One of the ways that HealthIT Answers 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 September. You can also read previous month’s Top Ten Lists. Thank you for contributing and reading.
Most Played Radio Episode in September
From Conversations on Health Care, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter welcome Dr. William Haseltine, President of ACCESS Health International, a global health think tank. He is also a renowned scientist, entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder of Harvard Medical School’s HIV/AIDS and cancer research centers. He discusses his two new books: A Family Guide to COVID: Questions and Answers for Parents, Grandparents and Children, and A COVID Back To School Guide which are continually-updating ‘living e-books’ offering answers to the many questions families have about how to navigate their way through the pandemic.
Most Read Thought Leader Posts in September
How Training Helps Your Practice Adapt to Change
By Scott Zeitzer, President, P3 Practice Marketing
Twitter: @p3practicemktg
The way we approach healthcare is shifting, perhaps now more rapidly than ever before. Leadership and staff have to evolve along with the practice, or the practice as a whole may not adapt to change as smoothly. Training can help your practice adapt more quickly to change as it happens. Training can help your leadership team all the way down to your front desk staff. Continue reading…
3 Often Overlooked Payment Channels That Can Help Streamline Collections
By Deirdre Ruttle, Chief Marketing Officer, InstaMed
Twitter: @InstaMed
Twitter: @deirdre_ruttle
In direct response to the COVID-19 crisis, the healthcare industry experienced a transformation. Social distancing guidelines continue to limit in-person contact and crowded spaces whenever possible. The patient and provider relationship relies on technology for safe interactions. Many of these shifts are expected to last beyond COVID-19, impacting everything from care delivery to the payment journey. Continue reading…
Security Risk Hiding in Plain Sight
By Matt Fisher, Attorney and chair of the Health Law Group at Mirick, O’Connell, DeMallie & Lougee, LLP.
Twitter: @matt_r_fisher
Security risks can lurk behind every corner, but some places can feel more hidden than others, even if that is not the case. One area perceived as hidden is the source code underpinning various digital health or other software based tools. Risks found in code can be troublesome because development of that code is often outsourced, which is actually part of the problem. Continue reading…
Creating a Contactless Care Experience
By Sonia Singh, Vice President, Consumer-Driven Growth, AVIA
Twitter: @HealthAVIA
What if a doctor’s visit could be as seamless and contactless as an Amazon Go experience? Imagine this: before an appointment, the patient completes a pre-visit registration intake form at home from their personal device. When they arrive at the doctor’s office, they can check in online from the car, and get real-time alerts about wait time estimates and details on what to expect during the visit. Continue reading…
Sustainable Telehealth: Business Associate Agreements
By Jim Tate, EMR Advocate
Twitter: @jimtate
The foundation of sustainable telehealth must provide for the protection of Personal Health Information. One of the primary issues that should be addressed is the need for Business Associate Agreements. The Department of Health and Human Services provides clarification by informing us that: Continue reading…
Ambient? Or Ambition? What To Look For In A Real-World Ambient Clinical Intelligence Solution
By Peter Durlach, Senior Vice President of Strategy and New Business Development, Nuance Healthcare
Twitter: @NuanceInc
As technology has advanced significantly since the first ‘personal computing’ device was introduced nearly half a century ago, so too, have our expectations. It’s no longer enough that our machines can calculate and store—now we expect them to listen, learn, and act. Today, voice-enabled technologies such as virtual assistants and smart speakers have become relatively common in our everyday lives. Continue reading…
QHP Enrollee Survey: Proposed 2021 Survey Tool Updates to Address Telehealth
By Esther Turner, Principal, Product Management, SPH Analytics
Twitter: @SPHAnalytics
CMS recently posted proposed updates to the QHP Enrollee Survey. This survey is required for health plan issuers operating as Qualified Health Plans on the Marketplace. It provides data about member experience to the Quality Rating System to inform consumers about the quality of plan performance. Continue reading…
Surviving the Pandemic: A Half-Year On
By William Hersh, MD, Professor and Chair, OHSU
Twitter: @williamhersh
In a few weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown will have been going on for a half-year for most people in the United States. I still remember its beginning in early March. Nothing in my entire life has impacted my personal and professional activities as much as this. Continue reading…
Pandemic Increases Patients’ Readiness to Embrace Telehealth Technology
By Robin Hill, Chief Clinical Officer, VP of Clinical Solutions, Vivify Health
Twitter: @VivifyHealth
My, what a difference a year (and a global pandemic) makes. Last year, Vivify’s annual consumer survey about attitudes toward virtual care showed that only 17% of Americans said they had access to remote care. This year, a full 70% of respondents say at least one of their providers now offers telehealth. Continue reading…
Prognosis for Rural Hospitals Worsens With Pandemic
By Sarah Jane Tribble, Kaiser Health News
Twitter: @KHNews
Twitter: @sjtribble
Jerome Antone said he is one of the lucky ones. After becoming ill with COVID-19, Antone was hospitalized only 65 miles away from his small Alabama town. He is the mayor of Georgiana — population 1,700. “It hit our rural community so rabid,” Antone said. The town’s hospital closed last year. If hospitals in nearby communities don’t have beds available, “you may have to go four or five hours away.” Continue reading…