News 3/8/23

Top News

Women’s care company Tia secures an undisclosed amount of funding from Pivotal Ventures, bringing its total funding to $150 million. (Based on past funding rounds, Pivotal’s investment is likely less than $23 million.)

Tia, which launched in 2017 as a text-based women’s sexual health and wellness app, now operates membership-based virtual and in-person clinics for patients in California, Arizona, and New York. It plans on opening more clinics in the near future, though co-founder and CEO Carolyn Witte says the company has had to scale back expansion plans due to economic concerns.

Webinars

None scheduled soon. Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre to present your own.

Announcements and Implementations

Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute (NJ) signs on with Health Plus Management, a practice management company specializing in orthopedic, physical therapy, and physical medicine and rehabilitation practices.

Elizabeth Layton Center (KS) selects Credible behavioral health EHR software from Qualifacts.

Access Family Care, an FQHC with several locations in Missouri, selects EClinicalWorks.

Research and Innovation

Patients prefer text messaging to phone calls when it comes to communicating with providers, according to a patient perspectives survey of 1,200 people. The survey also found that patients will give their physicians just two chances before looking elsewhere for care, and that 75% of patients research potential providers online before booking appointments.

Other

Northeast Surgical Group (MI) notifies patients of a January data breach involving “suspicious activity within its network environment.” NSG maintains that it has not found any evidence to suggest patient data was misused by the hackers. DataBreaches.net, however, has determined that the BianLian ransomware group has put NSG files on the dark web.

Sponsor Updates

• AdvancedMD publishes a new e-book, “2023 MIPS Attestation Guide.”
• Nordic releases a new podcast, “Making Rounds: The Big Squeeze in Healthcare.”
• AdvancedMD publishes a new e-guide, “2023 CPT/HCPCS Codebook.”

Blog Posts

• Be the Poison Control (or help desk) operator your colleagues need you to be (Nordic)
• How Clinical Communication Helps Critical Access Hospitals Improve Patient Outcomes (PerfectServe)

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk.

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News 3/6/23

Top News

Fertility-focused provider Kindbody raises $100 million, bringing its total funding to $290 million and its valuation to $1.8 billion. The company, which operates 17 clinics across the country, will use the new investment to open 10 additional clinics and acquire virtual health and fertility companies.

HIStalk Practice Announcements and Requests

Thanks to Nordic for supporting HIStalk Practice. Click the logo for more information.

Webinars

March 7 (Tuesday) noon ET.  “Prescribe RPA 2.0 to Treat Healthcare Worker Burnout.” Sponsor: Keysight Technologies. Presenters: Anne Foster, MS, technical consultant manager, Eggplant; Emily Yan, MPA, product marketing manager, Keysight Technologies. Half of US health systems plan to invest in robotic process automation by the end of this year, per Gartner. The concept is evolving to help with staff burnout and physician productivity. The presenters will introduce RPA 2.0, explain how to maximize its value, demonstrate how to quickly start on RPA 2.0 and test automation in one platform, and answer questions about healthcare automation.

Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre to present your own.

People

Rick Russo (ETQ) joins CentralReach as CFO.

Announcements and Implementations

Family Practice Center (PA) will leverage Agilon Health’s tech-enabled Total Care Model to provide value-based care for its senior patients.

In California, Inyo and Trinity County Behavioral Health Departments implement Credible behavioral health EHR software from Qualifacts with help from Kings View Professional Services.

De Baca Family Clinic (NM) selects EHR and patient engagement software from EClinicalWorks.

Other

@healthythinker shares a recent email from Amazon Health touting its new “frustration-free” primary care service. Amazon finalized its $3.9 billion acquisition of One Medical last month.

Meanwhile, as Mr. HIStalk noted in a recent post, the FTC has warned Amazon that it will be monitoring its use of patient data following its acquisition of One Medical, noting that it will judge pre-acquisition privacy promises by the standard of a “reasonable consumer” rather than that of a HIPAA expert.

The Chautauqua Center (NY) notifies its physical and occupational therapy patients of a third-party data breach affecting its EHR vendor, WebPT. According to the company, patient data from a referral report was inadvertently exposed in late December to a limited number of clinics using the WebPT system. DataBreaches.net has since reported that TCC has switched from WebPT to Athenahealth.

The local news profiles Boss Lady Docs, an informal networking group of female physicians working in hospitals and private practice in and around Chicago. Orthopedic surgeon Lauren Matteini, MD launched the group in late 2020 as a way to connect with and provide local doctors informal support, mentoring, medical consultations, business help, and camaraderie. Largely facilitated by Matteini via WhatsApp, the group has grown from 25 to 165 members.

Sponsor Updates

• EClinicalWorks achieves Google’s Chrome Enterprise Recommended designation.
• Nordic publishes a podcast titled “Making Rounds: The Big Squeeze in Healthcare.”

Blog Posts

• Survey: Your Practice is Losing Almost a Month to Financial Busy Work (AdvancedMD)

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk.

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News 3/1/23

Top News

Virtual sleep care provider BetterNight raises $33 million in a funding round led by NewSpring.

HIStalk Practice Announcements and Requests

Mr. HIStalk is putting together our guide to ViVE 2023. HIStalk Practice sponsors are invited to submit information about their exhibit hall, networking, speaking, and presentation activities. The digital and downloadable guide will be available a week or two before the March 26-29 event in Nashville.

Interested in becoming a HIStalk Practice sponsor? Contact Lorre for more information.

Webinars

March 7 (Tuesday) noon ET.  “Prescribe RPA 2.0 to Treat Healthcare Worker Burnout.” Sponsor: Keysight Technologies. Presenters: Anne Foster, MS, technical consultant manager, Eggplant; Emily Yan, MPA, product marketing manager, Keysight Technologies. Half of US health systems plan to invest in robotic process automation by the end of this year, per Gartner. The concept is evolving to help with staff burnout and physician productivity. The presenters will introduce RPA 2.0, explain how to maximize its value, demonstrate how to quickly start on RPA 2.0 and test automation in one platform, and answer questions about healthcare automation.

Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre to present your own.

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

Vouched will use $6.3 million in new funding to market its AI-powered identity verification software to virtual and in-person healthcare providers. It has raised $18 million since launching in 2018.

Physician network management company Privia Health reports a 32% Q4 uptick in revenue to $364 million, with onboarded providers and practice collections increasing by 9% and 24%, respectively Total revenue for 2022 increased to $1.4 billion. Privia helps 3,500 providers across 920 practices care for 4 million patients.

Prescription savings vendor GoodRx reports a 14% decline in Q4 revenue to $184 million, due in large part to a decline in prescription transactions and the temporary decision by Kroger to stop accepting GoodRx discounts. The company laid off 140 employees in technology and marketing last fall as it began reining in marketing and administrative expenses in anticipation of Q4 declines. GoodRx paid the FTC $1.5 million to settle allegations that it sold customer data to third-parties without their permission. The company, which has admitted no wrong-doing, outlined the history of its attempts to act in good data-sharing faith with the FTC in a blog last month.

CVS Health acquisition target Oak Street Health reports a 2022 revenue increase of 51% to $2.2 billion. CVS agreed to acquire the Medicare-focused primary care provider for $10.6 billion.

Announcements and Implementations

InterState Health Systems selects EHR, practice management, and RCM technology from CareCloud. IHS is developing primary, urgent, and virtual care services for truck drivers and travelers along interstates across the country.

Research and Innovation

A KeyCare survey of 400 consumers finds that nearly 70% of those who needed minor or urgent medical care while traveling in the last year received it virtually from their regular physician or an affiliated provider. Speed, convenience, preferred provider, and cost were top patient considerations. When traveling in the future, consumers report their top preferences will be their preferred provider via telemedicine, ERs, urgent care clinics, and virtual care from a new physician.

Productivity, revenue, patient access, and employee morale increase when practices offer hybrid and/or remote working arrangements, according to a survey of 150 providers who have adopted these types of employment models.

A majority of patients will consider switching providers if communication during the pre-care process is poor, according to a survey of 1,000 patients. An even larger majority say they would trust their provider more if that organization used their preferred method of communication during pre-care engagement. Interestingly, when it comes to post-care engagement, patients overwhelmingly prefer paper billing statements to digital statements.

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk.

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News 2/27/23

Top News

Vytalize Health secures $100 million in funding, bringing its total raised to $175 million. The company specializes in helping senior-focused primary care practices effectively participate in ACOs and other value-based care programs.

Webinars

February 28 (Tuesday) 1 ET. “Words Matter: Simplifying Clinical Terms for Patients.” Sponsor: Intelligent Medical Objects. Presenters: Whitney Mannion, RN, MSN, senior terminologist, IMO; David Bocanegra, RN, nurse informaticist, IMO. The language of medicine can be confusing and contradictory to patients, challenging their ability to prepare for a procedure or pay their bills. This webinar will explore how the words that are used to communicate – online, in print, and in person – must be chosen carefully to allow patients to comprehend their diagnoses, treatments, and care plans. The presenters will also describe how the ONC Final Rule for the 21st Century Cures Act will make clinical and technical language more directly accessible through patient portals.

March 7 (Tuesday) noon ET.  “Prescribe RPA 2.0 to Treat Healthcare Worker Burnout.” Sponsor: Keysight Technologies. Presenters: Anne Foster, MS, technical consultant manager, Eggplant; Emily Yan, MPA, product marketing manager, Keysight Technologies. Half of US health systems plan to invest in robotic process automation by the end of this year, per Gartner. The concept is evolving to help with staff burnout and physician productivity. The presenters will introduce RPA 2.0, explain how to maximize its value, demonstrate how to quickly start on RPA 2.0 and test automation in one platform, and answer questions about healthcare automation.

Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre to present your own.

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

Medical billing and coding vendor Gebbs Healthcare Solutions acquires CPa Medical Billing, which offers RCM technologies and services to FQHCs and physician groups.

People

Walmart promotes Brian Setzer to EVP of Health & Wellness.

Announcements and Implementations

Redding Gastroenterology (CA) transitions to EClinicalWorks Cloud.

Ambience Healthcare announces GA of Ambience AutoScribe, software that automates the generation of notes using AI within a provider’s EHR workflow.

Eye Care Center of Northern Colorado implements ModMed’s EHR and practice management software for ophthalmology at its four clinics.

Research and Innovation

A Black Book poll of physician practices finds that over half will update or replace their practice management software within the next 18 months to improve clinical quality documentation and/or data-sharing. Top sought-after digital enhancements include analytics and practice performance data, cybersecurity capabilities, and revenue cycle and coding improvements. Respondents were most satisfied with practice management software from EClinicalWorks (solo practices), ModMed (two to five physicians) and NextGen groups ranging from six to 99 end users).

Sponsor Updates

• Healing Hands Ministries uses the PRISMA health information search tool of EClinicalWorks.

Blog Posts

• How to Combat Physician Burnout in Cardiology (PerfectServe)
• Communication Silos: What Clinicians Need to Know About EHRs (TigerConnect)
• How Patient Education Improves Patient Experience (Healthwise)

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk.

Get HIStalk Practice updates.
Contact us online.
Become a sponsor.

News 2/22/23

Top News

Aledade acquires value-based care analytics vendor Curia for an undisclosed sum. The company, which manages a network of 1,500 independent primary care practices and health centers, has raised nearly $420 million. It acquired advance care planning company Iris Healthcare in January 2022.

Webinars

February 28 (Tuesday) 1 ET. “Words Matter: Simplifying Clinical Terms for Patients.” Sponsor: Intelligent Medical Objects. Presenters: Whitney Mannion, RN, MSN, senior terminologist, IMO; David Bocanegra, RN, nurse informaticist, IMO. The language of medicine can be confusing and contradictory to patients, challenging their ability to prepare for a procedure or pay their bills. This webinar will explore how the words that are used to communicate – online, in print, and in person – must be chosen carefully to allow patients to comprehend their diagnoses, treatments, and care plans. The presenters will also describe how the ONC Final Rule for the 21st Century Cures Act will make clinical and technical language more directly accessible through patient portals.

March 7 (Tuesday) noon ET.  “Prescribe RPA 2.0 to Treat Healthcare Worker Burnout.” Sponsor: Keysight Technologies. Presenters: Anne Foster, MS, technical consultant manager, Eggplant; Emily Yan, MPA, product marketing manager, Keysight Technologies. Half of US health systems plan to invest in robotic process automation by the end of this year, per Gartner. The concept is evolving to help with staff burnout and physician productivity. The presenters will introduce RPA 2.0, explain how to maximize its value, demonstrate how to quickly start on RPA 2.0 and test automation in one platform, and answer questions about healthcare automation.

Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre to present your own.

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

Amazon closes its $3.9 billion deal to acquire membership-based primary care provider One Medical, which has 200 clinics in 26 markets. The online retailer has said it will for a limited time reduce One Medical membership from $199 to $144 for Amazon customers. The FTC has been conducting an in-depth review of the deal, and has told the two companies they are closing the deal at their own risk.

Announcements and Implementations

Bluestem Health, an FQHC with seven clinics in Lincoln, NE, launches an online symptom checker using technology from Mediktor.

Care Counseling implements Opus EHR software for behavioral and mental health.

DirectTrust reports that 213 million Direct Secure Messages were sent and received in the fourth quarter of 2022, with the number of patients using Direct Secure Messaging increasing 7% to 700,000.

Research and Innovation

Forty-one percent of surveyed physicians say their prescribing habits have been occasionally or frequently influenced by content they’ve seen on social media. Nearly 100% of surveyed pharma marketers believe social media influences clinical and treatment decisions. Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter seem to be the social platforms of choice for physicians interested in keeping up with private medical groups, hospitals and trade associations, and government news.

Other

Michael Raines, MD reflects on the impact former President Jimmy Carter has had on healthcare services in Carter’s hometown of Plains, GA. Carter was instrumental in the re-opening of the town’s lone clinic in 2018, using his ties with the Mercer University School of Medicine to fast-track the plan. Raines has worked at the clinic since it opened and says it’s been busy since day one. Mercer has gone on to open four more rural clinics in neighboring counties.

The Robert Graham Center, The Physicians Foundation, and the Milbank Memorial Fund develop a scorecard tracking support for primary care. The initial scorecard reveals trends that have become common themes in the healthcare industry:

• The federal government has not invested enough in primary care.
• The primary care workforce is shrinking, causing gaps in access to care to increase.
• An increasing number of adults report they don’t have a regular source of primary care.
• Not enough physicians are being trained in community settings, where they are needed the most.
• Federal funding for primary care research is almost nil.

Sponsor Updates

• Nordic releases a new episode of its “Designing for Health” podcast featuring Memora Health’s Omar Nagji.

Blog Posts

• Go big, go fast, and go to the front lines (Nordic)

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk.

Get HIStalk Practice updates.
Contact us online.
Become a sponsor.