Telemedicine News & Updates HIMSS17 Special Edition 2-1-2017

TOPICS:

Posted By: Annmarie Budniak February 1, 2017

twitter-hashtag-telehealth-200Stay up to date on the latest and join the conversation with #Telehealth, #Telemedicine and #HIMSS17.

The 2017 HIMSS Annual Conference & Exhibition, February 19–23, 2017 in Orlando, brings together 40,000+ health IT professionals, clinicians, executives and vendors from around the world. Exceptional education, world-class speakers, cutting-edge health IT products and powerful networking are hallmarks of this industry-leading conference. We did some research and have compiled the list below of telemedicine events taking place at HIMSS this year.

 

Don’t miss these opportunities at HIMSS17!
Post-Acute Care Telemedicine Improves Patient Care
February 21, 2017 — 04:30PM EST – 04:50PM EST
Orange County Convention Center
Booth 8361 | Innovation
Patients discharged from the ED lack post-acute care options, so they’re likely to return to the hospital within 72-hours with potential repercussions for patient safety, re-admissions, etc. EMC and CirrusMD launched Safe Transitions to connect patients with a doctor via text, image, or video conference, providing continuity and value while allowing patients to remain at home. In the first three months, 86% of encounters were completely resolved, only 14% were sent back to the hospital.

Engaging Consumers to Drive Telemedicine Outcomes
February 20, 2017 — 02:30PM EST – 02:50PM EST
Orange County Convention Center
Booth 7281|ConnectHealth
Using the latest technology to create remote healthcare access improves outcomes and consumer health, but only if consumers use it. Dr. Henry DePhillips, the Chief Medical Officer at Teladoc, will share data on telemedicine usage and engagement strategies. Time will be left for Q&A as well.

himss17orlando-200Telemedicine for Underserved Groups with Diabetes
February 22, 2017 — 10:00AM EST – 10:20AM EST
Orange County Convention Center
Booth 7281|ConnectHealth
The University of Mississippi Medical Center Center for Telehealth continues to address the need in rural communities that face barriers to access to adequate healthcare. This session will highlight the core fundamental practices that define a comprehensive Remote Patient Monitoring as we move from a traditional delivery of care to an innovative virtual approach. The session will discuss how this will reduce cost, improve quality of care and increase access remotely.

Improving Patient Health by Enabling the Provider
February 20, 2017 — 11:00AM EST – 11:20AM EST
Orange County Convention Center
Booth 7281|ConnectHealth
As healthcare continues to advance, a patient-centric model is key to success. But how can we ensure the provider also has the tools to help him or her succeed? By creating an all-in-one telehealth station that enables the provider to better monitor and respond to the patient, we can build a better healthcare model that allows for superior care coordination and enhances the usability of telemedicine and connected health.

Connected Health Experience
Location: Booth 7281 | Hall E
Connected health is a dynamic and expansive market, exploding with opportunity. New devices, wearable sensors and mobile apps now track fitness, count calories, monitor blood glucose and hypertension, measure sleep patterns, promote self-care and more. Patient-generated health data is flowing into EMRs and helping to improve engagement, adherence and clinical outcomes; individuals are connecting with providers through portals and apps to manage chronic conditions; and telemedicine is enabling a growing number of virtual visits. Even games focused on health are becoming a part of a strategic approach in healthcare delivery. Visit the 50+ companies and attend some of the 40+ theater presentations during the conference.

Logicalis Healthcare Solutions Warns Healthcare CIOs: Telehealth Has Reached Its Tipping Point
It’s no secret that telehealth will be among the most talked about healthcare IT topics at HIMSS17 – a prediction perfectly aligned with last month’s revelation from the Federation of State Medical Boards that telemedicine is its members’ top medical regulatory issue. According to Logicalis Healthcare Solutions, the healthcare-focused arm of Logicalis US (@LogicalisUS), an international IT solutions and managed services provider, telehealth is at a tipping point as the lines between healthcare and telehealth continue to blur. Soon, there will be no distinction between the two – telehealth will become a natural extension of the way medical care is provided. Logicalis warns that healthcare organizations that are unprepared for this change put themselves at risk of being overwhelmed by the coming onslaught of expectations and regulations as the consumerization of IT extends to the healthcare market. To help healthcare CIOs transition to a successful telehealth implementation, Logicalis is offering a downloadable white paper, “How to Design and Implement a Successful Telehealth Program for Your Organization.”

Lacktman Contributes to American Health Lawyers Association Guidebook on Telemedicine
A regular on our telemedicine post, Nathaniel Lacktman, chair of the Foley and Lardner firm’s Telemedicine and Virtual Care Practice and co-chair of the firm’s Digital Health group, was a contributing author to the new guidebook, Telemedicine: What It Is and How It May Affect You, published by the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA). The guidebook was created through AHLA’s Public Interest program, which has a mission of serving as a public resource by providing free, high-quality information that addresses health law issues.

New Policy for Using Telemedicine in Stroke, Cardiovascular Care
The American Heart Association (@AHA) recently published a policy statement in Circulation on the role of telehealth in advancing care in cardiovascular disease and stroke, barriers to telehealth implementation, and strategies to overcome these barriers. The combined cost of CVD and stroke exceeds $350 billion per year in the United States, and this figure is projected to increase to almost $1 trillion by 2030. Telehealth, which encompasses digital telecommunications and information technologies such as telemedicine and eHealth, may help address the problem of rising healthcare spending by improving quality of care while reducing costs.

More Patients Willing to Switch to Telehealth Providers
The American Journal of Managed Care (@AJMC_Journal) recently reported on the results of a Harris Poll survey commissioned by telehealth company, American Well (@AmericanWell). A recent survey of consumers found that 1 in 5 were willing to switch from their current primary care physician (PCP) to one that offered telehealth visits. Researchers noted a particular interest among the survey respondents in using telehealth to manage a chronic illness or get a prescription refilled. The survey used online questions to ask 4107 US adults about their perceptions of telehealth. Of the consumers with a PCP, the survey found that 65% were very or somewhat interested in video appointments.

ATA’s 2017 Telehealth 2.0 Conference to Focus on Industry Transformation, Innovation
ATA (@AmericanTelemed) has officially announced Telehealth 2.0 The Transformation Advantage, the largest technology innovation and networking event in the telehealth industry, which brings together more than 6,000 healthcare and industry professionals, including 1,000 C-Level executives. The conference agenda will focus on products and technologies that are re-inventing healthcare, regulation, and delivery and operational strategies for an industry projected to surpass $30 billion globally by 2020. See details below as well as a link to register for the event.

In State News:
Bill Would Allow Online Prescription For Glasses, Contacts
In Indiana there is much disagreement about the use of telemedicine services when it comes to online eye exams and prescriptions. A telemedicine bill passed last year prohibits the practice. Several lawmakers are backing a bill that would remove those restrictions on prescribing vision devices through telemedicine. They say the bill is about increasing access for Hoosiers.

Wisconsin’s New Telemedicine Rules Approved By The Medical Examining Board
The National Law Review reports that last month, the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board approved new rules for the practice of telemedicine. The new rules now await review by the Governor’s office, the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules and then move to the Wisconsin State Legislature for final approval. These final steps of the rulemaking process typically take a few months to accomplish, meaning the new rules could take effect by mid-2017. Provisions of Wisconsin’s new telemedicine rules primarily focus on the safety and relationship of the patients and physicians.

Idaho Gives Up on Telemedicine Abortion Ban
Pregnant Idahoans in remote areas can now access the pills that induce abortion even when their doctors are hundreds of miles away, under a legal settlement announced Monday. The settlement blocks two Idaho laws passed in 2015 that barred doctors from administering medication abortion via telemedicine, a technology connecting doctors and patients through video conferencing. The settlement, which arose out of a court challenge, suggests a legal path for reproductive rights advocates in the 19 states with similar bans on the books.

Upcoming Events:

ATA 2017 International Conference and Tradeshow (#T2Telehealth)
What: Telehealth 2.0 – The Transformation Advantage
When: April 23-25, 2017
Where: Orlando, FL

SPS 2017 Telehealth Conference
What: 3rd National Telemedicine & Telehealth Service Provider Showcase
When: October 2-3, 2017
Where: Phoenix, AZ

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.