Telemedicine News & Updates 12-10-2019

In this monthly series we are seeking out the latest developments around Telemedcine. How is telemedicine used to benefit patients and care givers? What are the newest innovations in telemedicine technology?  How does telemedicine fit into the realm of virtual care?  For virtual care industry news and information, read our regular reporting on Virtual Care on Health Data Answers.

Hashtags to follow for updates on telemedicine:

To Listen:

Harlow on Healthcare – Andrew Altofer, CEO CirrusMD
On this episode of Harlow on Healthcare, Host David Harlow and his guest discuss the question, “What if we told you telemedicine could be secure-chat based?” Andrew Altorfer, CEO for CirrusMD, says “people just want to text” so his company is changing the paradigm.

 

Contract News:

Potomac Physicians Associates Finds Virtual Visits Allow Them to See More Patients
Potomac Physicians Associates (PPA), a Primary Care group of 28 providers across three locations, worked with five different Telehealth vendors before switching to OTTO Health. According to Dr. Steven Schwartz, a family physician and the Medical Director of Potomac Physician Associates, “with the other vendors, scheduling was always a major barrier. Our staff was having to schedule in two places, and it just wasn’t efficient for our clinical workflows. OTTO’s integration with NextGen Healthcare made Telehealth incredibly simple, and actually achievable.”

Product News:

Spanish-English Translation Simplifies Doctor-Patient Communication
Medici, a mobile telehealth company,announced that its Chat Translate feature enables easier, more intuitive Spanish-English text message conversations between providers and patients using the Medici app.

Appointments:

Toby Cosgrove Joins Board of American Well
American Well (@americanwell), a company delivering comprehensive virtual health solutions across healthcare’s key constituents, announced the appointment of Toby Cosgrove to its board of directors. Dr. Cosgrove served as CEO of Cleveland Clinic from 2004 through 2017, leading the organization to new heights of achievement and efficiency and seeing it ranked the #2 hospital in America according to US News & World Report’s Best Hospitals rankings. Dr. Cosgrove has been recognized by Fortune Magazine as a Business Person of the Year.

Dr. Edward Zuckerberg Joins Rhinogram’s Advisory Board
Rhinogram (@rhinogram), a provider of cloud-based, HIPAA-compliant, telehealth solutions, announced that Dr. Edward Zuckerberg joined its Oral Health Advisory Board alongside other prominent industry leaders. Dr. Zuckerberg is well known for his early adoption of technological advances and use of social media to grow his practice and improve patient care.

To Read:

IU Health Tipton expanding telemedicine services for mental health, addiction
A grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow IU Health Tipton to expand its telehealth technology to enhance its addiction and mental health services.

Making the Cut:

Teladoc Health Earns Multiple Telehealth Accreditations from ClearHealth Quality Institute
Teladoc Health (@teladochealth), the global leader in virtual care, announced it has earned two accreditations through ClearHealth Quality Institute’s Telemedicine Accreditation Program (TAP). The company gained independent accreditation for both its Consumer-to-Provider services for acute care needs, as well as its Provider-to-Consumer services, which focus on the ongoing provider/patient relationship when treating specialty and chronic conditions, including mental health.

Northern Virginia Technology Council Announces the 2019 Tech 100 Honorees
The Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) announced the 2019 NVTC Tech 100, a list of groundbreaking companies, leaders and innovators within the region’s technology community. These technology companies and executives have demonstrated dedication, vision and innovation within the region’s technology industry. SOC Telemed (@SOCTelemed) is included on the list of honorees.

Handheld examination device makes TIME innovation list
Dedi Gilad, CEO and co-founder of Tyto Care (@TytoCare), said: “Tyto Care’s mission has always been to make high-quality healthcare accessible on demand, from any location, to as many people as possible. We are honored to be included on TIME’s Best Inventions list for 2019. This recognition signifies the ground-breaking impact TytoHome is having on people’s day-to-day lives and we are excited to continue to deliver the best virtual care experience to consumers across the globe.”

 

Upcoming Events:

ATA2020 Annual Conference and Expo
What: ATA2020 Annual Conference and Expo
When: May 3 – 5, 2020
Where: Phoenix, AZ
Hashtag: #ATA20

ATA2020 Annual Conference and Expo – Get a head start on next year’s conference It’s never too early to start planning. Register now.

 

CMS Covered Telehealth Services
You can download the list of services payable under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule when furnished via telehealth on the CMS website.

Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP)
The Center for Connected Health Policy (@CCHPCA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to maximize telehealth’s ability to improve health outcomes, care delivery, and cost effectiveness. Follow CCHP for the latest in telehealth policy and news.