< > Happy 4th of July!

At Healthcare IT Today, we hope that you’re having a great 4th of July holiday.  We’ve taken the day off from our usual health IT content, but we definitely wanted to celebrate this important holiday.  Plus, hopefully you’ll get some joy out of the great festive dog picture.

Thanks to all those who make it possible for us to live in this amazing country.  And we appreciate all those healthcare workers that are out there working this holiday.  Have a great holiday and we’ll be back tomorrow with more great health IT content!

< > Is 911 outdated and in need of a behavioral health transformation?

As many as 15% of 911 calls are for behavioral health emergencies. Some experts want to dispatch healthcare professionals rather than armed police officers for calls related to mental health or homelessness.

< > Horizon Health gains operational ROI from EHR and telehealth integration

The behavioral health provider's virtual care visits now have higher satisfaction rates and offer an improved patient experience, its CIO says. Further, there's been a big reduction in technical support tickets and general staff burden.

< > CIO Podcast Episode 58: Virtual Nursing with Carol Boston-Fleischhauer JD RN MS SVP

For the 58th episode of the CIO podcast hosted by Healthcare IT Today, we are joined by Carol Boston-Fleischhauer, JD, RN, MS, SVP, Chief Clinical Officer at Banyan Medical Systems to talk about virtual nursing! We kick off this episode by getting Boston-Fleischhauer’s perspective on how the front line of healthcare is looking and how nurses are feeling today. Next, we discuss how virtual is transforming the current nursing models. Then we take a look at healthcare to see what areas virtual nursing will improve and what areas it won’t make any impact. With virtual nursing being new for some people, Boston-Fleischhauer walks us through how to build trust in these options. Next, we debate over what is holding healthcare organizations back from embracing virtual nursing opportunities fully. Lastly, we end this episode with some career advice from Boston-Fleischhauer on all of the nurses that are just starting out in their careers.

Here’s a look at the questions and topics we discuss in this episode:

• What are nurses in healthcare feeling today? What’s it look like on the front line of healthcare?
• How is virtual transforming nursing models as we know it?
• Where does virtual nursing make sense and where do you think it won’t make an impact?
• How do you build trust that virtual nursing options are effective?
• What’s holding healthcare organizations back from embracing virtual nursing opportunities?
• What career advice would you give a nurse that’s just getting started with nursing?

Now, without further ado, we’re excited to share with you the next episode of the CIO Podcast by Healthcare IT Today.

We release a new CIO Podcast every ~2 weeks. You can also subscribe to the Healthcare IT Today podcast on any of the following platforms:

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We appreciate you listening!

Listen to the Latest Episodes

< > Aya Healthcare Acquires Flexwise Health Amplifying Workforce Optimization Capacity and Cost Savings through Predictive Analytics

Aya Healthcare, the largest healthcare talent software and staffing company in the U.S., today announced its acquisition of Flexwise Health. Through sophisticated analysis of hundreds of thousands of data points, Flexwise technology forecasts gaps in patient demand and staffing levels to assist hospitals in optimizing resource allocation and cost. Predictive recommendations enable real-time insights for staffing decisions while providing visibility to workforce capacity months into the future.

“We’re excited to offer Flexwise to help healthcare systems reduce labor costs by using the power of predictive analytics in their staffing processes,” said Alan Braynin, President and CEO at Aya Healthcare. “We will continue to make significant investments into advanced technologies to drive greater efficiencies and superior operating results for our clients.”

Flexwise will be added to Aya’s suite of software solutions, which includes vendor management and float pool technology. Aya operates the world’s largest healthcare workforce platform, offers rich analytics on market dynamics and labor trends and delivers solutions to help healthcare systems source, manage, onboard, and retain clinical and non-clinical labor.

“With Aya, Flexwise is poised to advance our predictive staffing technology, further expanding its impact in the healthcare industry,” said Kevin Godsey, President at Flexwise Health. “Together, we have an opportunity to revolutionize workforce optimization, providing our clients with invaluable insights.”

“Through the AHA Innovation Development Fund, the AHA was an early supporter and investor in Flexwise alongside several member organizations. We are eager to see Aya continue to develop and deploy this innovative solution to the workforce challenges facing hospitals and health systems across the U.S.,” said Doug Shaw, Senior Vice President of Business Development at the American Hospital Association.

To learn more about Flexwise, visit flexwisehealth.com.

About Aya Healthcare

Aya Healthcare is the largest healthcare talent software and staffing company in the United States. Aya operates the world’s most innovative workforce platform delivering every component of healthcare-focused labor services, including travel nursing and allied health, per diem, permanent staff hiring, interim leadership, locum tenens and non-clinical professionals. Aya’s software suite, which includes vendor management, float pool technology, physician services and predictive analytics, provides hospital systems greater efficiencies, superior operating results and reduced labor costs. While technology drives efficiency and scale, Aya’s 7,000+ global employees power the company to deliver unparalleled accountability and exceptional experiences for clients and clinicians. Aya’s company culture is rooted in giving back and supports organizations around food security, education, healthcare, safe shelter and equity. To learn more about Aya Healthcare, visit ayahealthcare.com.

Originally announced June 14th, 2023

< > Bonus Features July 2 2023 Nuance and Epic integrate 5 in 6 physicians say telemedicine improves continuity of care news from HFMA and more

Welcome to the weekly edition of Healthcare IT Today Bonus Features. This article will be a weekly roundup of interesting stories, product announcements, new hires, partnerships, research studies, awards, sales, and more. Because there’s so much happening out there in healthcare IT we aren’t able to cover in our full articles, we still want to make sure you’re informed of all the latest news, announcements, and stories happening to help you better do your job.

News and Research

• HHS and the Office of Inspector General released the final rule implementing information blocking penalties, with fines of up to $1 million per violation for vendors and HIE entities. Penalties for providers have yet to be determined. The rules will go into effect 60 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register.
• The FCC is updating its Mapping Broadband Health in America platform to incorporate maternal health data, with the aim of identifying whether Internet connectivity is tied to disparities in maternal health outcomes and determining where interventions could have the greatest impact.
• According to the latest State of Telemedicine Report from Doximity, 83% of physicians said telemedicine improves continuity of care for patients with chronic conditions, and a similar percentage of patients said they plan to maintain or increase their use of telemedicine in the future.
• A TigerConnect and Becker’s Healthcare survey of medical and nursing leaders found that two-thirds of healthcare organizations aren’t analyzing clinical workflows and 39% view the effectiveness of their clinical communication as “neutral.”
• Sixty percent of the patients that health systems refer for physical therapy go to a clinic outside the system’s network, according to a report from Luna. This network leakage costs systems up to $3,000 per patient.
• Genetic tests make up just 10% of all lab tests performed but account for 30% of all spending on lab tests, according to a report from Avalon Healthcare Solutions.
• More than half (57%) of homecare agency leaders said investing in technology will help address business goals such as ensuring compliance, reducing costs, and retaining employees, according to survey from HHAeXchange.
• A Waystar and HFMA survey found that 80% of healthcare finance leaders see a need for denials management process improvement.
• Median hospital margins rose for the third straight month, according to the latest report from Syntellis.

Partnerships

• Nuance and Epic have expanded their collaboration and launched DAX Express for Epic, a version of Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience Express now integrated within Epic workflows.
• Medical imaging calibration software from Double Black Imaging is now bundled with LG LCD medical monitors.
• Care coordination company Quantum Health is partnering with Progyny to expand access to fertility and family planning benefits.
• Medical device risk management platform Asimily is integrating with HANDLE Global‘s Capital Cycle Management product.

Products

• Chronic condition data company OM1 released OM1 Aspen, an automated study platform for evidence generation.
• MRO released Payer Exchange to automate patient information request and fulfillment process between providers and payers.
• Navina released a generative AI assistant for primary care practices.
• Vital updated its video-based patient education offerings to provide automatic recommendations for patients in ER and inpatient settings.
• Syntellis launched Axios Referral Patterns to help networks identify sources of revenue leakage.
• Qardio released Livestream ECG, which provides physicians with real-time ECG readings.

Sales

• Texas A&M University Health Science Center chose Let’s Talk to provide tele-behavioral care to underserved populations in the state.
• HealtHIE Georgia selected Unite Us to connect patients with community services through its partnership with HOPE for a Drug-Free Stephens, a nonprofit for opioid awareness.
• TheTexas Department of State Health Services is tapping SAS to track flu data statewide.
• Tampa-based TGH Urgent Care chose LivePerson to implement conversational AI into its interactive voice response system.
• Five community health systems implemented Oracle Health CommunityWorks, with four based in Texas and the fifth in Mississippi.
• Boston-based Hebrew SeniorLife implemented MEDITECH Expanse.
• Community Health Northwest Florida implemented eClinicalWorks EHR.

News from HFMA

• Fifteen organizations earned a 2023 HFMA MAP Award for High Performance in Revenue Cycle. HFMA recognized health systems, individual hospitals, and physician practices, with Kentucky’s Graves-Gilbert Clinic the lone repeat winner among the group.
• HFMA also presented two individual achievement awards: Kenneth Stoll, Vice President of Strategic Accounts at RevSpring, and James L. Heffernan, former senior vice president of finance and treasurer of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization.
• In addition, HFMA appointed Mayo Clinic Chief Financial Officer Dennis E. Dahlen as Chair of the Board of Directors, effective June 1. New board members were announced as well, representing Trinity Health, Froedtert Health, and MedStar Health.

Certifications

• Enterprise operations software maker symplr received HITRUST Certification for three products: symplr Payer, symplr Contract, and symplr Clinical Communications.
• Cotiviti’s Quality Intelligence received NCQA Certified Measures Status for HEDIS for 2023.

Awards

• Healthcare was well represented among the 2023 AI Breakthrough Awards, with IQVIA named the best AI solution for healthcare, Cleerly named a best overall AI solution, and Nuance named the best overall AI company.
• Black Book Research released its latest RCM vendor rankings, with Axiom and Waystar earning top rankings in multiple software categories.

People

• Capacity management software vendor DexCare appointed Robin Borg as Chief People Officer.
• Clinical trial simulation company QuantHealth appointed David Dornstreich as Chief Commercial Officer and General Manager of U.S. operations.
• Care management software maker Laguna Health named Evelyn Daniels as Vice President of Business Development.
• Cost management software vendor MultiPlan appointed John Prince to its Board of Directors; he’s the former President and Chief Operating Officer at Optum.
• Value-based care platform Privia Health Group appointed Adam Boehler to its Board of Directors, effective July 1.

Happy Independence Day to our American readers, and Happy Canada Day to our friends in the Great White North!

If you have news that you’d like us to consider for a future edition of Healthcare IT Today Bonus Features, please submit them on this page. Please include any relevant links and let us know if news is under embargo. Note that submissions received after the close of business on Thursday may not be included in Bonus Features until the following week.

< > Weekly Roundup July 1 2023

Welcome to our Healthcare IT Today Weekly Roundup. Each week, we’ll be providing a look back at the articles we posted and why they’re important to the healthcare IT community. We hope this gives you a chance to catch up on anything you may have missed during the week.

For Tempe, Public Health Means Being a 20-Minute City. The Arizona city is using GIS data to map which neighborhoods make it possible to meet basic needs in a 20-minute trip on foot, by bicycle, or via mass transit. Dr. Stephanie Deitrick told Colin how this work is helping the city improve access to grocery stores, civic buildings, commercial corridors – and paths with shade. Read more…

RCM: Fixing the Old and Adjusting to the New. We posed two questions to the Healthcare IT Today community about RCM. Our first focused on how to optimize old practices while layering on new processes and technologies. It starts with looking at the RCM process holistically and finding ways to improve communication, reduce confusion, give patients more payment options, and aim for a personalized approach. Read more…

How Can Technology Like AI Optimize RCM? Our other question was about automating revenue cycle processes. Answers from the experts focused on integrating payment and EHR systems, avoiding a hodgepodge of payment and billing systems, and analyzing patient data to determine who’d benefit from outreach or assistance. Read more…

Centralization and Specialization Enable Financial Stability and Growth. Leanne Knight at Ohio’s Pioneer Physicians Network told John how centralized referral management, outsourced billing, and virtual care positioned the organization to acquire practices and hire physicians at a time when many offices were struggling. Read more…

Is the Facebook Pixel Breach Much Ado About Nothing? In the latest Healthcare IT Today podcast, John and Colin debate the impact of the Facebook Pixel data breaches that exposed patient data via tools that track website activity. They also address how hospitals can navigate new privacy requirements and patient expectations. Read more…

Understanding Regulatory Changes And Compliance Requirements For ASCs. Amid a range of new CMS and AMA guidelines, new billing codes, and new reimbursement methods, ambulatory surgery centers may benefit from outsourcing billing in an effort to remain in compliance, Isaac Smith at Medcare MSO said. Read more…

Securing Buy-in for Automation Eases Healthcare Worker Burnout. Automation technology can streamline administrative tasks and improve patient outreach, but healthcare leaders need to buy in before they invest. Anna Twomey at SS&C Blue Prism said this involves deciding what to automate, providing oversight, and looking for opportunities to scale. Read more…

Why Connected Medical Devices Are the Next Target for Ransomware. Insecure medical devices aren’t just a security risk – they also have adverse impacts on clinical outcomes. Ryan Witt at Proofpoint suggested subjecting medical devices to the same scrutiny as user identities in order to monitor behavior and apply the necessary security controls. Read more…

Featured Health IT Job: Procurement Coordinator at the New York eHealth Collaborative, based in Albany, posted to Healthcare IT Central.

Bonus Features for June 25, 2023: 77% of healthcare workers think burnout will cause a healthcare crisis, and 62% of patients want digital communication to match the in-person experience. Read more…

Funding and M&A Activity:

• AI firm Apixio completed its merger with ClaimLogiq, which identifies errors in claims before they are paid.
• Analytics company BurstIQ acquired Olive AI’s business intelligence platform and relaunched it as LifeGraph Intelligence.
• Document processing software maker Imaging Business Machines (ibml) acquired IntelliScan Smart Scanning Solutions from Exela Technologies.
• Operations management company Laudio raised $13 million in Series B funding.

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out our latest Healthcare IT Today Weekly Roundups.