The promise of primary care on improved health outcomes has been proven over time. At the core of this equation is a robust and longitudinal patient-provider relationship. These positive relationships often improve patient satisfaction, yielding higher engagement and utilization of primary care services. However, recent studies suggest people are not engaging with primary care. In fact, internal Teladoc Health data has shown that 80% of members do not have a strong relationship with a
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Health IT & Digital Health-Opinion | Op-Eds | Guest Columns | Analysis, Insights - HIT Consultant
3 Ways Real-Time ADT Notifications Will Benefit Payers’ Businesses
Payers and providers share goals around emerging healthcare delivery models such as value-based care and accountable care organizations (ACOs). But inadequacies in current payer/provider communication often disrupt the flow of timely care and lead to unnecessary hospital readmissions and poor outcomes. What’s needed in this partnership is the standardized, fluid, real-time exchange of data to help both parties become even more efficient and effective at providing members the proper care at the
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Turning Health Data Deluge Into Actionable Healthcare Analytics
At the time, the 2009 HITECH Act and the introduction of the Meaningful Use program represented a momentous step in healthcare’s digital transformation. With billions of dollars in government investment and incentives in nearly two years’ time, over 77 percent of hospitals had reached Stage 3 of the Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model (EMRAM), or gone even further, pulling millions of data points into newly-established EMRs. Over the next 10 years, as EMRs grew into a broader and
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Hidden Vulnerabilities in Clinical Workflow Put PHI at Risk
If you’re a healthcare CIO or CISO, you already know that cybercriminals are targeting protected health information (PHI). A recent report shows that stolen PHI can sell for as much as $1,000 per record on the Dark Web. The value of patient records has driven a surge of attacks targeting healthcare organizations. 2020 saw a 25% increase in healthcare data breaches, with more than 29 million records exposed. It’s no longer a question of if you will face a breach, but when. I’ve had hundreds of
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Revenue Cycle Management Can Help Advance The Cybersecurity Mandate
Holding steady in the No. 1 spot, the healthcare industry has held the top rank in IBM’s Cost of Data Breach report for the past 11 years. It’s a lead that seems secure. In just a year from 2020-2021, the average total cost for healthcare for an event increased 29.5%, and now sits at $9.23 million. Even amidst that threat landscape, the percentage those in the healthcare space spend on cybersecurity hasn’t climbed out of the single digits. Only 6% or less of the IT budget is typically
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How Hospitals Can Build Trust and Bolster Patient Experience Through Data and Insights
In any industry, the systems created to enhance customer experience are in orbit around a singular premise: trust. In healthcare, trust is foundational to patient experience, yet it is still largely ignored in our conversations about healthcare transformation. In order for patients to feel confident in the care they are receiving—and for a great patient experience—they need to trust their care providers. It’s an endemic challenge across healthcare as patients deal with a widening
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We Recall Drugs with Adverse Effects, So Why Not Recall AI Algorithms with Racial Bias?
Over the last decade, AI has transformed from a futuristic, hype-driven tool, to now being a daily part of our lives. We use AI for everything from unlocking our smartphones, to evaluating our credit scores, to helping clinicians make patient care decisions. In particular, the potential of AI to transform drug development and patient care is unparalleled – its ability to gather objective insights can help elevate a clinical trial’s data and bring potentially life-saving drugs to people in need
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What Are Digital Wallets and What Do They Mean for Healthcare?
Digital wallets are a payment option that continues to gain traction among consumers due to their simplicity and ease. Many providers, however, may be unfamiliar with the technology and how it can benefit their practices and patients. At the most basic level, a digital wallet is a digital, mobile version of patients’ financial accounts that is easily accessible via a computer or smartphone, eliminating much of the need to carry an actual wallet. Digital wallets can be used by consumers
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Infrastructure Funding Will Improve Broadband Access for Telehealth & Combat Opioid Epidemic
The recently passed federal funding for infrastructure improvements signals a boon for healthcare providers and will expand access to care via telehealth. Once an ancillary functionality, telehealth is now a critical component for delivering patient care and the bill’s funding will expand the reach of high-speed internet, improving access for patients at a time when more rely on internet connectivity for their healthcare than ever before. However, as a board-certified physician in
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Role of Engaging Physicians in Data-Driven Healthcare Environment in 2022
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians were attuned to the operational and financial challenges faced by most hospitals and healthcare systems. They just weren’t necessarily living those challenges firsthand. However, when procedures were canceled and demand for supplies soared, the experience became more personal. Many physicians experienced steep revenue decline as well as the challenges of securing the right medical supplies when they were needed. They also saw how the industry’s
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