To Listen
Conversations on Health Care: ATA’s Dr. Joseph Kvedar on Role of Telehealth Against the Backdrop of the Current Pandemic
This week on HealthcareNOW Radio Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter, hosts of Conversations on Health Care, welcome Dr. Joseph Kvedar, President-Elect of the American Telemedicine Association and Sr. Advisor for Virtual Care at Partners Health Care in Boston. A pioneer in the telehealth movement, he talks about the evolving role of telehealth and remote monitoring, especially against the backdrop of the current pandemic leading to quarantines, and the growing adoption of telemedicine throughout the American health system.. Listeners can tune in to the episode this week at 1 am, 9 am, and 5 pm ET.
News and Noted
COVID-19: Guidance for ASCs on Necessary Surgeries
In response to government guidance that hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers postpone elective surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) (@ASCAssociation) has consulted with clinical leaders to solicit recommendations on how and when facilities should proceed with cases that, for clinical reasons, should not be postponed. A surgery may be deemed urgent and necessary if the treating physician decides that a months-long delay would increase the likelihood of significantly worse morbidity or prognosis for the patient.
Most Aggressive States Against the Coronavirus
From WalletHub (@wallethub) – According to the World Health Organization, the primary way that coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads is through close interaction with other people. If people come into contact with droplets exhaled or coughed out by infected people, they are at risk of getting the virus. In response, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that Americans use “social distancing.” This includes canceling large events and staying at least two meters away from others when possible, among other measures to limit close contact. See how your state is doing.
Products and Technology
Tabula Rasa HealthCare Named Principal Distributor of the BioIntelliSense BioSticker™ for Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) – Tabula Rasa HealthCare, Inc. (TRHC) (@TabulaRasaHC), a healthcare technology company advancing the field of medication safety, enters into an agreement with BioIntelliSense to distribute its BioSticker™, the first FDA-cleared, single-use device enabling 30 days of continuous vital sign monitoring. The BioIntelliSense DaaS platform can be applied to a wide range of clinical use cases, including monitoring for the key symptoms associated with COVID-19.
Bridgecom Solutions Offers Free Access To Its Outreach Platform For Critical Coronavirus Communications – Bridgecom Solutions, a provider of comprehensive support for regulated member communications, announced it is providing three months free access to the Bridgecom Outreach Platform for call centers and care management teams, health systems and health plans, and qualified emergency response teams who are affected by the coronavirus.
To Read
We Need a Gene Kranz – by Dr. Nick Van Terheyden – At no time has the human race been more need of leadership with a steady hand at the tiller than now. Except for a few small pockets of people, everyone knows at this point we are facing an existential threat to the world. If you are familiar with the space program and the Apollo program that landed the first men of the moon you will know him from the landing on the moon.
Responding Together to COVID-19 – from Day Health Strategies – Day Health Strategies remains committed to improving the healthcare system during this crisis, while also promoting individual health and well-being. We have put together this infographic on how we can all work together to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic on a personal level.
Health IT Crisis and Disaster Planning Recommendations for COVID-19 – by Peyman Zand, VP, CereCore – Dear colleagues, we are at an unprecedented time in our history and much of the impact of COVID-19 has not been experienced in our lifetime. Most health systems have well-established crisis and disaster plans that encompasses IT, but these plans haven’t been tested to this degree until now. This article is intended on providing basic information regard initiating and adjusting these plans to deal with the current situation in our nation. Our recommendations include the following sections:
Billing and Coding for Coronavirus – by Kaitlyn Houseman, Revele – We will continue to monitor updates and provide information regarding medical coding and billing for COVID-19. Here we cover CPT coding, diagnosis codes, lab codes, reimbursement rates, and restrictions and requirements tied to telehealth and coronavirus testing.
CDC is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services. CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the US. CDC increases the health security of our nation. As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats.
The CDC is the front line for our safety and information on the Coronavirus. Keep informed about COVID-19. Sign up to get emails or text alerts from the CDC.
Cancellations Due to Coronavirus
AHIMA
What: Health Information Professionals Week
When: March 22 – 29, 2020
Canceled
ATA
What: ATA2020 Conference
When: May 3-5, 2020
Going Virtual
InstaMed
What: InstaMed 2020 Healthcare Payments Summit
When: May 5-6, 2020
Where: Philadelphia PA
CANCELED