93 percent of all telehealth video calls with First Stop Health doctors avoided expensive and time-consuming trips to doctors' offices or emergency rooms, according to recent analysis conducted by telehealth and advocacy service provider First Stop Health. These medically unnecessary office and ER visits would have cost an average of $103 and $1,067, respectively, according to a fee schedule published by physicianspractice.com. Given that the average family of four goes to the doctor about 14
Read More
Landmark Rulings Protect Hospitals Against Security Data Breaches
In two landmark cases, two of California's largest and most prestigious healthcare providers, Eisenhower Medical Center and Sutter Health, have fended off law suits following security data breaches that could have cost in aggregate billions of dollars, according to a release statement from Beazley Insurance Services. In the first case, a $500 million class action suit against Eisenhower Medical Center, the California Court of Appeal ruled that healthcare providers are not liable under the
Read More
Partners HealthCare CEO To Step Down in 2015
Partners HealthCare CEO Gary Gottlieb announced on Friday that he will step down next year as the chief executive officer of Partners Healthcare to become the new CEO of Boston based nonprofit Partners in Healh, BostonGlobe first reports. Gottlieb has held the job for five years and has five more years left on his contract. Gottlieb plans to remain fully in charge as CEO until his departure in July 2015 leading the Partner's pending settlement to take over South Shore Hospital in Weymouth and
Read More
Practice Fusion Launches Mobile Optimized EHR Platform
After receiving more than 20,000 requests for a mobile optimized EHR experience, today Pratice Fusion has announced the launch of their new mobile-optimized EHR platform for the Apple iPad, iPad Mini and Android tablets. The new EHR performs faster, is more responsive, has more intuitive workflows and is built on industry-leading technologies -- all designed with the medical professional in mind. Design Details For the initial design, Practice Fusion started with a team at Cooper, a San
Read More
VA Demos Telehealth Scheduling System to Representatives
On Thursday, representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) met with the Veteran Service Organizations (VSO) at the Washington VA Medical Center for a hands-on demonstration of the VA's new Clinical Video Telehealth scheduling system. The solution went live last month and is intended to improve how VA employees schedule future telehealth appointments. Telehealth rapidly is becoming a popular option, particularly for Veterans who do not have a VA health care facility close to
Read More
3 Finalists Named in Boston Children’s “Innovation Tank”
Boston Children’s Hospital today announced the three finalists selected to compete for $30k and investment advice from industry leaders in the hospital’s first “Innovation Tank” to be held Friday, Oct. 31, 2014, at Boston Children’s Global Pediatric Summit + Awards, Taking on Tomorrow (#PedInno14), at the Seaport World Trade Center. "Innovation Tank" Details Sponsored by Phillips Healthcare, startups will pitch their business or product solution designed to improve pediatric care to a panel of
Read More
CareCloud Launches Advanced Analytics to Medical Groups
CareCloud, provider of cloud-based practice management, EHR, and medical billing software and services, today announces the launch of CareCloud Advanced Analytics, a powerful new analytics suite that provides industry-leading visibility into a medical group’s financial, operational, and clinical performance. CareCloud Advanced Analytics is designed to allow medical groups of all sizes to optimize business process and results. CareCloud will be showcasing its new analytics offering along with
Read More
HHS Launches $840M Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative
The Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced that it will invest $840 million over the next four years in a new initiative to help 150,000 clinicians access information and improve health outcomes. Through the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative, the HHS will fund successful applicants who work directly with medical providers to rethink and redesign their practices, moving from systems driven by quantity of care to ones focused on patients’ health outcomes, and coordinated health
Read More
Could Ebola Survivors Blood Help Infected Patients?
Researchers are testing to find out if Ebola survivors blood could help infected patients to fight off the disease for patients in West Africa. An international research consortium led by the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp (ITM) will assess whether treatment with antibodies in the blood of Ebola survivors could help infected patients to fight off the disease. If proven effective, this straightforward intervention could be scaled up in the short term and provide an urgently needed
Read More
Medical Group Launches Pilot Study to Integrate Apple Watch into Patient Care
HSHS Medical Group has announced the launch of a comprehensive pilot study integrate the Apple Watch and other virtual care technology into patient care. The medical group has established a task force, headed by Andrew Bland, MD, chief quality officer, to study the integration of technology into the medical home model prior to Apple’s release of the watch in early 2015. The task force will work together to establish protocols for use of technology and identify doctors and nurse navigators to
Read More
