunteers to help
identify trends in breast cancer tumors. Researchers say such
crowdsourcing-based analyses could lead to faster development of
personalized cancer treatments. AP/San Francisco Chronicle, Wired U.K.
Mobile Documentation: Optimizing Technology to Do More with Less
How the University of Missouri Health System adapted its barcode-scanning
system for mobile bedside documentation to enhance the quality and
safety of patient care. Click here
Recent Breaches: Providers and CMS Behaving Badly
Recent, and an update of huge
breach last year. Plus a report on Medicare’s own problems complying
with existing rules. Click here
CMS Corrects Multiple Errors in Final Stage 2 Rule
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has
published a 10-page document correcting technical and typographical
errors in the Stage 2 electronic health records meaningful use final
rule published on Sept. 4, 2012. More
Corrections
Corrections
EHRs Help Cut Medication Errors Among HIV Patients
Three new studies presented at the IDWeek meeting in San Diego find that
electronic health records can help reduce medication errors among
hospitalized patients with HIV. One study from Michigan finds that EHRs
helped cut errors by 93%. Medical News Today, MedPage Today.
(Susman, MedPage Today, 10/20/2012). More
Virtual Reality Neurorehabilitation and Its Interfaces on Upper Extremity Functional Recovery in Patients With Chronic Stroke
A journal of the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association: Rehabilitation Gaming
Systems for the treatment of chronic stroke
depend on the specific interface systems used. The results of this study have strong
implications
for the design of future Virtual rehabilitation
strategies that aim at maximizing functional outcomes and their
retention. More
Top Areas for Growth in Telehealth Market
A report from Frost & Sullivan states that the telehealth market is
poised for growth. According to the report, the top areas for growth in
the telehealth market include disease management monitoring, remote
physician services and personal emergency response systems. Healthcare IT News. More
Health Costs Higher for Hospital Workers
New research from Truven Health Analytics, formerly the
health unit of Thomson Reuters, finds health care spending for hospital
employees is 9 percent higher than the general workforce, and hospital
employees and dependents are 5 percent more likely to be
hospitalized. More
Willingness To Use PHRs Not Linked to Age, Education, Income
Patients' willingness to use personal health records is not necessarily
associated with their age, education level or income, according to
University of Central Florida researchers. Out of nearly 600 surveyed
patients, 74% said they were willing to use PHRs. FierceHealthIT. More
Improving Medical Education to Focus on Delivering Value to Patients
RWJF
Clinical Scholar Mitesh Patel writes about the “VALUE framework,” a
simple and concise method that enables health care professionals to
provide high quality, evidence-based care for their patients while
stemming rising costs.
Nursing Education Isn’t What It Used to Be
Today, nurses enjoy a variety of educational opportunities that
differ from the old one-size-fits-all approach. Thanks to technological
advances, hybrid formats enable nurses to experience new educational
opportunities through online course work and flexible, asynchronous
learning. Online education encourages diversity and high levels of
engagement, writes RWJF Executive Nurse Fellows program alumna Kate Driscoll Malliarakis.
Nurses Changing the World
'Nurses'
Movie Highlights How Nurses Are Changing the World
NurseZone.com, Megan M. Krischke, 10/10/2012
The new documentary “Nurses: If Florence Could See Us Now” premiers in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 11, as part of the American Nurses Credentialing Center National Magnet Conference. The feature-length film, comprised of unscripted interviews with nurses, was conceived by Kathy Douglas, RN, MHA, chief nursing officer for API Healthcare and founder and president of On Nursing Excellence, the nonprofit organization that produced the film. Douglas says that if people understood nurses better they would consider the profession in a different way.
NurseZone.com, Megan M. Krischke, 10/10/2012
The new documentary “Nurses: If Florence Could See Us Now” premiers in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 11, as part of the American Nurses Credentialing Center National Magnet Conference. The feature-length film, comprised of unscripted interviews with nurses, was conceived by Kathy Douglas, RN, MHA, chief nursing officer for API Healthcare and founder and president of On Nursing Excellence, the nonprofit organization that produced the film. Douglas says that if people understood nurses better they would consider the profession in a different way.
Health Messages on Social Media Could Help Curb STIs
A study finds that public health messages delivered via social media
might help reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections.
According to the study, young adults who received sexual health news via
Facebook were more likely to use condoms than a control group. Forbes et al. More
Use of EHR Systems Shows Link With Higher Care Quality Scores
A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine
finds that doctors who use electronic health record systems achieve
higher care quality scores for certain conditions than doctors using
paper records. For example, nearly 66% of physician EHR users met care
quality measures for chlamydia screening, compared with 53% of
physicians using paper records. Healthcare IT News et al. More
Small, Remote Hospitals Turning to Telehealth To Cut Costs, Improve Care
iHealthBeat: Many small and remote hospitals are using telehealth technology to
improve patient access to specialists while reducing costs. However,
widespread adoption of the technology is hindered by state licensing
regulations, reimbursement issues and other challenges. New York Times. More
Transforming Health Care Through Nursing
RWJF: A New Website Helps Mark Two Years of Progress to Transform Health Care Through Nursing More
Want to Know About the Quality of Care at a Hospital? Ask the Nurses Who Work There
RWJF: New Study Indicates Nurses' Assessments of Care Accurately Reflect Hospital Quality More
Lawmakers Urge HHS To Halt Stage 2 EHR Incentive Payments
House Ways and Means Committee Chair Dave Camp and three
other Republican House leaders sent a letter asking HHS to suspend
incentive payments for Stage 2 of the meaningful use program. The letter
claims that nearly $10 billion might have been wasted because the rules
for Stage 2 are "weaker" than the rules for Stage 1 of the program. Cardiovascular Business et al.
Digital Data Improvement Priorities for Continuous Learning in Health and Health Care
Digital health data are
the lifeblood of a continuous learning health system. A steady flow of
reliable data is necessary to coordinate and monitor patient care,
analyze and improve systems of care, conduct research to develop new
products and approaches,... [read more]
Patient-Generated Mobile Data Improves Clinical Care
Patient-Generated Mobile Data Improves Clinical Care -- InformationWeek informationweek.com
Studies show that patients who log their
thoughts and behaviors--"observations of daily living"--via mobile apps
or sensors so docs can monitor them between visits get better care.
Health IT Expert Warns That EHRs Can Capture Inaccurate Information
During a forum this week, Laura Roberts of Catholic Health East warned
that electronic health record systems can capture inaccurate data. She
suggested that health care providers audit EHRs and listen to patient
concerns about inaccuracies. Modern Healthcare.
More Consumers Using Mobile Tools for Health Purposes
A new report from Manhattan Research finds the number of U.S. adults
using mobile phones for health-related activities grew from 61 million
in 2011 to 75 million this year. During that same time frame, the number
of U.S. adults using tablet computers for health-related activities
nearly doubled from 15 million to 29 million, according to the report. MobiHealthNews et al.
2011 Private Health Care Spending Grows Faster Than Expected
Health Care Cost Institute: The
report shows that after a two-year slowdown, U.S. health care
spending on the privately-insured jumped 4.6 percent last year—well
above the 3.8 percent growth rate observed in 2010. Average dollars
spent on health care services for the privately-insured climbed to
$4,547 per person. Rising prices drove spending growth.
View
our infographic about the results.
Doctors See Value in Sharing Visit Notes with Patients
RWJF:
When patients have access to their doctors’ visit notes, they have a better understanding of their health care, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine this week.
The study shared findings from OpenNotes, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-supported initiative in which, over the course of one year, 105 doctors shared their notes with more than 19,000 patients at three health centers around the country—Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston; Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pa.; and Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
The study revealed that patients who participated in OpenNotes felt more in control of their health care, experienced improved recall of their care plan, and reported they were more likely to take their medications as prescribed. Doctors’ fears about the added time burden and offending or worrying patients did not materialize, and many doctors reported that note-sharing strengthened their relationships with patients, including enhancing trust, transparency, communication, and shared decision-making.
When patients have access to their doctors’ visit notes, they have a better understanding of their health care, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine this week.
The study shared findings from OpenNotes, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-supported initiative in which, over the course of one year, 105 doctors shared their notes with more than 19,000 patients at three health centers around the country—Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston; Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pa.; and Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
The study revealed that patients who participated in OpenNotes felt more in control of their health care, experienced improved recall of their care plan, and reported they were more likely to take their medications as prescribed. Doctors’ fears about the added time burden and offending or worrying patients did not materialize, and many doctors reported that note-sharing strengthened their relationships with patients, including enhancing trust, transparency, communication, and shared decision-making.
- Read the Annals of Internal Medicine study, accompanied by a patient editorial, as well as commentary from a doctor working in the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Read RWJF Chief Technology and Information Officer Stephen Downs’ blog post on The Health Care Blog.
- See OpenNotes in action.
The Future of Health Care: Using the Internet to Deliver Health Interventions CBT, The Internet and Beyond...
The best Internet interventions are sophisticated, structured, tailored,
behavior treatment programs that you can log onto and get the same kind
of personalized expert care very few people around the country are
currently able to receive.Read more
7 mobile apps for chronic condition management
FierceMobileHealthcare is highlighting seven mobile applications targeting chronic disease management. Check out our slideshow to learn more.
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Phone help for the hearing impaired
A voice carryover (VCO) relay service can be ideal in this situation.
- VCO can be done over a landline with a VCO phone that displays text, or with a smartphone or computer and an IP (Internet) relay service to place or make the call.
- Either way, the deaf person can speak to the other party and read the person's response as text. The text is provided by a communications assistant.
- Sprint offers an IP relay service with VCO capability and a mobile app for iPhones and select Android phones. Purple's IP-Relay for iPhone and Android works like an instant messaging chat.
Social media policy: Possible implications for Healthcare
You might be interested in the discussion of the recent NLRB action about Costco’s social media policy at
http://aceds.org/news/nlrb-
Many Physicians Using Social Media To Find, Share Health Data
A study in the Journal of Medical Internet Research finds that
61% of surveyed doctors use social media to find or explore health
information at least once weekly and 46% said they contribute new
information through a social media platform at least once weekly. FierceHealthIT.
From the iPhone to the EMR
RWJF: When
Patients Share Health Information with Providers Through Personal
Technologies, Clinical Care and Patient Engagement Can Improve
Project HealthDesign, a program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has demonstrated clear potential for improving health care delivery and outcomes, as well as patient engagement—through the use of personal technology. Five research teams studied whether patients' use of technologies, such as smartphone apps, sensors, iPads, and others, to collect information from their daily lives and share it with their health care providers, could enhance clinical care.
Project HealthDesign, a program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has demonstrated clear potential for improving health care delivery and outcomes, as well as patient engagement—through the use of personal technology. Five research teams studied whether patients' use of technologies, such as smartphone apps, sensors, iPads, and others, to collect information from their daily lives and share it with their health care providers, could enhance clinical care.
Making it Easier to Find What Works for Health
rwjf.org.: County
Health Rankings & Roadmaps Releases New Resource for Community Leaders When it comes to solving problems that affect our health, knowing what
works matters. Implementing or adapting proven strategies increases your
likelihood of success in improving health.
What
Works for Health, the latest release from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, is an online, searchable menu of policies and programs
Edutainment: Great new research results: Zamzee boosts activity...
HopeLab developed Zamzee, an activity meter and motivational website,
as a way to get kids moving more. Kids provided feedback at every stage
of Zamzee product development, including HopeLab’s Ruckus Nation and Ruckus Research projects, and research shows that Zamzee increased physical activity in kids by 59% on average over a six-month study period.
Zamzee is now available at Zamzee.com
Zamzee is now available at Zamzee.com
Top 3 causes of health data breaches - and how to avoid them
Where should health IT teams focus their security efforts? Based on the
study of 72 healthcare organizations’ security practices and experiences
with breach incidents, these are most common causes of data breaches in
health care...Click for more
Study Identifies Racial Differences in Doctors' Use of Health IT Tools
According to a study, white physicians in the U.S. are more likely than minority physicians to communicate with patients electronically, but minority doctors are more likely to use IT for preventive care reminders. FierceHealthIT, Perspectives in Health Information Management.Read more
Fla. Medicaid Patients Now Can Track Personal Health Data Online
This week, Florida health officials announced that Medicaid
beneficiaries now can use the My Florida Health eBook to access their
personal health information online. The website allows beneficiaries to
track various data, including immunizations and medications. AP/Gainesville Sun, AHCA release.
Mobile Technology Can Help Patients Manage Diabetes
Smartphones and other mobile technologies can help patients better manage diabetes, according to a new report from the eHealth Initiative, Modern Healthcare reports (Conn, Modern Healthcare, 9/20).
"Research shows that the majority of patients, including those who are disadvantaged, have access to a mobile device or smartphone. These patients have tools at their fingertips to help manage their diabetes more effectively" (eHealth Initiative release, 9/20).
According to the report's authors, mobile technology aimed at helping patients manage chronic diseases is "one of the most significant health IT developments of the past five years" (Modern Healthcare, 9/20).
"Research shows that the majority of patients, including those who are disadvantaged, have access to a mobile device or smartphone. These patients have tools at their fingertips to help manage their diabetes more effectively" (eHealth Initiative release, 9/20).
According to the report's authors, mobile technology aimed at helping patients manage chronic diseases is "one of the most significant health IT developments of the past five years" (Modern Healthcare, 9/20).
iPads, BYOD & Health Tech/Consumers
FierceMobileHealthcare:
1. iPads enable UCLA docs to monitor chronically ill patients Read more
2. Hospital bridges BYOD/EMR access deal with integrated tech Read more
2. Hospital bridges BYOD/EMR access deal with integrated tech Read more
Patient as consumer: What does it mean for healthcare?
TEDMED2013: Patient empowerment can be a double-edged sword. From hospitals and insurance companies to doctors and patients themselves, much of the medical system increasingly treats patients as “customers” or “consumers,” terms that some people love and others hate. If patients are customers, does that mean “the customer is king” or does it mean “buyer beware” — or both?
If patients retain their traditional role, does that mean doctors are in charge? Are both in charge somehow? How is “power” shared among all stakeholders and how should it be shared?
The changing role of the patient was voted the number one Great Challenge in health and medicine by the TEDMED community in 2011, one of 20 complex issues with broad impact that needs cross-disciplinary understanding and discussion to manage. Join the online interactive Challenges community now to share your thoughts on patient engagement and to ask questions of thought leaders in the field.
Shift toward a focus on the individual consumer experience calls for changes in healthcare
| In this Age of the Healthcare Consumer, most people want online access to doctors and health records |
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New Meaningful Use wall poster
This is like a markup version poster – showing changes from the proposed rule to the final rule, and also Stage 1 to Stage 2. Zoom to 100% and scroll around to see the poster, or print it – it is 4ft x 6ft.
Meaningful Use – The Whiteboard Story -www.advisory.com/MUwhiteboard
Quick Guide Comparison―Stage 1 to Stage 2 Objectives and Measureswww.advisory.com/
Bookmark versions of the Final Ruleswww.advisory.com/
44 % reduction in 30-day readmissions testament to power of health IT
Advance for Nurses, Elizabeth Adams, 09/11/2012
A 44 percent reduction in 30-day readmissions serves as a testament to the power of health information technology, nursing informatics. Read more
A 44 percent reduction in 30-day readmissions serves as a testament to the power of health information technology, nursing informatics. Read more
Consumers Support Electronic Storage, Sharing of Health Data
A new Annals of Family Medicine study finds that consumers
generally are comfortable with electronic methods of storing and sharing
their health information, but they also consider several health data
privacy and security protections to be important. Clinical Innovation & Technology.
National Strategy for Suicide Prevention Emphasizes Health IT
Federal health officials and military officers announced a
new national strategy aimed at preventing suicide. The initiative relies
on Facebook, mobile applications, interactive websites and other
technologies to identify at-risk individuals and offer treatment. Reuters et al.
Examining the Evolving Use of Apps and Mobile Health Devices in a Real-Time Clinical Settin
www.imedicalapps.com
In
October, 2010 over 20 residents and attendings at Rusk Rehabilitation,
NYU Langone Medical Center were provided with iPads (Apple, Cupertino)
to initiate a study that was one of the first and largest to examine
these devices in a clinical setting. Read more
Patients Report High Satisfaction With Online Communication Tool
A small provisional study published this week in the journal BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
finds that the majority of patients who used an online tool that
allowed for asynchronous communication with their physicians reported
being more satisfied and empowered. FierceHealthIT.
Doctor, Patient Collaboration: 7 Ways to Improve Health Care
eWeek: In health care, poor collaboration
could lead to deterioration in patient conditions ... Patients' adherence to medication routines and
appointments as well as doctors' responsiveness to patients' questions
and concerns are some of the areas that can benefit from the use of
technology. Click on this link for tips on how doctors can increase their collaboration with patients.
VA Says One Million Users Have Signed Up for 'Blue Button' Tool
One million patients have registered for and are using the Department of
Veterans Affairs' "Blue Button" tool, officials announced last week.
The Blue Button tool lets users download their personal health data in a
standard and consistent manner. Healthcare IT News, Modern Healthcare.
EHR database drastically enhances medical research
Using
electronic
health record databases for medical research provided a "tremendous"
opportunity to "improve medical outcomes." However, she also pointed out
the limitations of relying only on health records for research.
"[I]f [a record] is incomplete or flawed, you're stuck with it and you better
realize it so that your analysis isn't skewed," Hoffman said.
Related Articles:
Computer algorithms can mine EHR free text for information
EHRs hold promise for genetic testing research
Cleveland Clinic backs company selling searchable patient data
Computer algorithms can mine EHR free text for information
EHRs hold promise for genetic testing research
Cleveland Clinic backs company selling searchable patient data
Read more about: Cleveland
Clinic, database
Screen reader for the visually impaired
Translating text into audio is one of the solutions people with
limited or no eyesight employ to overcome that barrier. Thunder is one of many
award-winning, free screen-reader program that does just that.
It helps blind and visually impaired people navigate their
computers by reading text, menus, links and buttons. Using Thunder, you
won't need your mouse. You'll be able to hear buttons and icons to find
your way around your computer. Thunder is available in five languages and installs quickly and
easily. There are also several manuals for beginning users to help you
make the most of this life-changing software.
Cost: Free, Systems: Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 www.screenreader.netGPS navigation for the blind: BlindSquare you can. It's an app designed to help the visually impaired find their way around town.
It uses the iPhone's sophisticated sensors and GPS to track where you
are and tell you what's around you. It's voice activated and includes
high-quality speech synthesis to help you navigate around the city.
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e-Behaviorial Health
Benefit from new technologies... enable people to have remote access to CBT
