In his HIMSS keynote address, Alphabet’s former executive chairman and now current technical advisor Eric Schmidt warned attendees that the “future of healthcare lies in the need for killer apps.” But he also cautioned that the transition to a better digitally connected health future isn't just one killer app, but a system of apps working together in the cloud. He also advocated transforming the massive amount of data held in EHRs into information and knowledge.Schmidt is correct in his
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HIMSS18
HIMSS18 Day 3 Coverage Highlights & Summary
Health Insurer Cigna to Acquire Express Scripts for $67 BillionCigna Corporation has acquired Express Scripts Holding Company in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $67 billion, including Cigna’s assumption of approximately $15 billion in Express Scripts debt. The acquisition is expected to be completed by December 31, 2018.The combined company will be named Cigna. Cigna’s headquarters in Bloomfield, Connecticut, will become the headquarters for the combined company, and
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HIMSS18 Day 3 Coverage Highlights & Summary
Inovalon to Acquire ABILITY Network for $1.2BInovalon, a technology company providing advanced, cloud-based platforms empowering a data-driven transformation from volume-based to value-based models has acquired ABILITY Network (“ABILITY”) for $1.2 billion. The combination of Inovalon and ABILITY creates a vertically integrated cloud-based platform empowering the achievement of real-time, value-based care from payers, manufacturers, and diagnostics all the way to the patient’s point of
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HIMSS18 Day 2 Coverage Highlights & Summary
Google Unveils New Cloud Healthcare API to Address Healthcare Data Interoperability Google unveils their new Cloud Healthcare API, which addresses the significant interoperability challenges in healthcare data. The new API will provide a robust, scalable infrastructure solution to ingest and manage key healthcare data types—including HL7, FHIR and DICOM.The goal of the Cloud Healthcare API is to give healthcare customers the tools they need to accelerate projects in areas like population
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HIMSS18: Google Unveils New Cloud Healthcare API to Address Healthcare Data Interoperability
This week at HIMSS18, Google unveiled their new Cloud Healthcare API, which addresses the significant interoperability challenges in healthcare data. The new API will provide a robust, scalable infrastructure solution to ingest and manage key healthcare data types—including HL7, FHIR and DICOM.Google is already working with a select group of partners including Stanford School of Medicine. "Open standards are critical to healthcare interoperability as well as for enabling biomedical research. We
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Accenture: 61% of Consumers Have Used Virtual Health Assistants
Consumers are increasingly using a variety of digital self-service tools for managing their health, according to results of a survey from Accenture 2018 Consumer Survey on Digital Health released this week at HIMSS18.The survey of 2,301 U.S. consumers reveals that consumers are becoming more accepting of machines — ranging from artificial intelligence (AI), to virtual clinicians and home-based diagnostics — having a significantly greater role in their overall medical care. For example, one in
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Blue Shield of California Launches Initiative to Create Real-Time Digital Health Records
Beginning this week, Blue Shield of California announced it will require network providers, including those participating in the nonprofit health plan’s nationally recognized Accountable Care Organization (ACO) program, to agree to participate in Manifest MedEx, the largest nonprofit health information network that is creating comprehensive, real-time digital health records for all Californians.Created through collaboration among California’s leading providers and health plans, Manifest MedEx
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Joslin Diabetes Center Integrates with American Well to Improve Diabetes Care
Joslin Diabetes Center and American Well, today announced an integration collaboration to explore how to best use telemedicine to treat diabetes in the United States – and eventually, around the world. In this initial collaboration, American Well's technology will match Joslin's leading diabetes specialists with patients who need care, offering the ability to provide more frequent, timely, and convenient interactions than may be possible with physical appointments.According to the World Health
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Northwell Health Shows Positive Impact in ED with Philips Wearable Biosensor
Northwell Health announces it has improved clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction collaborating with Philips on a comprehensive IT strategy. Leveraging Philips Virtual Hospital Services portfolio – including eICU technology and a comprehensive Telestroke program – Northwell has seen a reduction in mortality in the ICU and improved access to life-saving stroke care, as well as increased patient satisfaction in the Emergency Department (ED) through a pilot program featuring the Philips
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Nuance Study Reveals Rework Is Root Cause of Staff Burnout in Hospitals
Nuance has unveiled new study data in an infographic about the importance of reducing rework. The healthcare system is built on the premise of rework with clinical documentation specialists and coders going back to the care team for specifications and clarity on clinical documentation, causing physicians to relive their day and rework documentation done previously. Rework is a root cause of staff burnout in hospitals and healthcare systems.As physicians and care teams face mounting pressure and
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