The healthcare system in the United States is becoming overwhelmed as a result of COVID-19 and there is no doubt that this epidemic will test the limits of healthcare delivery systems from end to end. Of course, at the present moment, everyone’s focus is (and rightly should be) on ensuring hospitals and healthcare workers have the appropriate equipment and protective gear they need to stay safe and adequately treat patients. That said, there are other IT considerations that should be taken into
Read More
Health IT & Digital Health-Opinion | Op-Eds | Guest Columns | Analysis, Insights - HIT Consultant
5 Lessons from Past Epidemics and Shortages to Help Supply Chains Cope with COVID-19
If we don’t learn from history, are we doomed to repeat it? In 2009, as the H1N1 swine flu swept the globe, U.S. hospitals began to run out of test kits. Some had to set up tents to handle the rush of patients. Supplies of personal protective equipment including N95 respirator masks ran out in many places despite millions distributed from the national stockpile.
Today’s coronavirus crisis is exponentially worse yet eerily familiar. Hospitals in New York, the pandemic’s epicenter, are
Read More
What Does The CARES Act Mean for Hospitals and Health Systems?
As of today, the coronavirus has infected almost 2 million worldwide and caused the deaths of more than 125,000 people (Worldometer data as of 12:15 PM on April 14, 2020). In the United States, the relevant figures are more than 600,000 infected and north of 25,000 deceased. Without successful social distancing, those numbers could be dramatically worse.
And still, they are dwarfed by the massive numbers associated with the economic impact of the coronavirus and the illness it causes,
Read More
Understanding and Alleviating Social Isolation Among Older Adults
Social isolation and loneliness among older adults are common and far-reaching issues that have been linked to serious health concerns including depression, cognitive decline, and poor physical health. A recent study found 52 percent of older adults age 65 and older experience feelings of loneliness a few times a year, and 21 percent reported feeling lonely every day. With evidence of social isolation and loneliness among older adults being as unhealthy as smoking 15 cigarettes per day, this is
Read More
Examining a Hospital Ransomware Outbreak
Friendly security can save lives – and that’s not just a provocative phrase to get your attention. It’s actually true.
Hospitals are quickly becoming one of the hackers’ favorite ransomware targets. The steady stream of media reports announcing the latest healthcare facilities that were attacked indicates an end to this targeting is not likely around the corner – and that’s only based on the publicized cases.
Now we have new research showing us that at hospitals impacted by a data breach,
Read More
Addressing Loneliness and Social Isolation in the Medicare Population
In recent years, the healthcare industry's understanding of social determinants of health (SDoH) and their impact on patient outcomes has grown dramatically. Researchers and practitioners now recognize that social isolation and loneliness fall under the SDOH umbrella. In response, many payers and providers are exploring initiatives to address social isolation among members and patients.
The health effects of social isolation and loneliness are costly and harmful. According to Health
Read More
COVID-19: Best Practices to Safeguard Organizations from Cybercriminals
While we may consider health largely a private concern in the United States, our nation depends on the continuity and availability of its healthcare system in a very public way, as evidenced by the current coronavirus outbreak. Our critical healthcare infrastructure is vulnerable at this time, no doubt, but it truly has been inspiring to see doctors, scientists, and other industry professionals from around the world come together to stop the spread of COVID-19. To fend off exploitative
Read More
Social Distancing: Addiction Recovery Programs Go Virtual for COVID-19
We have been following the social distancing guidelines for two weeks now with more weeks to go. One population that truly needs and is literally prescribed social interaction is that of Substance Use Disorder (SUD). In fact, the 12 step (recovery approach) community, relies on being social wherein attending group meetings to share experience, strength, and hope is a part of the proven philosophy.
Turns out, social distancing while helpful with the COVID-19 crisis is creating another one;
Read More
How Location Technology Can Ensure the Safety of Healthcare Workers
Healthcare can be a dangerous industry. Danger may not be what one immediately associates with places of healing and medicine, but consider everything that healthcare workers go through every day. It’s not uncommon for them to find themselves walking into the rooms of patients who are experiencing mental distress or interacting with aggressive visitors searching for an outlet for their emotions.
According to OSHA, the majority of workplace assaults happen to healthcare workers, while
Read More
Deploying a Telehealth Strategy to Mitigate the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Only weeks ago, American doctors’ waiting rooms were bustling with patients of all ages. This was no surprise as it is estimated that in an average year the U.S. healthcare system provided an estimated 278 office-based physician visits per 100 persons, for a total of approximately 883 million visits per year. Chronic conditions were the major reason for 37% of all office-based physician visits, and visits for chronic conditions were predictably higher among adults than children.
In the
Read More
