< + > Orbita Acquires Wellbe Assets

Combined Offering Creates a Seamless Digital Pathway for Patient Care

Orbita, the leading provider of smart virtual assistants and workflow automation for healthcare, has acquired the assets of Wellbe, a digital health company providing patient navigation for specialty care. The acquisition, which includes Wellbe’s software, customers and select staff, was finalized on August 16th, 2023.

“This agreement exemplifies how 1+1 can equal 3,” said Patty Riskind, CEO at Orbita. “The combination of our expertise, teams, and technologies creates a seamless digital pathway for care – from streamlining patient access to facilitating the care journey and enabling timely outreach and follow-up. Providers now have an end-to-end resource to advance their digital-first strategies.”

Established in 2015, Orbita offers interactive virtual assistants and conversational AI to decrease call volume, address patient demand for consumer-friendly interactions, improve the employee experience to reduce turnover and increase efficiency and throughput. Out-of-the-box solutions that engage patients across web, text, and voice channels are built on a scalable platform leveraging conversational and generative AI, natural language understanding, machine learning, and proprietary algorithms to meet the unique demands of healthcare.

Focusing on specialty care such as bariatric surgery and orthopedics, Wellbe developed a secure digital navigation solution to address complex care pathways. Patients are more confident and well-prepared for procedures, while clinical and administrative staff benefit from a reduction in tedious and repetitive tasks.

“Orbita has a stellar reputation in healthcare and we’re confident that clients of both companies will be well served by the expanded offering now available to them,” said James Dias, Founder and President at Wellbe.

With the acquisition, Orbita also announced several management changes. Bill Rogers, one of the company’s founders, will focus on his role as Chairman of the Board, stepping away from day-to-day operations. James Donato will serve as Chief Technology Officer and will lead engineering, while Mark Cline, Vice President for Customer Success, will oversee product management and implementation. Both joined Orbita in 2018 and report to Ben Schilens, Chief Customer Officer.

About Orbita

Orbita is the connective tissue between providers and patients to make navigating healthcare easier. We partner with healthcare organizations to implement smart virtual assistants, powered by generative and conversational AI, that engage patients across web, text, and voice channels. Our solutions – which meet critical privacy and security standards – help providers improve operational efficiency by automating workflows as they face the challenges of labor shortages, while also capturing revenue generated by routine, chronic, and preventative care. Visit orbita.ai.

Originally announced August 17th, 2023

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< + > Happy Labor Day!

I thought this picture captured what I hope you’re all experiencing today.  Pure Joy and Happiness!

Every Labor Day I think of all the amazing healthcare workers that have to work 24/7/365.  That can be really hard and I appreciate the sacrifice of so many that work on holidays like Labor Day because healthcare and people needing care doesn’t stop on the holiday (although, wouldn’t it be great if it did?).

Thanks to all the healthcare workers out there and thanks to all of you who read and support the work we do here at Healthcare IT Today.  It’s a labor of love for us and we hope we provide as much value to you as we get from the community.  Have a great holiday and we’ll be back with more great health IT content tomorrow.

< + > Bonus Features – September 3, 2023 – 60% of cybersecurity incidents impact patient care, the average medical device has six or more security vulnerabilities, 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

• ONC renewed its contract for The Sequoia Project to be the Recognized Coordinating Entity for TEFCA implementation. That process will involve working with seven current Qualified Health Information Network candidates, along with any future QHIN applicants.
• Five in six (83%) of hospital executives are worried about losing business to ambulatory surgery centers, according to survey data from Alexander Group. Two-thirds reported additional market pressure in the form of rising operating budgets.
• Hospitals and physician practices saw a 9% year-over-year increase in revenue in July, according to the latest monthly report from Syntellis. That said, operating margins were 1.1% in July, a drop from 2% in June but nonetheless the fifth straight month of positive margins.
• Health insurance consumers are increasingly comfortable with digital tools, the latest Voice of the Member survey from Cognizant said. Since the start of the pandemic, willingness to share digital data has increased 30%, while the importance of price transparency tools has increased 10%.
• The American Telemedicine Association published Health Data Privacy Principles, paying particular attention to consistency in regulations, definitions of consumer health, consumer consent, and legal enforcement.
• In a report, the Digital Medicine Society identified three priorities for successful digital health product innovation: Alignment between the FDA and payer decision-makers, alternate pathways to market for novel products, and better coordination among FDA business units.

Cybersecurity Reports

• More than 60% of cybersecurity incidents adversely impact patient care, a study from Claroty said. Nearly half (47%) impact physical systems such as medical devices or building management, while 30% affect protected health information.
• Thanks to limited cybersecurity staffing and resources, healthcare organizations can fix no more than 20% of their known medical device vulnerabilities, according to the latest report from Asimily. This poses a significant risk, as the average device has at least six vulnerabilities.
• Healthcare saw a 700% jump in distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks in the first half of 2023 compared to the first half of 2022, according to an analysis from Zayo. That compares to a 200% increase over the same time period across all industries.
• Firmware vulnerabilities in connected medical devices have increased 59% in the last year, research from Securin, Health-ISAC, and Finite State indicated. Nearly 1 in 6 have been weaponized, researchers added, meaning they’re ready to be used to attack a victim.

Partnerships

• Syniverse integrated its SMS text messaging capabilities with Epic‘s Hello World communications platform.
• Zyter|TruCare integrated findhelp, a social care network, into the latest release of its Connected Health platform.
• Workflow automation company Regard continued its partnership with OpenAI and integrated its large language model, GPT-4, into its new chatbot.
• Veda is integrating OutCare Health’s OutList, a directory of LGBTQ+ affirming providers, into its insurer-facing provider directories.
• Humana and Interwell Health are launching a value-based kidney care model for Medicare Advantage members in 13 states.

Product and Company News

• GoodRx launched a real-time benefit check for Provider Mode, its point-of-prescribing tool for healthcare professionals.
• Population health management vendor Orion Health formally launched Virtuoso, a digital front door to preventive care, following a pilot across the province of Ontario.
• Virtual psychiatric care provider Talkiatry launched in five more states, with a reach that now covers 58 million children under 18 in 31 states.
• More than 83% of teens using BeMe Health to support their behavioral health reported improved self-esteem and ability to cope with stress, according to a study conducted with Stanford University.
• Vera Healthcare and Vera Medical Vehicles are deploying 50 mobile care units to provide health and dental care to seniors in Florida.
• Care coordination and monitored scheduling of patients after total joint replacement decreases reported pain by nearly 30% and improves care plan adherence, according to research published by Luna.
• Initiating non-small-cell lung cancer treatment prior to reviewing a patient’s genomic test results contributes to considerably inferior patient outcomes, research published by Integra Connect indicated.
• Remote monitoring company AION Biosystems received FDA 510(k) clearance for iTempShield, a device worn on the skin to measure body temperature.

Sales

• Banner Health chose nference for biomedical data analysis.
• Long Island-based PsychiaTreat selected selected eClinicalWorks Behavioral Health.
• Parkview Health chose KeyCare for virtual urgent care; the community health system serves Indiana and Ohio.
• Michigan Medicine chose hc1 Insights‘ Performance Analytics for its MLabs research laboratory.
• Chronic care medication provider TwelveStone Health Partners chose TailorMed to connect patients with financial assistance programs.

Certifications and Recognitions

• Gartner released its first Magic Quadrant for Clinical Communication and Collaboration, with PerfectServe ranked highest in ability to execute.
• Identity verification software maker Melissa announced compliance with Project US, an ONC initiative to create a industry-wide specification for representing patient addresses.

People

• Payment software company Lyric made three executive appointments: Akshay Sharma as Chief AI Officer, Vijay Murugappan as Chief Commercial Officer, and Yevgeny “Gene” German as Chief Product & Technology Officer.
• Physical therapy and rehab software maker Raintree Systems announced Megan MacLean as Chief Customer Officer.
• Medical imaging hardware and software maker Exo named Kurt Hammond as Chief Commercial Officer.
• Patient engagement vendor Carenet Health promoted Michael Thomas to Executive Vice President of Shared Services to lead the company’s new Shared Services division.
• NTT DATA announced Craig Hovda as the Lead of the company’s Health Plan & Life Sciences business.
• Evidence generation platform Atropos Health announced a Life Science Advisory Board as part of its entry into the life science market.
• Care coordination company Quantum Health announced two advisory boards – musculoskeletal and behavioral health – which will launch in 2024.

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 – September 2, 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.

Improving Security When Lives Are on the Line. John Lynn spoke to John Wilson and Scott Pross at SolarWinds about the importance of proactive security in healthcare. That means everything from configuring new security features right away to closing the security gaps that appear when disparate clinical systems are integrated. Read more…

How Healthcare Is Using AI and ChatGPT. At the recent HFMA conference, Healthcare IT Today talked to attendees about how they’re using AI and CharGPT in their products, services, or workflows. Coding automation, chart review, and claims processing are three of the examples we heard about in greater depth. Read more…

The Autonomous Robot Will See You Now. Yaron Yoels at Temi Robot showed John Dr. Temi, a robot capable of conducting telemedicine visits and also collecting vital signs through various connected devices. The robot can follow a doctor or nurse around a facility, but it can also get where it needs to go on its own. Read more…

The Lonely Epidemic: Social Isolation and Technology. Though it has harmed some people, digital media is poised to help address social isolation and loneliness, Andy Oram pointed out in the first post of a series. This is a pivotal issue, as both young people and senior citizens are feeling lonely, alienated, or marginalized. Read more…

How Technology Can Overcome Social Isolation. In his next post, Andy explored technologies that improve social connections by providing a safe space. It’s a stark contract to the rejection and abuse that individuals may experience online – and that may contribute to feelings of anxiety or depression. Read more…

Taking a Broader View of Social Isolation. Many people don’t realize they’re experiencing social isolation, Andy learned from the experts he interviewed for his series. AI, chat, and voice technology can help to provide personalized conversations and simulate human contact. Read more…

Streamlining Workflows Increases Access for Children with Autism. Early intervention is key to supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorder, but a shortage of licensed behavior analysts limits access to care. Colin spoke with Chris Sullens and Nissa Van Etten at CentralReach about streamlining behavioral assessments so staff can spend more time with patients. Read more…

Understanding How Upcoming Regulations Will Impact Healthcare IT. We asked the Healthcare IT Today community to weigh in on the biggest concerns for the industry amid ongoing regulatory changes. Advice included looking at state-level data privacy laws, taking information blocking and price transparency rules seriously, and exploring new ways to use telehealth. Read more…

How Telehealth Meets Members of the LGBTQIA+ Community Where They Are. FOLX Health CEO Liana M. Douillet Guzmán talked to Colin about using telehealth to provide a safe space for a patient population that often fears discrimination – often for the first time putting them in control of how they receive care. Read more…

Microsoft Sees Generative AI as Transformative as Relational Databases. In another dispatch from the Epic User Group Meeting, Colin compared how Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella views generative AI (as foundational technology that will ultimately fade into the background) to how Epic looks at generative AI (as transformative as the smartphone, GPS, or even the Internet). Read more…

CIO Podcast: Diving into IT Infrastructure. Josh Otten at Adventist Healthcare sat down with John to discuss how improving storage on the back end has downstream impacts on the end user experience. They also talked about what to do with onsite PACS now that cloud storage is so readily available. Read more…

Finding Balance in Patient-Centric RCM. Today’s revenue cycle is increasingly as much about patient engagement as it is about finances, according to Laxmi Patel at Savista. An effective RCM strategy, then, should incorporate elements of omnichannel communication, patient journey mapping, easy payment options – and sympathy for patients who may face expensive bills. Read more…

The Role of Remote Monitoring and Advancing Technologies in Fertility Care. Traditional fertility care requires frequent in-person clinic visits – a model obviously upended by the pandemic. Remote monitoring of hormone levels reduces the need for frequent visits, minimizes testing costs, and empowers patients, said Sylvia Kang at Mira. Read more…

How Healthcare Can Improve System Security Right Now. In today’s environment, organizations must address more cyber risks than ever. Dr. Richard Searle at Fortanix said the keys to cybersecurity response are committing the right resources, implementing (and following) security policies, and embracing next-generation data protection technology. Read more…

Strengthening Email Cybersecurity by Safeguarding Sensitive Patient Data. Email-related cybercrime has increased more than 40% in the last year, putting healthcare organizations on the offensive. Oliver Patterson at VIPRE Security Group described how email security solutions that integrate with existing email services can both mitigate vulnerabilities and enhance protection. Read more…

Featured Health IT Job: Imaging System Analyst, a remote role with Lloyd Staffing, posted to Healthcare IT Central.

Bonus Features for August 27, 2023 – Trilliant Health opens its National Provider Directory for the first Time ever, while 60% of patients trust independent practices over corporate healthcare. Read more…

Funding and M&A Activity:

• Urgent care software and service provider Experity acquired OnePACS, a teleradiology platform.
• Preventive health and longevity company Viome Life Sciences closed an $86.5 million oversubscribed Series C funding round.
• Payment accuracy service provider Lyric announced a strategic partnership with Symphony Ventures and launched a predictive model known as LyriclQ.
• Thoma Bravo and Madison Dearborn Partners sold Syntellis Performance Solutions to Roper Technologies in an all-cash deal worth $1.4 billion.

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