The article about Pediatric Associates in CA has a nugget with a potentially outsized impact: the implication that VFC vaccines…
News 5/28/15
Top News
Patient advocate Susannah Fox (Pew Research Center) is named CTO of HHS. She replaces Bryan Sivak, who stepped down last month.
Webinars
June 9 (Tuesday) 11:30 ET. “Successful HIEs DO Exist: Best Practices for Care Coordination.” Sponsored by Medicity. Presenters: Dan Paoletti, CEO, Ohio Health Information Partnership; Brian Ahier, director of standards and government affairs, Medicity. Not all HIEs are dead – some, like Ohio’s CliniSync HIE, are evolving and forging a new path to successful care coordination. Brian Ahier will explain how HIEs can help providers move to value-based care models, emphasizing Meaningful Use Stage 3 and FHIR. Dan Paoletti will provide best practices in describing CliniSync’s journey to success in serving 6,000 primary care physicians, 141 hospitals, and and 290 long-term and post-acute care facilities. Attendees will learn how to use a phased approach, establish client champions, help providers meet MU Stage 2, create a provider email directory, deliver care coordination tools, and drive continued ROI.
Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock
House-call app startup DrNow seeks Houston-area physicians interested in joining the ranks of its Trusted Practitioner Program, which prepares participants to become part of its provider network.
After “rebalancing” its workforce by laying off 250 employees, Allscripts announces plans to consolidate its Raleigh, N.C. workforce into a new 12-story office building. The company will occupy close to 250,000 square feet in the new Midtown Plaza building, scheduled to open in spring 2017.
Remote monitoring startup ToSense receives FDA clearance for its CoVa monitoring system, which includes a wearable sensor for at-home patients with chronic illnesses. The necklace monitors heart rate, fluid buildup, respiration, stroke volume, and cardiac output. Scripps Health Chief Academic Officer Eric Topol, MD has been a fan of the device, touting its ability on CBS This Morning to potentially prevent hospital readmissions.
Announcements and Implementations
Chicago Cardiology Institute implements Tiger Text secure messaging across its two facilities.
Communications and consulting firm Health Connexions partners with ICDNavigator to offer physicians ICD-10 transition assistance, compliance, and conversion services.
JDL HealthTech launches HIPAA Security Essentials, a HIPAA-compliance service tailored to practices with one to three physicians.
Government and Politics
CMS releases annual updates for the 2014 electronic clinical quality measures, including 64 updated eCQMs for EPs.
American Academy of Family Practice Board Chair Reid Blackwelder, M.D. responds to proposed Meaningful Use Stage 1 and 2 modifications by CMS, expressing support for the decision to shorten the reporting period to 90 days and to lower patient engagement thresholds. He also expressed concern over the burden of MU audits: “If the government believes that a strong primary care foundation is the key to an improved and sustainable health care system, then we urge you to … provide immediate and increased relief to those who have acted responsibly and legally and had no intent to defraud or deceive by participating in the Meaningful Use program.”
People
Steven Strongwater (Geisinger Health) joins Atrius Health (MA) as president and CEO.
Research and Innovation
Swiss researchers create a six-sensor chip that can be implanted under the skin to monitor blood levels, the results of which can be sent to a smartphone via Bluetooth. The device has already been used to measure glucose and paracetamol levels in mice. Preparations for human trials are in the works.
Other
This article profiles the impetus for ICD-10 Charts, a set of free ICD-10 templates for practices and hospitals developed by Parth Desai and computer programmer Will Pattiz. Desai, who grew up working at his father’s internal medicine practice in Columbus, GA, developed the resource to help his dad make the transition to ICD-10. The Physicians Foundation has stepped in to further fund the project, which will soon include free coding training and additional resources.
Contacts
Jennifer, Mr. H, Lorre, Dr. Jayne, Dr. Gregg, Lt. Dan
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